New Army Commander assumes duties

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya assuming duties as 19th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army yesterday. Picture by Rukmal Gamage

Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya who assumed duties as the 19th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army yesterday vowed to transform the Army to a highly trained, well disciplined organisation to fulfill the present and future requirement of the country following the foot steps of his predecessor General Sarath Fonseka.

The Army Commander made these observations yesterday after assuming duties at the Army Headquarters following a guard of honour accorded to him and receiving the blessings of the religious dignitaries.

Addressing the media at the Army Headquarters the Army Commander emphasised the need to focus attention to look after the disabled soldiers. “It is the responsibility of the Army to look after them well providing them with necessary medical facilities and fulfilling their other requirements,” the Army Commander said.

Lt. General Jayasuriya also added that focus will be drawn towards providing necessary training for the soldiers who had joined the Sri Lanka Army during its rapid expansion as they have been provided only a training for fighting. “They should be provided with better training in other professions too to perform their duties in a professional manner,” he added.

He also said he was willing to give proper military leadership for the resettlement of displaced civilians in the North and also for the development drive launched by the Government under the ‘Northern Spring’ program.

He thanked the President and the Defence Secretary for appointing him as the Commander of the Army, directly from his post as the Security Forces Commander Vanni.