Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, says the Sri Lanka Army has to be more vigilant to sustain the hard-earned peace and national security while being fully prepared to perform any task for the best interest of the nation and to prevent re-emergence of insurgencies in our soil.

“The prime responsibility of the Army is to pass down the value of peace and harmony to next generations,” the Commander said in his message on account of the 69th Army Day (Oct 10).

He stated that the nation looks forward towards the future with optimism as every individual in all corners of the island shares tranquillity and brotherhood in a more peaceful environment.

“It should be our determined intension to promote reconciliation among all irrespective of races and religions to secure economic, social and cultural values as the Army directly contributes to the Nation-building process.”

This peaceful environment was brought by the brave War Heroes who actively participated in humanitarian operations, he said.

Lt Gen Mahesh Senanayakesaid that it is envisioned to transform the Sri Lanka Army to a ‘Capacity-Based Force’  to be par with the modern armies and that would be efficiently implemented with modern technology.

The concept of ‘Strategic Corporal’ is also a novel venture that the Army is to embark on to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of the individuals and teams.

“These new approaches would maintain the high morale of the Army personnel”, the Commander emphasized.

Sri Lanka Army turns 69 years of age on Wednesday (October 10) which is also named as the ‘Army Day’.

With its humble beginnings as then ‘Ceylon Army’ in the year 1949, and later since 1972 changed to be called the Sri Lanka Army after the country became a Republic, its eventful life-span of 69 years records numerous and invaluable milestones unparalleled and unheard in the annals of contemporary military history in Sri Lanka or elsewhere.

Here follows the full text of his message: