SL Army establishes Agriculture and Livestock Corps Unit

Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

The Sri Lanka Army yesterday established the Agriculture and Livestock Corps Unit under the directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.  

The inauguration ceremony of the Sri Lanka Army Agriculture and Livestock Corps Unit was held at the Army Headquarters yesterday morning.  

This unit consists of 5 battalions including a regular battalion and four volunteer battalions.  

Accordingly, three volunteer battalions have been currently established and among them, with one established in Ambalangoda at the 5th Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps as the 2nd (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Army Agriculture and Livestock Corps, the 3rd (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Army Agriculture and Livestock Corps at the 6th Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps in Kandakadu and 4th (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Army Agriculture and Livestock Corps at the 7th Sri Lanka National Security Forces in Nochchiyagama.  

The first battalion of Sri Lanka Army Agriculture and Livestock Corps and 5th (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Army Agriculture and Livestock Corps is to be established soon.  

Each battalion consists 28 officers and 725 other ranks and this unit is currently operating under the supervision of the Director General of Agriculture and Livestock, Major General Indrajith Kadanaarachchi.  

Rice production programme under the ‘Thuru Mithuru’ project, Coconut Cultivation Project of 1,000 acres, TEJC Mango Cultivation Project of 500 acres, 2000 acre cashew cultivation project and 200 acre chilli cultivation are some of the projects which are currently operational under the new unit.