The Sri Lanka Army marked its 77th Anniversary yesterday(10) at the Army Cantonment in Panagoda, recognising the dedication and contributions of schools that have produced the highest number of officers and soldiers currently serving in the Army.
Lieutenant General Nilantha Premaratne RSP VSV USP nps psc, Commander of the Army, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest.
In a historic first for the Tri-Services and the Police, schools that had contributed the highest numbers of officers and other ranks currently serving in the Sri Lanka Army were recognised as part of the anniversary celebrations. The Commander of the Army presented awards to the top three schools in each of four categories: Male Officers, Lady Officers, Male Soldiers and Female Soldiers. The rankings were based on the number of currently serving Army personnel who had attended each school.
In the Male Officers category, Ananda College, Colombo, secured first place, followed by Dharmaraja College, Kandy, in second place and St. Thomas’ College, Matale, in third place.
In the Lady Officers category, Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo, won first place, while Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo, secured second and third places, respectively.
Kebithigollewa Central College, Anuradhapura, took first place in the Male Soldiers category, followed by Niwaththakachethiya National College, Anuradhapura, in second place and Badulla Central College, Badulla, in third place.
In the Female Soldiers category, Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalle, secured first place. Anuradhapura Central College, Anuradhapura, won second place, while Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo, secured third place.
The recognition highlighted the contribution of educational institutions in nurturing generations of men and women who have dedicated themselves to serving the country through the Sri Lanka Army.
