Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

Soldiers need to be healthy to protect nation from COVID-19- Army Chief Lt. Gen. Silva

April 13, 2020

  • Says military should strictly follow health guidelines

Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander Lt.Gen. Shavendra Silva said to heal the nation, the soldiers needed to be healthy and it was imperative that they should follow all precautions to prevent transmitting of COVID-19.

“Soldiers should strictly follow health guidelines. All of us have a responsible role to play in keeping our country safe. Though our lives have changed now, and we cannot gather together with our near and dear ones in this New Year season, we can certainly be a proud citizen of the country by letting everyone else to be healthy by behaving ourselves well,” he said addressing the troops in the North.

Lt. Gen. Silva visited Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna to address the troops, who are in frontlines, supporting the Government machinery engage in preventing the spread of COVID -19 among communities in the Northern Province.

He said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had entrusted the challenging task of handling combating COVID-19 to SLA, which had defended the nation whenever its very existence was under threat.

“We, the Army,  is performing our part well as we proceed based on the theme ‘Nothing is Impossible’,” he said adding that their dedicated and invaluable services to contain COVID-19 have been greatly admired by the President, Prime Minister, Defence Secretary and all Sri Lankans.

The SLA Chief said since setting up the first two quarantine centers for Sri Lankan expatriates returning from Italy, Iraq, Iran and South Korea, the SLA had set up 50 quarantine centres.

“We have achieved these goals within a very short period of time due to untiring hard work done by you all at this critical moment,” he said commending the services rendered by the SLAs Medical Corps, other Infantry Regiments, Engineers Service Regiment, Sri Lanka Ordnance Corps, Sri Lanka Army Service Corps including all other Regiments.

 

During his visit, Lt.Gen. Silva addressed the troops in the Security Force Headquarters in Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna and also met troops in the 64 and 52 Divisions, 574 and 552 Brigades.

 As the Acting CDS, he also visited Northern Naval Command and Air Force Base in Palali and addressed the all their ranks.