Sri Lanka Army turns 71 years today
October 10, 2020The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) having founded on Oct 10, 1949, as the Ceylon Army, celebrates its ‘71st Army Day’ today (Oct 10, 2020).
The incumbent Commander of the Army Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva in his Anniversary Day message pays tribute to all War Heroes while recollecting services of past and serving Officers, all ranks and civil staff and conveying his best wishes.
Further, he extends special thanks to HE the President for granting promotions to 514 Officers while sending compliments to those officers and 14140 Other Ranks promoted, coincide with the Army Day.
The SL Army Regular Force was initially commanded by Brigadier R. Sinclair and along with the establishment of its own Military Academy in Diyatalawa, Brigadier Anton Muthukumaru assumed office as the first Sri Lankan Commander of the then Ceylon Army.
The SL Army which has evolved into 24 Regiments with combat arms, support arms and support service arms, swiftly provided its unmatched services in times of national security threats, catastrophes, disasters and emergencies.
The Army with its multi-faceted expertise also relentlessly engaged in diverse promotion activities including nation-building tasks, reforestation, humanitarian projects and constructions etc, and continues its services to the nation winning the hearts and minds of all ethnicities as the most people-friendly security provider to all at the expense of their own lives.
Flourished to a fully-fledged defence force today, the Sri Lanka Army has been effectively commanded by 23 Commanders to-date.
In overcoming the country’s COVID-19 threat,the Army contributes immensely to quarantining mechanism combined with sister services and health authorities that proved a greater success.
The 71st Army Day (10 October 2020) programmes had to be postponed due to the country's new Coronavirus outbreak.
