Army Chief aims professional, hi-tech military

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

BATALANDA: The final objective of all my efforts is to create a professional and a technologically advanced military free of corruption, misuse and wastage which should be seen as a disciplined force in the face of the public, Army Commander Lt General Sarath Fonseka said Tuesday.

Fonseka was speaking at the graduation ceremony of 37 Armed Forces officers of the Course No 9 held at Batalanda Army Command and Staff College yesterday.

He said that newly graduated officers will be entrusted with more responsibilities and they are expected to maintain high standards.

They must remember this and those who adjust to face the challenges will be the winners.

Fonseka said that 2007 will be an important year for all defence establishments in the country with the Army Command and Staff College becoming a Defence Services Command and Staff College. This had been one of the foremost dreams of all defence establishments.

He insisted that protecting human rights should be considered a priority by the officers whether on staff work or command appointments and they should lead their men by example and exercise maximum command strength to achieve the tasks given to them.

He also pointed out that Security Forces irrespective of countless atrocities and provocative acts of the LTTE have acted with utmost restraint and the highest degree of discipline while preserving human rights and international conventions without falling prey to the LTTE's subtle moves meant to provoke the military.

Commandant of the Staff College Major General Niranjan Ranasinghe said that nowhere else our officers could get this exclusive experience as at the Batalanda Staff College and with the expansion of the establishment military officers from neighbouring countries will also be invited. Major General Ranasinghe was one of the first to graduate from this Staff College.

Major G.J.M.W Fernando from the Regiment of Artillery won the Golden Pen Award for the best Research and the Golden Owl Award for his Best All Round performances.

Two hundred and Fifty Three officers from the three services have graduated from the Army Command and Staff College upto now.