Army Chief pays glowing tribute to troops
Ranil WIJAYAPALAin Mullaitivu
Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka paid a glowing tribute to
troops who contributed to the victory against the LTTE after visiting
Vellamullivaikkal and Mullaitivu as the nation celebrates the completion
of one month to the victory against the LTTE.
The Army Commander addressed the troops of the 53, 55, 59 Divisions
and the Task Force 8 troops during his visit to Vellamullivaikkal and
Mullaitvu.
The Army Commander reached the shores of Vellamullivaikkal where the
LTTE faced its last debacle on May 18 and addressed the troops of the 53
Division commanded by Major General Kamal Gunaratne, 55 Division
commanded by Brigadier Prasanna Silva,59 Division commanded by Brigadier
Chagi Gallage and Task Force 8 commanded by Colonel G.V. Ravipriya
during his visit to Mullaitivu yesterday.
He also inspected the submarine recovered by Task Force 8 troops
closer to the wreckage of the Fara III ship in the Mullaitivu shores
during his visit and posed for a group photograph with the troops who
contributed to the victory against the LTTE.
The Army Commander also visited the 1 Sinha Regiment headquarters in
the centre of Mullaitivu town which was his mother battalion in his Army
career. He said it was the Sri Lanka Army which made a 95 percent
contribution to achieve this victory after sacrificing the lives of
5,200 Army men whilst suffering 27,000 casualties. The Army Commander
said 6,000 of the army men became disabled in the battle against the
LTTE.
He said the Security Forces were also able to kill more than 22,000
terrorists and arrested more than 10,000 Tiger cadres and recruits.
The Army Commander said it was due to that commitment of the Army the
nation could achieve this victory against the LTTE. The Army Commander
said that it was the blood, sweat and the tears of the soldiers of the
valiant troops that matters in this victory and it was due to their
commitment the Army could achieve this great victory. He said through
this victory the Sri Lanka Army has proved to the entire world that the
Sri Lanka Army is the best in the world. |