VIJAYABAHU INFANTRY REGIMENT PROUDLY CELEBRATED IT IS 26TH ANNIVERSARY
Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment proudly celebrated it is 26th anniversary on 22nd March 2016 with flag blessing ceremony at Sri Dalada Maligawa Kandy, providing lunch for home for the elders, lunch for children home Kurunegala and celebrated many activities during the anniversary.
Col of the Regiment Maj Gen K C Gunawardena RWP USP ndu commenced invoking blessing for flags at the temple of Tooth Relics at Sri Dalada Maligawa , Kandy on 21st March 2016. The Presidential colour flag and Regimental colour flag together with 24 battalions representating their flags in a parade consisting 40 officers and 150 other ranks commenced their march from the entrance to Dalada Maligawa near Queens hotel by AM on 21 March 2016. Later a religious ceremony was held at Sri Dalada Maligawa by offering “ Buddha Puja†and blessing of the Noble Tooth Relic for Presidential colour flag, Regimental colour flag and battalion flags which represented by Regimental Center Commandant Brig Srinath Ariyasinghe RSP and Commanding Officers.
Social services activities were held to commemorate the Regimental Anniversary on 10 March 2016 at Kurunegala Maliyadewa home for the elders and children home on 17 March 2016 by providing lunch with a musical programme for more than 100 inmates.
The climax of the formalities took place at Regimental Headquarter Boyagane, with a Guard turnout, offering flower wreath to war heroes Monument and Guard of honour presented consisting 10 officers and 272 other ranks to the Colonel of the Regiment on 22 March 2016. During the parade special appreciation and prices were given to Brig Srinath Ariyasinghe and the team of 20 officers from Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment for winning the championship of the Sri Lanka Army Inter Regiment Marathon championship conducted on 06 March 2016. Col of the Regiment during his troop address appreciated and remembered with full respect for 3000 war heroes of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment for sacrificing their lives for safe guarding the territorial integrity of the country and for those who were injured during past three decades.
He appealed to all ranks in ordered to build good image of the VIR to support and more emphasis should be given to sports activities to achieve best results while maintaining good administration and discipline at all levels.
During his speech he informed that fullest support will be extended to achieve the best results in sports and would improve the accommodations, water and other infrastructure facilities to other ranks and officers at Regimental Headquarters Boyagane and also Battalions deployed elsewhere. He thanked President of VIR Seva wanitha Branch and the members for providing assistance by generous contribution from well wishes to 300 war heroes families and 68 civil servants and their families at RHQ VIR.
Same day a newly installed water purification plant which can be provided water for drinking, cooking purposes for troops at Boyagane was ceremonially opened by Colonel of the Regiment followed by planting 300 Mahogani plants around Regimental Headquarters with the participation of many senior officers.
The first copy of the Archers Magazine first quarter in 2016 was ceremonially presented to the Col of the Regiment by it’s editor Brig RKBS Ketakubura RSP at the Regimental Headquarters and had all ranks lunch held at the other ranks mess with music provided by the Regimental brass band adding more glamour to the anniversary celebration.
Having attended Col of the Regiment and Maj Gen A. Kariyakarawana with many senior officers all night Pirith Chanting in the evening to invoke blessing on the anniversary at RHQ VIR with a “Heel Danaya†for 26 Monks on Wednesday 23 March concluded the 26th Anniversary.
