Army engineers build Lanka's first mine resistance and bomb proof troop carrier

The first Mine Resistance Ambush Protected Vehicle (Unicob-MRAPV), manufactured by the Sri Lanka Electromechanical and Engineering (SLEME) Regiment, was on display at the independence day parade on Friday.

On Monday at Sri Lanka Army Headquarters, the new vehicle was unveiled and inspected by Army Commander Shavendra Silva.

Vehicles of this nature were used during the war period to carry soldiers safely to the battlefront and bring wounded soldiers to safety, said Major General Indu Samarakoon, who is the

Colonel Commandant of the Electrical Mechanical Engineering Corps.

He said the vehicle, which was built with inputs from 15 engineering teams, was capable of withstanding fire or bombing. He said if the country was to buy such a vehicle from an overseas supplier, it would cost Rs 295 million, but the Army's engineers built it at a cost of only Rs 15 million.

He said the Army would produced more such vehicles soon.

Explaining the features of this vehicle, Maj. Gen. Samarakoon said it is equipped with 4x4 high motion wheels, which make it operable in off- road conditions.

It is also fitted with a camera-mounted surveillance system and is also GPSenabled. Its cabin is air conditioned and has the capacity to carry nine fighters. Besides, its maintenance is also low.

Although there is no war in Sri Lanka today, the vehicle could be put into other uses such as rescue missions during natural disasters and to evacuate wounded people.

Also present at the ceremony to unveil the vehicle were Brigadier Deepal Hathurusighe and Brigadier Anil Peiris.