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| Saturday, 25 October 2003 |
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54th anniversary of Sri Lanka Army : Peace treat for Thaladi by Ranil Wijayapala
Gusty winds from the Gulf of Mannar swept through Palmyrah fences of the Thaladi camp. Hundreds of soldiers unaffected by the gusty winds busy engaged in their work, seemed to be preparing for a ceremony. Their eagle eyes this time seems to be relaxing. It gives an idea that outsiders are no longer strangers for the soldiers in Thaladi camp which was a base for many a battle in the two decades long war. The ongoing peace process has made big changes in the lives of these soldiers. Even mother nature has blessed them with adding moisture to the salty soils of Mannar preventing usual sandstorms in this arid land. It was their duty cleaning, sweeping, practising and inspecting, the usual work before a ceremony. The concentration on their work is much higher, as rains of mortars or huge artillery bombs no longer disturb them.
The change of atmosphere in this war-affected area following the peace process has made the officers and other ranks of the Sri Lanka Army go in a big way to celebrate the day dedicated to them. Brigadier Sarath Fernando the Area Commander of Sri Lanka Army in Mannar was proud to host all these events to celebrate the Army Day with the participation of over 81 officers and 817 other ranks in Thaladi camp on October 10. A day dedicated to the Army had to be celebrated in an area where they were really on operational duties. A rare chance had come this time for the officers and soldiers in Mannar to celebrate the event in a relaxed manner. They did not forget to remember over than 25,000 soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country when celebrating the 54th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army. They placed floral tributes remembering the fallen war heroes and those who were missing in action or disabled in the two decades long war. Brigadier Fernando in his address recalled the 500 year long history of Sri Lankan forces since fighting against Portugese in 1505 A.D. "We had Armies to fight against such invaders and now we are celebrating the 54th anniversary of the Army in independent Sri Lanka", Brigadier Fernando added. "Today, we should be proud of the present situation of the country as we contributed to create this situation sacrificing the invaluable lives of our officers and soldiers", he said. "As soldiers we should be prepared for any emergency whatever situation prevailed at present", he added. The sports events organised for weeks among the Regiments in Mannar area reached a climax as soldiers leaving their weapons aside took drums into their hands to cheer their colleagues vying for the volleyball championships. It became a real peacetime celebration of the Sri Lanka Army as the Mannar civilian football team joined them to contest with an Army regimental team for the Football championship at the Thaladi campgrounds. The civilian football team who came there ignoring warnings by certain groups were able to grab the football championship giving stiff competition to the Army team. The civilian team was happy not only because they won the football championship but they also had a rare chance of sharing sweets bought from the South after a lapse of several decades. It was a great mega event in the night as hundreds of soldiers joined hands for a musical forgetting all petty differences to wrap up the Army Day celebrations hoping they will not be confronted with the misfortune of war in this country again. |
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