Video: Promotions and increments to injured soldiers

3 September 2014 10:43 am

Army Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said today that steps had been taken to grant promotions and salary increments to the soldiers who had to retire after being injured during the war is to be considered as they were in service.

“We have taken steps to grant promotions and increments to injured soldiers who had gone on retirement during the war in line with the soldiers in service with the approval of the Defence Ministry and other relevant authorities. This will be a great relief for them,” he said.

 Brigadier Wanigasuriya said discussions were afoot to set up a Base Maintenance Centre in Sri Lanka to maintain army aircrafts in the country whereas they were sent to China for maintenance earlier.

“Most of the aircrafts belonging to the Air Force such as PT6, K8, Y12 and MA60 were made in China. We had to send those aircrafts to China for basic maintenance as we did not have facilities to do so. It cost a huge amount of money but with the initiative of this project, it would be an economical advantage as well. The Chinese technicians will work in the centre for two years and train our soldiers after that they will take over the centre,” he said.

Brigadier Wanigasuriya said the army was conducting the Army Tattoos Islandwide to show skills of the soldiers at village level with the objective of proving them with an opportunity to earn a respect in front of their family members and colleagues.

“We have held Army Tattoos in several areas such as Anuradhapura, Colombo, Jaffna, Kurunegala and Nawalapitiya. And we have planned to hold two tattoos in Moneragala and Badulla district this month, he said. (Sanath Desmond and Ajith Siriwardena)