Features
Nation’s Defender Celebrates Diamond Jubilee
This year marks a milestone for the Sri Lanka Army as it celebrates its diamond anniversary—75 years of unwavering dedication to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. Since its inception on 10 October 1949, Sri Lanka Army has stood at the forefront of national security, defending the motherland and its people against visible or invisible challenges. At the moment where the institution celebrates its diamond jubilee on 10 October 2024, it is the prime time to honour the sacrifices of all who contributed to shape this illustrious journey from then to the present leadership.
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, who played a pivotal role in humanitarian operations to end a 30-year prolonged war, currently, serves as the 24th Commander of the Army. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka Army continues to uphold its dedicated mission of defending the nation progressively. His leadership, shaped by years of experience and valour, reflects the unyielding commitment of the institution towards its duties and responsibilities. The current Commander-in-Chief, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, also plays a vital role in guiding the Army’s vision and progress, alongside Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) to fulfill the aspirations of the Nation in the coming years.
Legacy of Sacrifice and Valour
Helping the nation face natural disasters
The Sri Lanka Army’s history is deeply connected with the nation’s struggle to maintain sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. Its role in the elimination of the prolonged terrorism for thirty years is one of the most defining chapters in its legacy. Valourous and dedicated troops of the Sri Lanka Army successfully terminated the bitter, decades-long menace of terrorism, which tore apart families and communities, on 18 May 2009, bringing hope for a new beginning. The internal war began with the assassination of Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah in 1975 by Velupillai Prabhakaran, culminating in a hard-earned victory, paying blood and tears of thousands of soldiers and civilians.
The Humanitarian Operations against Fourth Eelam War, launched on 26 July 2006, under the command of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa marking a decisive turning point in the nation’s history. The operation, named “Eastern Humanitarian Operation,” aimed to restore basic needs and protect civilians from the atrocities committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The war reached a critical point when the LTTE blocked the Mavil Aru sluice gate, depriving 30,000 civilians’ access to the water. This marked the beginning of a humanitarian effort to liberate the area to secure the region bringing peace.
Following the Eastern Humanitarian Operation, the focus shifted to the North, where the LTTE had consolidated its power. The Northern Humanitarian Operation, initiated with the goal of liberating the Northern Province, was an arduous and strategically complex task. A key moment in this operation was the capture of the Silavathura Sea Tiger base in 2007 – a crucial supply hub for the LTTE. The combined Armed forces of the Army and Navy decisively captured the north- west supply hub of the foe, and by September 2, the camp had been captured.
The ultimate victory in May 2009 not only signified the end of terrorism in Sri Lanka but also opened a new chapter for the country. Yet, it came at an enormous cost. Over 23,562 Army personnel were either killed or reported missing in action, and more than 23,200 were injured. However, Sri Lanka Army’s immense sacrifices were recognised through numerous gallantry awards and accolades totalling 33131, which included 29 Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (PWV), the nation’s highest military honour awarded for supreme heroism, along with 18 Weerodara Vibhushanaya (WV), 312 Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya (WWV), 5,101 Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), and 27,671 Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) medals.
Nation Building and Rehabilitation
Demining the former war zone
While the Army’s primary mission is to safeguard national security, its contributions to post-war rehabilitation, reconciliation and nation-building have been equally commendable. After the end of the war, the Army took a leading role in rehabilitating and resettling displaced civilians and ex combatants in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, working tirelessly to restore normalcy in war-torn areas. These efforts helped to mend the fabric of society, enabling communities to heal and rebuild their lives.
The Army’s involvement in national development has extended far beyond its main responsibility. It has played a significant role in assuring best healthcare service, infrastructure development, education, agriculture, and cultural reconciliation initiatives. Through projects such as the “East Navodaya” number of infrastructure initiatives and a range of agricultural ventures initiated contributing to the country’s economic progress. Successful agricultural projects have launched at Vellankum, Menik Farm, Adiapulianthulam, Neeraviya, Kandakadu, Galkanda, Balella, Yala Palatupana Farm and Aralaganwila Agricultural Training School, Army Headquarters Agricultural Project, Kohilawagurawatta Regimental Farm helping to boost food security and contribute to the development of nation’s agricultural production. In addition, the agri projects initiated by the Sri Lanka Army Corps of Agriculture and Livestock at every Army Camp have successfully progressed achieving their desired objectives.
In line with former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s vision for a self-sustaining Army, the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu has overseen the expansion of agricultural initiatives across the country. Notably, the Sri Lanka Army Corps of Agriculture and Livestock has expanded projects to produce food for the Army’s consumption. The surplus harvest is delivered to the public through government programmes. In 2024, the Army successfully handed over 10 metric tons of rice to the government’s rice subsidy programme, marking a significant step toward reducing the Army’s dependence on government funds for rations.
