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With the spread of COVID -19 pandemic around the world, scientists and medical experts are committed to finding a solution to eradicate the Coronavirus or at least to minimize its spread by strengthening the human immune system which will help to reduce the death toll and further transmission of the virus.
As a result of the 30-year ethnic conflict, many soldiers lost their lives while some lost their limbs. The Ranaviru Seva Authority was established to look into the well-being of war heroes. In an interview Maj. Gen. Nandana Senadeera (Retd), Chairman of the Ranaviru Seva Authority talks about its mission.
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has served the nation with dedication for seven decades. Today we discover one of the pioneer flying formations, the No.07 Helicopter Squadron.
The word ‘Air Mobile’ gives a wider meaning when it’s connected to military operations, correlating to different activities in battles, though it generally means the ability to mobilise in the air by means of aircraft, Helicopters etc. The concept of airmobile was initiated by the US military as a sling load mission during the Korean War on 13 September 1951. Since then, the airmobile concept has been implemented by all militaries in the world as a versatile, credible and a powerful military tool. The first recorded airmobile operation was conducted by 45 Commandos and Royal Marines in the Operation Musketeer on 5 November 1956 during the Suez Crisis.
The Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) of the Army, well geared up towards the successful implementation of the Army Chief's 'Thuru Mithuru Nawaratak' green drive that goes hand in hand with the Presidential policy, 'Saubhagye Dekma' government framework with its troops is currently engaged in a multitude of country-wide agro-livestock projects of different magnitude and kinds across the country as per guidelines given by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army under the close supervision of Brigadier Arosh Rajapakse, Director, DAL.
The Civil Security Department (CSD) celebrates its 15th Anniversary today. It was established as the National Home Guard Service which was a Voluntary Service in the mid 1980s set up to protect the threatened villages. They were initially armed with 12 bore shotguns and they protected the threatened villages which were liberated by the Armed Forces in order to prevent these villages from falling back into the hands of the LTTE. Those who served at that time were not paid anything for their services as it was a purely voluntary service. However, some rations were issued to them through cooperative outlets.
The Heated Humidified Oxygen Therapy (HHOT) Unit manufactured by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has been distributed to many hospitals and saved the lives of Covid infected patients. The project has become a success due to the hard work of SLAF engineering officers and technicians who have been guided by specialist doctors.
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has an impressive fleet of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. For seven decades the SLAF has produced many pilots. When these pilots were aspiring officer cadets they were all trained at the No-01 Flying Training Wing, which is presently located at SLAF Base China Bay, Trincomalee.
The word ‘Quarantine’ became familiar in Sri Lanka after the COVID19 pandemic. It has however, a long history around the globe during various time periods with the emergence of various different diseases reported.
A voyage to fulfill oxygen requirement of the country amidst COVID-19
On Aug 8, 1992, a landmine planted by the LTTE assassinated Lt. Gen. Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa and the finest of the top military brass
The salubrious green hills of Diyatalawa are embellished with natural beauty. For decades, this hill station has been a garrison town, first discovered and established by the Royal Army in 1859, and subsequently enhanced by the Royal Air Force.
The 90% of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University’s (KDU) lecturers are civilians, and therefore, new Act broached for Kotelawala National Defence University (KNDU) won’t cause any hindrance to the country’s free education, said the Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) yesterday (July 22).
A few years ago, I remember the following words inscribed on a wooden plaque, a quote by Joseph Conrad which best captures the role of a naval captain at sea - “There is one who alone is ultimately responsible for the safe navigation, engineering performance, accurate gunfire and morale of his ship. This is the most demanding assignment of the Navy.”
First Lady Ioma Rajapaksa presenting an award while Army Seva Vanitha Unit President Sujeewa Nelson looks on.
With a vision to educate males and females to be commissioned officers in the armed forces the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy was established in October 1980. In 1988 the educational establishment achieved university status thereby being able to confer degrees to its students. Renamed as the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in 2007, the University has kept its doors opened for civil students (day scholars) since 2012 with the objective of enhancing the civil-military relationship. However the proposed General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University (Special Provisions) Bill has been heavily criticised as many claim that it would bring about militarisation within the higher education sector. “The General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill is only for KDU. With that you cannot govern any other institution in the country,” said Kotelawala Defence University Vice Chancellor Maj. Gen. Milinda Peiris (RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil (Ind)) in an interview with the . Following are excerpts of an interview done with Maj. Gen. Peiris:
Sri Lanka is a resplendent island blessed with natural resources.
In our continuing series on the flying formations of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), today we journey into the realm of the heavy military transporters. The No. 2 Squadron located at the SLAF Base in Katunayake is the home of the pilots and formidable aircraft that give the Air Force its heavy lift capability.
A need for a navigational chart aroused as man started to navigate through waters and the importance of hydrography came into play since then. Hydrography involves a process, from collecting data in the field to the preparation of the chart in accordance with the highest international standards and contributes immensely to the economic development of a country. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which has 94 member countries including Sri Lanka, coordinates hydrographic activities worldwide through 15 Regional Hydrographic Commissions (RHCs). The IHO was founded in Monaco on 21st June 1921.
A pandemic of this scale needs a quick response. Undoubtedly the military has the capacity of furnishing the manpower as well as the resources needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has halted the people’s ordinary lives since March 2020.
The location of Sri Lanka gives this nation strategic importance on maritime maps. Over the past decade, the Sri Lanka Navy has steadily enhanced its fleet with 'blue water' capability. I was honoured to go onboard the magnificent frigate class Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Parakramabahu (P-625).
The Navy is synonymous with the ocean and ships. Interestingly the Sri Lanka Navy has a fully combat-capable ground force component for various duties. Among these shore establishments a special section of sailors are stationed at SLNS Gemunu in Welisara. These sailors are the proud handlers of the robust Navy dogs.
Education is a right of every child. Students everywhere must have the right atmosphere conducive for learning. Unfortunately some rural schools face various challenges.
Aircraft are synonymous with a nation’s Air Force. However there are many other sections which work behind the scenes to augment the overall role and task of the Air Force. Today we discover the great but silent contribution of the SLAF Regiment (also referred to as the Rock Apes) the largest component of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). Operating under the Directorate of Ground Operations, this command has 31 specialized regiment wings that have consistently enhanced the SLAF’s mission in achieving the overall national security objective.