CHRISTMAS BENEDICTION AT AHQ PRAYS FOR WELL-BEING OF ARMED FORCES AT WORK FOR CONTROL OF COVID-19
Reflecting on the peaceful joy and hope the Lord bestowed the world, the Sri Lanka Army Christian Fellowship this year held its Christmas Benediction on low-profile at the Army HQ which is at its core, is a great way to stay focused on what is really important at this critical moment of our country. Adding greater prominence to the arrangement, His Eminence Dr Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo presided the brief thankful evening at the invitation of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army.
This short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance which also refers to a specific Christian religious service that attached high degree of significance to all troops, engaged in COVID-19 control tasks, all fallen War Heroes, serving troops, committed to Nation-building and the general public at large was attended by a representative gathering, comprised of the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and his spouse, Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, President Army Seva Vanitha Unit, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Commander of the Air Force and Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana and their spouses, Major General Prabath Dematanpitiya, Chief of Staff, Major General Duminda Sirinaga, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Dammika Jayasinghe, Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Senior officers at the AHQ, members of the Army Christian Fellowship and a group of Other Ranks.
Day 's Christmas Benediction proceedings commenced after His Eminence Dr Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo was warmly received respectfully by the Army Chief on arrival at the Army HQ, together with Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, Major General Jayashantha Gamage, Chairman, Sri Lanka Army Christian Fellowship and Office-bearers of the Army Christian Fellowship.
A spirited welcome note, delivered by Brigadier Manjula Karunarathna, Secretary to the Army Christian Fellowship greeted everyone present and briefed the gathering on the significance of this special Benediction, filled with love, warmth, affection and eternal blessing as the Lord Jesus Christ has shown, although this year 's arrangements are held at low profile. Afterwards he respectfully invited His Eminence to hold the Benediction.
Quoting pertinent paragraphs of the Holy Bible, His Eminence then read out the Gospel and the Christmas Message before he invoked blessings on the Commander of the Army, troops involved in COVID-19 tasks, all members of the armed forces, fallen War Heroes, serving members of the Armed Forces and all Sri Lankans.
The congregation afterwards sang odes jointly to the Prince of the Peace, Jesus Christ and heralded his birth and also prayed for eradication of COVID-19 virus
Prior to the main service at the Army HQ, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army along with his spouse switched on Christmas illuminations and unveiled decorations along the road passage to the Army HQ from the Central Environment Authority junction turn.