The modernisation of the Weyangoda Machinery Complex as Army Ordnance Industries, is another major achievement. The facility, once abandoned, has been revitalised to manufacture essential goods such as iron bed products, hardware, garment products, tyre re-stitching, bed sheets and pillows etc, uniforms required for training recruits, shorts, helmets, work clothes, t-shirts, all types of packs, raincoats, ponchos capes, vehicle canopies. All types of camping tents, belts, all types of belts, assault jackets, flak jackets and other special equipment worn by officers and other Ranks are also produced in the factory, saving millions in foreign exchange and reducing procurement costs up to 40%.
The degree of self-sufficiency achieved highlights the Sri Lanka Army’s broader economic contribution, which extends beyond the battlefield.
Responding to National Emergencies and Disasters
Enabling the nation’s battle against the Covid-19 pandemic
The Sri Lanka Army has also consistently demonstrated its readiness to assist the nation during natural disasters and national emergencies. From the 2004 Tsunami to the Meethotamulla landslide and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sri Lanka Army has been at the forefront of rescue and relief operations. In particular, the establishment of the Sri Lanka Army Centre for Disaster Response Training in Gampola is a significant milestone that marks the Army’s proactive approach in preparing for future disasters. This centre offers research and training in civil-military operations, ensuring the ability of the Sri Lanka Army to handle both domestic and international crises.
Moreover, the Army’s commitment to restraining illegal activities such as drug trafficking further underscores its role as a guardian of the nation’s in the perspectives of its social fabric. Under the direction of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, the troops have ramped up intelligence and operational efforts to curb the menace of narcotic drugs, seizing quantities of hashish, kush, and other illicit substances to safeguard future generations from the perils of addiction.
International Recognition in Peacekeeping
The Sri Lanka Army has also earned international acclaim for its contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Since its first deployment, Sri Lankan troops have been deployed in conflict zones worldwide such as Haiti, Lebanon, South Sudan, the Republic of Chad, and Mali. To date, more than 20,775 soldiers have served under the UN flag, earning Sri Lanka close to $300 million in foreign exchange.
Adding to its list of achievements, the Sri Lanka Army has developed the Unicorn/Unibaffle vehicles, which are used in UN peacekeeping missions. Manufactured by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps (SLEME), these vehicles used at Sri Lankan Combat Convoy Company comply with international standards, saving significant foreign exchange while enhancing the Army’s technical capabilities.
Excellence in Sports
Boosting Covid-19 vaccination drive
Sri Lanka Army has long demonstrated a strong commitment to the field of sports, both in national and international arena. Apart from the main role as the defender of the nation, Sri Lanka Army also contributed to the nation’s sporting achievements across various disciplines fostering unity and harmony. From cricket to boxing and rugby, archery, sepak takraw, javelin throw, kayaking, the Sri Lanka Army has consistently excelled producing talented athletes who have achieved the national and international levels.
Warrant Officer II Samitha Dulan earned the silver medal in the Paralympics F-44 Javelin throw, marking a significant global accomplishment. Corporal Aruna Dharshana and Staff Sergeant Nadeesha Lekamge earned the proud honour of representing Sri Lanka at the Paris Olympics while Staff Sergeant Nadeesha Ramanayake won the gold medal in the 400 meters at the Asian Athletics Championship, ending a 23-year gold medal drought for Sri Lanka.
National caps in cricket, Ajantha Mendis, and Seekuge Prasanna, Dinesh Chandimal and Mahesh Theekshana are the proud products of the Sri Lanka Army in the field of Sports. The Army’s rugby and volleyball teams have consistently demonstrated excellence in both local and international arenas, reflecting the Army’s commitment to nurturing and fostering athletic talent.
Looking to the Future
As the Sri Lanka Army celebrates its 75th anniversary, it continues to honour its legacy of valour and service further for the wellbeing of the Nation. The Army’s unwavering dedication to the nation—whether in times of war or peace—remains at the core of its identity. From protecting the country’s borders to rebuilding communities and contributing to national development, the Sri Lanka Army’s role has evolved significantly over the years, reflecting both the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The Army’s vision for the future includes self-reliance in food production by 2030, further modernisation of its industrial capabilities, and continued leadership in disaster management and national security. As the nation moves forward, the Sri Lanka Army will undoubtedly continue to be the proud defender of the motherland, embodying the spirit of sacrifice, resilience, and unity that has continued for 75 years.
