MOD STARTS THE DAY WITH NEW YEAR TEA TABLE

Ministry of Defence (MOD) greeted its staff on account of the dawn of the New Year and entertained them to a traditional tea table, coloured with milk rice and sweetmeats on Monday (19) morning at the MOD premises, headed by Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Secretary Defence.

Mrs Chithrani Gunaratne, Chairperson, Defence Ministry 's Seva Vanitha Unit, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Navy Commander, together with Air Force Chief of Staff Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Payoe, Additional and Assistant Secretaries, Senior military officers, state officials and minor staffers of the MOD were among participants at the occasion.

Making a few comments at the occasion, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Defence Secretary urged all to work efficiently and extend the best of cooperation towards the government 's development process while the government is committed to ensure national security in accordance with HE the President 's visionary policy, "Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”. He added: "We were able to successfully contain the COVID-19 in the island on the directions of HE the President along with the support of all state agencies and active contribution of the tri-forces, for which we are grateful.”

General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), talking about Ranaviru families said the measures to pay lifetime salaries and allowances to dependents of war hero families are now in progress on the directives given by HE the President.