The Navy Headquarters yesterday morning (16) extended a warm welcome to Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva when he paid the first courtesy call on his Navy counterpart, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva at the Navy Commander’s office.
Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva also reminisced how Lieutenant General Silva as one of the most leading Commanders in the Wanni at that time guided his troops and cleared the areas under his command.
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva assured that in his capacity as the Army Chief would do everything possible to further foster close relations and strong connectivity with the Navy as well as the Air Force during his tenure since all three professional organisations are working for a common goal.
“We will work together as combined forces and sustain good practices in order to protect national security interests and the people of this country. Tri-services have mature and well-experienced senior officers as top-level commanders in all three services who have been known to one another since the times of their cadetship and participation in the battlefield. Let us closely interact with all our actions and reciprocal moves for the common good of our services as never before,” the Army Commander said.
“We all stood together during the critical times of our history and the support given by our other ranks in all three forces could not be belittled and it was the unity that freed this country from grips of terrorism. Let me profusely thank the Navy for its unstinted support so far given,” the Army Chief said.
Lieutenant General Silva also made a special mention of very effective Naval operations being conducted by sailors around the country in their quest to detect narcotics and other harmful elements, trying to enter the country. He also pledged the Army support for such operations in the future and invited the Navy to join hands with the Army for such projects too.
The Army Chief also spoke high of the Navy’s contribution to all types of natural disasters and national catastrophes and invited a representative team of senior Navy Officers to attend the forthcoming Army drill competition awarding ceremony as special guests showing their spirits of brotherhood and strong connectivity.
Both of them exchanged mementoes as symbols of goodwill and understanding. The visiting Army Chief also left a few thoughts in the Visitors’ Book at the Navy Commander’s office.
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