– Sri Lanka Army Media
‘Adapt, shrink or die’ – thus runs the warning issued by the Trump administration to UN humanitarian agencies with brute insensitivity in the wake of its recent decision to drastically reduce to $2bn its humanitarian aid to the UN system. This is a substantial climb down from the $17bn the US usually provided to the UN for its humanitarian operations.
Considering that the US has hitherto been the UN’s biggest aid provider, it need hardly be said that the US decision would pose a daunting challenge to the UN’s humanitarian operations around the world. This would indeed mean that, among other things, people living in poverty and stifling material hardships, in particularly the Southern hemisphere, could dramatically increase. Coming on top of the US decision to bring to an end USAID operations, the poor of the world could be said to have been left to their devices as a consequence of these morally insensitive policy rethinks of the Trump administration.
Earlier, the UN had warned that it would be compelled to reduce its aid programs in the face of ‘the deepest funding cuts ever.’ In fact the UN is on record as requesting the world for $23bn for its 2026 aid operations.
If this UN appeal happens to go unheeded, the possibilities are that the UN would not be in a position to uphold the status it has hitherto held as the world’s foremost humanitarian aid provider. It would not be incorrect to state that a substantial part of the rationale for the UN’s existence could come in for questioning if its humanitarian identity is thus eroded.
Inherent in these developments is a challenge for those sections of the international community that wish to stand up and be counted as humanists and the ‘Conscience of the World.’ A responsibility is cast on them to not only keep the UN system going but to also ensure its increased efficiency as a humanitarian aid provider to particularly the poorest of the poor.
It is unfortunate that the US is increasingly opting for a position of international isolation. Such a policy position was adopted by it in the decades leading to World War Two and the consequences for the world as a result for this policy posture were most disquieting. For instance, it opened the door to the flourishing of dictatorial regimes in the West, such as that led by Adolph Hitler in Germany, which nearly paved the way for the subjugation of a good part of Europe by the Nazis.
If the US had not intervened militarily in the war on the side of the Allies, the West would have faced the distressing prospect of coming under the sway of the Nazis and as a result earned indefinite political and military repression. By entering World War Two the US helped to ward off these bleak outcomes and indeed helped the major democracies of Western Europe to hold their own and thrive against fascism and dictatorial rule.
Republican administrations in the US in particular have not proved the greatest defenders of democratic rule the world over, but by helping to keep the international power balance in favour of democracy and fundamental human rights they could keep under a tight leash fascism and linked anti-democratic forces even in contemporary times. Russia’s invasion and continued occupation of parts of Ukraine reminds us starkly that the democracy versus fascism battle is far from over.
Right now, the US needs to remain on the side of the rest of the West very firmly, lest fascism enjoys another unfettered lease of life through the absence of countervailing and substantial military and political power.
However, by reducing its financial support for the UN and backing away from sustaining its humanitarian programs the world over the US could be laying the ground work for an aggravation of poverty in the South in particular and its accompaniments, such as, political repression, runaway social discontent and anarchy.
What should not go unnoticed by the US is the fact that peace and social stability in the South and the flourishing of the same conditions in the global North are symbiotically linked, although not so apparent at first blush. For instance, if illegal migration from the South to the US is a major problem for the US today, it is because poor countries are not receiving development assistance from the UN system to the required degree. Such deprivation on the part of the South leads to aggravating social discontent in the latter and consequences such as illegal migratory movements from South to North.
Accordingly, it will be in the North’s best interests to ensure that the South is not deprived of sustained development assistance since the latter is an essential condition for social contentment and stable governance, which factors in turn would guard against the emergence of phenomena such as illegal migration.
Meanwhile, democratic sections of the rest of the world in particular need to consider it a matter of conscience to ensure the sustenance and flourishing of the UN system. To be sure, the UN system is considerably flawed but at present it could be called the most equitable and fair among international development organizations and the most far-flung one. Without it world poverty would have proved unmanageable along with the ills that come along with it.
Dehumanizing poverty is an indictment on humanity. It stands to reason that the world community should rally round the UN and ensure its survival lest the abomination which is poverty flourishes. In this undertaking the world needs to stand united. Ambiguities on this score could be self-defeating for the world community.
For example, all groupings of countries that could demonstrate economic muscle need to figure prominently in this initiative. One such grouping is BRICS. Inasmuch as the US and the West should shrug aside Realpolitik considerations in this enterprise, the same goes for organizations such as BRICS.
The arrival at the above international consensus would be greatly facilitated by stepped up dialogue among states on the continued importance of the UN system. Fresh efforts to speed-up UN reform would prove major catalysts in bringing about these positive changes as well. Also requiring to be shunned is the blind pursuit of narrow national interests.
