Army reorganizing to suit ‘peace time’ - Commander

The Army is reorganizing to suit peace time, Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said.

The Army expanded rapidly due to the war and now the Army is reorganizing to suit to the peace time, he said addressing Student Officers of the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) Sapugaskanda, Sri Lanka’s highest seat of learning for Defence Services personnel on Monday.

The students belonging to all three forces inclusive of several Officers from other Armies of the world listened to the lecture as a part of their training for Passed Staff College qualification (PSC).

The Army Commander addressing the student officers said that the Army was transiting from a war time Army to a peace time Army.

He said most of the officers serving today had joined the Army during the war.

Lieutenant General Jayasuriya said he had experienced the war time and peace time both in his career and therefore knows how the Army should act during peace time.

“Only a few officers are now serving in the Army who have joined before the war and it is same with other forces also,” he said.

He stressed the importance for an Officer to obtain PSC qualification and mentioned that in times to come, this would be a mandatory qualification for a military officer to elevate in his career.

The Commander also explained the welfare measures taken by the Army for the officers and soldiers and the special interest taken to look-after and employ disabled war heroes.