News
Army recalls President’s outstanding military career
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s participation at the 72nd Army Day Anniversary celebrations at the Saliyapura Gajaba Regiment’s Regimental HQ in Anuradhapura on Sunday (10) was a landmark event for two reasons, the Army has said. It was the first time a Head of the State visited the military facility, and the dignitary happened to be a former combat officer of the regiment itself.
The Army said in a media statement: “His visit was historic; he is the first President to join an Army Day and receive honours at Saliyapura, the first visit to the GR Headquarters after taking the mantle of Presidency in November 2019 and the first President to be accompanied to the location by the then Adjutant, now the incumbent Army Chief, groomed by the same prestigious GR itself when HE the President was commanding the 1 GR. His succession to the Presidency also joins history since he is the first Commanding Officer of the 1 GR to have reached these impressive heights.
“Gotabaya Rajapaksa served as the Second-in-Command of the 1st Battalion of the GR immediately after the formation of the GR on 14 October 1983 by Lieutenant Colonel Vijaya Wimalaratne with the amalgamation of the Rajarata Rifles. The young Officer upon receipt of his commissions on 26 May 1972 was posted to the Sri Lanka Signal Corps, and subsequently to the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment as an infantryman at that time, and proved his mettle after joining the GR as a pioneer member of the Keterian family.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa accompanied by Army Commander General Shavendra Silva for the Army Day celebrations at Saliyapura on Sunday.
In his first military mission, the enthusiastic and budding GR officer energetically and voluntarily pursued fleeing terrorists along with GR members of his battalion and destroyed them following the attack on the Mahavilachchiya Police Station in 1985, demonstrating bravery and determination. Similarly, it was he who commanded the men when the Muttur military base came under siege by the terrorists. He and his men marched through dense jungles covering more than 35 km to reach the besieged military base and saved the camp with the help of others.
In another offensive, the ‘Operation Liberation’ in 1987 to liberate Vadamarachchi, he played a leading role in neutralizing the enemy. Again in 1990, he was fortunate to be under the command of the reputed military veteran, Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, who launched ‘Thrivida Balaya’ to rescue troops trapped inside the Jaffna Fort. No doubt, his commitment to the cause earned him military decorations such as ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’ and ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’ three times and his acts of bravery in the face of the enemy were lauded by his superiors.
In view of his career prospects, Lt. Colonel Gotabaya Rajapaksa was afterwards appointed to the office of Deputy Commandant at the then Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy, a post he held until his early retirement from the Army in 1992.
Italian Naval Ship ‘PPA MONTECUCCOLI’ which arrived in Sri Lanka on 10th October 2024, departed the island today (13th October), on successful completion of her formal visit. The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Colombo port, following naval traditions.
On her departure, ‘PPA MONTECUCCOLI’ engaged in a successful Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with SLNS Gajabahu. The PASSEX involved training exercises in communication and tactical maneuvering, concluding with the traditional cheer ship salute
Latest News
President instructs officials to provide immediate relief to those affected by adverse weather conditions
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to provide immediate relief to those affected by the recent adverse weather conditions across the country.
He also instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to ensure special attention is given to the safety of people in districts impacted by floods and landslides and to provide necessary support for effective relief operations.
The President emphasized that the government will take action to provide necessary assistance to all affected citizens and that local government officials in the affected areas will be engaged to ensure the people receive the required aid. Until such time, the President requested the public to act cautiously.
Additionally, the President instructed the Ministry of Finance to allocate Rs. 50 million for relief services and urged state officials to ensure proper coordination in delivering the relief to those in need.
According to the Disaster Management Centre, 24,492 individuals from 6,018 families have been affected by floods and landslides in 11 districts due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in recent days.
At present, 2,200 individuals from 584 families are being sheltered in 23 relief centres. Relief operations in all affected districts have already begun, coordinated by state officials through the Chief of Defence Staff’s office.
Emergency situations can be reported by contacting the Disaster Management Centre’s hotline number 117or by calling 0112136136, 0112136222, or 0112670002.
By Norman Palihawadane
Massive file retrieval for re-examination goes on at police headquarters and CID by engaging investigators in perusing evidence related to over thousand cases of the past two decades, police headquarters sources said.
The investigators have been divided into teams for what a senior police officer called ‘cold case investigation’ perusing archived documents and some are engaged in re-scrutinizing the evidence pertaining to several ongoing cases as well.
When contacted for comment, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya said that afresh investigation of Easter Sunday terror attacks has been commenced and officers have already started recording statements from various parties including those who had already testified before courts and commissions involved in previous probes.
“There is evidence to prove that many former investigations either deliberately overlooked or missed some vital information and facts. The CID has been tasked with the case reopening process. I can promise that new investigations will yield results to bring about justice to many. For example, the CID is looking to gather evidence from many new angles in the Wasim Thajudeen case,” Weerasooriya told The Island.
Prior to investigations a list of names of persons and officers who had been connected to investigations into controversial cases has been sent to the airport and a special police team has been detailed by the Ministry of Public Security to prevent them leaving the country, the Public Security Ministry sources said.
Among the new case-reopening process are several organized crimes involving some officers from the Colombo Crimes Division. Relevant CCD officials have been found trying to flee the country, police headquarters sources said.
The IGP has promised to overhaul CCD and to appoint a new director to the Division.
Sources within the Division said that many officers have found it uncomfortable to face the probes and there were concerns that some sensitive documents related to certain investigations conducted by the CCD might have been destroyed.
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