Hi! Great to be back after my Christmas break.
Thought of starting this week with egg white.
Yes, eggs are brimming with nutrients beneficial for your overall health and wellness, but did you know that eggs, especially the whites, are excellent for your complexion?
OK, if you have no idea about how to use egg whites for your face, read on.
Egg White, Lemon, Honey:
Separate the yolk from the egg white and add about a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and about one and a half teaspoons of organic honey. Whisk all the ingredients together until they are mixed well.
Apply this mixture to your face and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes before cleansing your face with a gentle face wash.
Don’t forget to apply your favourite moisturiser, after using this face mask, to help seal in all the goodness.
Egg White, Avocado:
In a clean mixing bowl, start by mashing the avocado, until it turns into a soft, lump-free paste, and then add the whites of one egg, a teaspoon of yoghurt and mix everything together until it looks like a creamy paste.
Apply this mixture all over your face and neck area, and leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off with cold water and a gentle face wash.
Egg White, Cucumber, Yoghurt:
In a bowl, add one egg white, one teaspoon each of yoghurt, fresh cucumber juice and organic honey. Mix all the ingredients together until it forms a thick paste.
Apply this paste all over your face and neck area and leave it on for at least 20 minutes and then gently rinse off this face mask with lukewarm water and immediately follow it up with a gentle and nourishing moisturiser.
Egg White, Aloe Vera, Castor Oil:
To the egg white, add about a teaspoon each of aloe vera gel and castor oil and then mix all the ingredients together and apply it all over your face and neck area in a thin, even layer.
Leave it on for about 20 minutes and wash it off with a gentle face wash and some cold water. Follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
Superlatives galore were used, especially on social media, to highlight R&B singer Ne-Yo’s trip to Sri Lanka: Global superstar Ne-Yo to perform live in Colombo this December; Ne-Yo concert puts Sri Lanka back on the global entertainment map; A global music sensation is coming to Sri Lanka … and there were lots more!
At an official press conference, held at a five-star venue, in Colombo, it was indicated that the gathering marked a defining moment for Sri Lanka’s entertainment industry as international R&B powerhouse and three-time Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo prepares to take the stage in Colombo this December.
What’s more, the occasion was graced by the presence of Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka, and Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism, alongside distinguished dignitaries, sponsors, and members of the media.
Shah Rukh Khan: Disappointed his fans in Sri Lanka
According to reports, the concert had received the official endorsement of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, recognising it as a flagship initiative in developing the country’s concert economy by attracting fans, and media, from all over South Asia.
Nick Carter: His concert, too, was cancelled due to “Unforeseen circumstances
However, I had that strange feeling that this concert would not become a reality, keeping in mind what happened to Nick Carter’s Colombo concert – cancelled at the very last moment.
Carter issued a video message announcing he had to return to the USA due to “unforeseen circumstances” and a “family emergency”.
Though “unforeseen circumstances” was the official reason provided by Carter and the local organisers, there was speculation that low ticket sales may also have been a factor in the cancellation.
Well, “Unforeseen Circumstances” has cropped up again!
In a brief statement, via social media, the organisers of the Ne-Yo concert said the decision was taken due to “unforeseen circumstances and factors beyond their control.”
Ne-Yo, too, subsequently made an announcement, citing “Unforeseen circumstances.”
The public has a right to know what these “unforeseen circumstances” are, and who is to be blamed – the organisers or Ne-Yo!
Ne-Yo’s management certainly need to come out with the truth.
However, those who are aware of some of the happenings in the setup here put it down to poor ticket sales, mentioning that the tickets for the concert, and a meet-and-greet event, were exorbitantly high, considering that Ne-Yo is not a current mega star.
We also had a cancellation coming our way from Shah Rukh Khan, who was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka for the City of Dreams resort launch, and then this was received: “Unfortunately due to unforeseen personal reasons beyond his control, Mr. Khan is no longer able to attend.”
Referring to this kind of mess up, a leading showbiz personality said that it will only make people reluctant to buy their tickets, online.
“Tickets will go mostly at the gate and it will be very bad for the industry,” he added.
Machu Picchu train crash leaves one dead and dozens injured
I invite you to step into 2026 with renewed energy, hope, and determination – PM
Fairly heavy showers about 75 mm are likely at some places in the Central and Uva provinces and in Batticaloa and Ampara districts
National Audit Office reveals NHSL lapses
NPP’s CMC budget passed after four Opp. members switch allegiance
600MW hit to national grid as two Norochcholai units go offline
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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