Presentation of Colours to Gemunu Watch

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to award the Presidential and Regimental Colours to First, Second (Volunteer) and Third (Volunteer) Battalions of the Gemunu Watch today at the Regimental Headquarters of Gemunu Watch, Kuruwita.

He is also scheduled to award Colours to the Regiment of Gemunu Watch in addition to the three pioneer battalions of the Gemunu Watch.

The parade will consist of 47 officers and 379 men drawn from the 15 Regular and eight Volunteer Battalions of the Gemunu Watch. The parade will be commanded by Brigadier J C P Pakshaweera.

The deputy parade commander is Col M W A A Wijesuriya.

The Gemunu Watch today consists of 23 battalions.

The re-awarding of Colours, a singular honour for 50 years of selfless, loyal and honourable service to the nation by the Gemunu Watch will reinforce the pride, esprit d' corps and sense of duty of all 17,424 all ranks of 23 battalions of the Gemunu Watch.

The First Battalion was raised by late Brig John F. Halangode VSV on December 7, 1962 in Diyatalawa. The 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion was raised on October 1, 1964, in Galle under the command of Major D.S.Amarasuriya whilst the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion was raised in Matara under the command of Lt Col C A Dharmapala on September 1, 1965.

The new Colours will be blessed at a ceremony at Kataragama today which had been practiced as an uninterrupted custom by the First Battalion for the past 31 years.