The five-member Indonesian delegation, led by Air Vice Marshal (retd) Sumarman, Professional Staff for National Ideology Matters, Ambassador Sebastianus Sumarsono, Professional Staff for Diplomacy and International Relations Matters, Mr Radjab Semendawai, Professional Staff for Diplomacy and International Relations Matters, Mrs Alana Cicillia Warandy, 3rd Secretary Press & Socio-Cultural Affairs and Major Samsul Hnda a Student of Intake - 9 at Defence Service Command and Staff College at Sapugaskanda, was in Sri Lanka with a view to receiving a firsthand account of ground realities in the post-war Sri Lanka and evaluating rehabilitation efforts in the post-war scenario.
Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva after extending a warm welcome to the foreign delegates upon their arrival at the Army Headquarters had a cordial exchange of views with them. Interactive dialogues that ensued, clarified current Army involvements and the support, being extended by the Army for rehabilitation of former combatants and measures now underway for their reintegration into society.
Exchange of mementos towards the end of the meeting with the Air Vice Marshal (retd) Sumarman and the Commander of the Army brought the formal meeting to an end.
Major General E.M.M. Ambanpola, Deputy Chief of Staff and Major General B.A. Perera, Director General General Staff and several senior officers were also associated in the discussions.
Prior to the meeting with the Commander of the Army, the visiting delegation sat together at the conference hall to listen to a comprehensive briefing on ‘Rehabilitation Process of Ex LTTE Cadres and Present Action Taken by Army to Assist Reintegration Process’, conducted by Major General D.D.U.K Hettiarachchi, General Officer Commanding, 23 Division in his capacity as one of the former Commissioners General of Rehabilitation.
Major General Hettiarachchi outlined how his office was taking all necessary efforts in transforming the minds of those brainwashed combatants from violence to non-violence and enlightened them on the value of life and correct social commitments while living in harmony with all as law-abiding citizens of one country.
Major General Kamal Gunaratne, Master General Ordnance, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Adjutant General, Major General Mahesh Senanayake, Military Secretary and several senior officers associated with the briefing.
The delegation praising those efforts admitted that Sri Lanka Army has set a unique record to the world by rehabilitating the very foes who took arms against them through sheer compassion and broad platform of understanding.
