President assures war heroes’ welfare

President Maithripala Sirisena observed the passing out ceremony of the first Navy Marine Corp held yesterday at the Sri Lanka Navy headquarters in Mullikulam, Mannar. He is flanked by State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne 

After being elected, the current Government has taken several steps to provide welfare facilities and grant benefits to war heroes throughout the last two years and the Government will continue to take every possible action to secure their welfare in the future, President Maithripala Sirisena recently stated.

The President made these remarks at the passing out ceremony of the first Navy Marine Corp held yesterday at the Sri Lanka Navy headquarters in Mullikulam, Mannar.

“The current Government took measures to win national and international honour for our security forces,” he said.

“The current Government succeeded in getting training opportunities in powerful countries of the world, which had been lost to our security forces in the past. These opportunities will be increased in the future,” the President said. 

He stated that the US had expressed its willingness to provide technological knowledge and training opportunities to the Sri Lankan Navy. The President commended the efforts of the Lanka Navy during the conflict. He also praised their valued contribution to national and regional security with the utilisation of modern technology.

For the first time in the history of the Sri Lankan Navy, the Sri Lanka Marine Corp was established under the leadership of the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijeygunarathne. This is the youngest Marine Corps established in the world. 

This Marine Corps possesses many distinct combatant capabilities and skills and they are perfectly trained to face any enemy attack of land from the sea as well as to attack any enemy targets by travelling by sea to a land area. They are highly skilled Marine Corps in urban, forest and river-related operations.

They have been provided special training for the provision of UN peacekeeping duties and to give humanitarian assistance and management in natural disaster situations in Sri Lanka as well as across the region.

The passing out parade of the first group of Marine Corps, consisting of 165 officers and marines, was held under the patronage of President Sirisena, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The President also joined in viewing a training exercise on Mullikulum beach, where the Marine Corps battalion attacked an enemy campsite.

The President launched the new website of the Sri Lankan Marine Corps and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, presented a memento to the President during the event.

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene, Chief of Defense Staff Air Chief Marshal K.A. Gunathilaka, Army Commander Lt. General Chrishantha de Silva, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathi, North Western Naval Commander Real Admiral P.R.B. Disanayake as well as senior officials such as US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap, and many others participated in the event.