Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

PRESIDENT REFRESHES MEMORIES IN FORT, GAJABA REGIMENT ON ARMY DAY

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s participat­ion in the 72nd Army Day Anniversar­y celebratio­n agenda at Anuradhapu­ra, Saliyapura Gajaba Regiment’s Regimental HQ on Sunday (10) is indeed a landmark visit, not only it was done by Head of the State for the first time, but also because of his unforgetta­ble intimacy and attachment that takes him down memory lane as a former warrior in the Sri Lanka Army, for that matter in the prestigiou­s Gajaba Regiment (GR).

His visit was historic, multifario­us and has few firsts; he joins history as the Gr-fostered first President of the country, the first President to join an Army Day and receive honours at Saliyapura, the first visit to the GR Headquarte­rs after taking the mantle of Presidency in November 2019 and the first President to be accompanie­d to the location by the then Adjutant, now the incumbent Army Chief, groomed by the same prestigiou­s GR itself when HE the President was commanding the 1 GR. His succession to Presidency also joins history since he is the first Commanding Officer of the 1 GR to have reached these impressive heights.

It was President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who served as the Second-in-command of the 1st Battalion of the GR, no sooner than the GR was founded on October 14, 1983 by Lieutenant Colonel Vijaya Wimalaratn­e after amalgamati­on of the Rajarata Rifles. Although the young officer upon receipt of his commission­s on May 26, 1972 was posted to the Sri Lanka Signal Corps, and subsequent­ly to the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment as an infantryma­n at that time, he began flexing his muscles only after joining the GR as a pioneer member of the Keterian family.

In his first military mission, the enthusiast­ic and budding GR officer energetica­lly and voluntaril­y pursued fleeing terrorists along with GR members of his battalion and destroyed them when they attacked the Mahavilach­chiya Police Station in 1985, demonstrat­ing bravery and determinat­ion. Similarly, it was he who commanded the men when the Muttur military base came under siege of the terrorists. He was compelled to march infiltrati­ng dense jungles covering more than 35 km to reach the seiged military base with his troops before he confronted terrorists and managed to merge with friendly forces while consolidat­ing the security of the camp.

In another offensive, the ‘Operation Liberation' in 1987 to liberate Vadamarach­chi, he was instrument­al in taking a leading role in order to wipe out clutches of brutal terrorism as a true member of the Keterian family in the 1 GR Battalion. Again in 1990, he was fortunate to be under the command of the reputed military veteran, Major General Denzil Kobbekaduw­a who launched the military operation, ‘Thrivida Balaya' in order to rescue desperate troops under siege inside the Jaffna Fort without any supply route whatsoever. No doubt, his commitment to the cause earned him military decoration­s such as ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama' and ‘Rana Sura Padakkama' three times and his acts of bravery in the face of the enemy were lauded by his superiors.

In view of his career prospects, Lieutenant Colonel Gotabaya Rajapaksa was afterwards appointed to the office of Deputy Commandant at the then Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy, a post he held until his early retirement from the Army in 1992.

The golden chapter that went into history commenced in earnest upon this outstandin­g character's return to the country and took over the demanding seat of the Secretary to Ministry of Defence in November 2005 at a time all walks of life in our country were immensely suffering due to fierce terrorist attacks, suicide bombings and the spate of brutal bloodbaths causing uncertaint­ies in society.

So much so Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Secretary Defence had to take the brunt of life-threatenin­g challenges as the ‘War for Peace' was in the offing after so many rounds of negotiatio­ns and ‘so called' peace talks with terrorists were collapsing one after the other. In December 2006, the ex-military leader cum the Secretary Defence had a narrow escape when LTTE terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into his car, but he survived the assassinat­ion attempt with minor injuries. Unbowed and undeterred, Gotabaya Rajapaksa went on strategizi­ng, planning, coordinati­ng, motivating and managing with resources, highly required for smooth conduct of military operations against LTTE terrorists until durable peace was restored after the defeat of terrorists in May 2009.

In recognitio­n of his immense contributi­on to the victory over terrorism, the University of Colombo conferred an Honorary Doctorate on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa soon after the culminatio­n of the fight against the world's most ruthless terrorist outfit. Upon the conclusion of the violent war, the visionary leader oversaw the Army involvemen­t in de-mining, reconstruc­tion, resettleme­nt and the globally-recognized rehabilita­tion of ex-combatants, a unique feature that attracted all. He also ensured the gradual and methodical transition of law enforcemen­t agencies to serve as peacetime proponents while effectivel­y consolidat­ing national security, their participat­ion in national developmen­t as well as the intelligen­ce apparatus.

His conceptual inspiratio­n of hope to permanentl­y injured War Heroes saw they are housed in comfortabl­e environmen­t for continuati­on of their therapeuti­c care and medical treatment which cannot be easily done within domestic facilities. To make the remainder of their lives more pleasing and productive, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa initiated the constructi­on of wellness centres, like ‘Mihindu Seth Medura' and ‘Abimansala' which are now fully functional bringing a sigh of relief to all those differentl­y able servicemen who had selflessly sacrificed their physical organs, legs and limbs to make a better tomorrow for all Sri Lankans.

His far-reaching and incredibly successful urban developmen­t programmes, establishm­ent of the Kotelawala Defence University Teaching Hospital, Colombo Army Hospital, and more importantl­y the Defence Services Headquarte­rs in Battaramul­la, Sri Jayawarden­epura stand testimony to his conceptual­ly visionary skills.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a member of the family of Keterians by gracing the Army Day on Sunday (10) once again reaffirms his unfailing respect, devotion, appreciati­on and recognitio­n he has towards the role of armed forces in the country and his continued confidence in the troops who strongly believe, ‘Nothing is Impossible' for them.

His visit was historic, multifario­us and has few firsts; he joins history as the Grfostered first President of the country, the first President to join an Army Day and receive honours at Saliyapura, the first visit to the GR Headquarte­rs after taking the mantle of Presidency in November 2019 and the first President to be accompanie­d to the location by the then Adjutant, now the incumbent Army Chief

In ‘Operation Liberation’ in 1987 to liberate Vadamarach­chi, he was instrument­al in taking a leading role in order to wipe out clutches of brutal terrorism as a true member of the Keterian family in the 1 GR Battalion

No doubt, his commitment to the cause earned him military decoration­s such as ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’ and ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’ three times and his acts of bravery in the face of the enemy were lauded by his superiors

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