NEWLY PROMOTED FLAG RANK OFFICERS WERE FELICITATED AT RHQ VIR

Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, following its’ traditions and military formalities with the blessings of the Commander Security Force (Mullaitivu) and Colonel of the Regiment VIR, Major General Sisira Pilapitiya and supervision of the Centre Commandant Brigadier Sumal Hemarathna, saluted the newly-promoted Brigadiers of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment on 03 August 2021 in a fitting ceremony, held at the VIR Regimental Centre at Boyagane, Kurunegala, giving pride of place to military formalities by adhering all the health precautions and guidelines stipulated to prevent COVID-19 outbreak .

Brigadier M A D J D Gunatilaka RSP USP, Commandant of Mihindu Seth Medura, Brigadier K D M L Samaradiwakara RWP RSP psc, Deputy Commandant of Sri Lanka Military Academy, Brigadier P N J S Fernando USP, Commander 511 Brigade and Brigadier D H K S Wijerathne RSP, Senior Colonel Coordinator for Volunteer Matters, Security Forces Headquarters (West) were felicitated during their first formal visits to the VIR Regimental Centre following their promotions. Brigadier Keerthi Wijerathne is the first ever Volunteer VIR Intake Officer to wear Brigadier rank and rewritten the VIR Volunteer Cadre history.

Tributes were respectively offered to the protagonists of the day; upon their arrival at the VIR Regimental Centre, Colonel Rukshan Kannangara, Deputy Centre Commandant of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment warmly received the day's first Guests of Honour and subsequent Guard Turnouts at the entrance greeted them in accordance with military formalities. Then giving pride of place to the memory of all fallen Vijayabahu War Heroes, Brigadier Jeevan Gunatilaka, Brigadier Laxman Samaradiwakara, Brigadier Jude Fernando and Brigadier Keerthi Wijerathne laid the floral wreaths at the War Heroes Monument and PWV Monument paid their tribute in a solemn ceremony.

Leaving an indelible gesture in the premises, these Senior Officers were later on invited to pose for a group photograph with the Regimental Staff followed by an All Ranks Tea Party arranged at the Other Ranks Mess and symbolic mementoes were presented by the Centre Commandant to engrave this remarkable event. On behalf of the all promoted Senior Officers, Brigadier Jeevan Gunatilaka has expressed gratitude to the Colonel of the Regiment, Centre Commandant, all Staff Officers, Regimental Sergeant Major and All Ranks of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment for arranging such a grateful felicitation for all of them in a short preparation. He stated that all VIR members to work hard for the betterment of the organization with dedication and commitment, then promotions are at the doorstep.

Senior Officers, Regimental Staff officers and Other Ranks witnessed these series of indelible events.