Army raised a new Division for Nation-building Tasks
November 19, 2020The multi-skilled and multi-faceted Corps of Sri Lanka Army Engineers (SLE) yesterday (18) raised its newest first Army Engineers Division that includes three Brigades.
The tasks of the new Division included centralizing coordination, undertaking, distribution and execution of all Nation-building engineering tasks, Civil-Military assignments, Humanitarian Demining and Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) tasks, Emergency Disaster Management Roles, Commander's Tasks, etc.
Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID 19 Outbreak Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva was present at the inauguration and laid the foundation-stone for construction of a new Division Headquarters building complex at Mattegoda.
Symbolizing the official inauguration of the newest Engineers' Division, the Army Chief signed the formal raising-order.
Maj. Gen. Chandana Wijesundara has been appointed as the first General Officer Commanding of this new Engineers Division effective from 28 October 2020.
He also declared open the newly-constructed Badminton court and the well-equipped gymnasium complex at the Sappers' Leisure Bay and afterwards, the Commander witnessed a demonstration presented by members of the Army Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Squadron on their operational aspects against chemical threats, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and their preparedness at all times.
" Let not our money end up in overseas, instead we will march forward by getting more and more sophisticated modern machinery with high technology and produce results with the blessings of HE the President,” the Army Chief said at the ceremony while recalling a few noteworthy Army-built projects with minimum cost, high standards and without wastage.
Senior Officers including Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers and Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Jagath Gunawardena, Deputy Chief of Staff, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Commander, Security Forces - West, Chief Field Engineer, Officers and Other Ranks were present at the ceremony.
