Jaffna Security Forces Commander to receive Gusi Peace Prize

Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe is to receive the prestigious Gusi Peace Prize for 2010 on Wednesday in Manila, Philippines.

The Philippines based award, recognising individuals working towards the attainment of peace and respect for human life and dignity has named Major General Hathurusinghe as one of the nineteen 2010 laureates for his contribution to the peace process of Sri Lanka.

This year’s Gusi Peace Prize Annual International Awards Night will be held on 24 November at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

Major General Hathurusinghe, who joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1980 as a Cadet Officer, took the leadership as the Jaffna Security Forces Commander in February 2010.

The Major General now commands the peace time military forces in the North and plays a key role in the development of the war-battered region that was once the heartland of the Tamil Tigers.

As the Security Forces Commander in Jaffna, he takes leadership in many community development activities spearheading government policy in liaison with all other agencies including building houses and promoting livelihood programmes for the displaced.

The Jaffna Commander has special ties to Philippines having completed a course in 2009-10 at the Philippine National Defence College that included the participation of ranking military officers from all over the Asian-Pacific region.

The Commander has shared his experiences and knowledge on terrorist battles with the Philippine military establishment who themselves are in the midst of a secessionist conflict in the Southern Philippines.

The Major General has dedicated his award to his Commander-In-Chief President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for their leadership in the war against the LTTE terrorist organisation.  Major General Hathurusinghe will accompany a Sri Lankan delegation led by the Chief Minister of North Central Province Bertie Premalal Dissanayake to Manila to receive his prize.

The delegation will include a 14-member dance troupe that is scheduled to perform at the ceremony. Sri Lankan Embassy in Philippines has organised two other traditional dance performances to showcase Sri Lanka’s culture.