SLAF LAUNCHES 'ANNUAL SRI PADA CLEAN UP MARCH FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
7:14pm on Sunday 20th March 2022
The Sri Lanka Air Force launched “Annual Sri Pada Clean Up March” for the 5th consecutive year. The two day clean-up programme was launched on 19th March 2022 to mark 71st Anniversary of Sri Lanka Air Force. The aim of the project was to clean up the paths leading up to the peak of the “Sripadasthanaya”, a religious site that has been subject to reverence by people both from home and abroad.
The “Siri Pada” season starts with the 'Siripa Karuna’ period which commences after the Uduvap Poya Day in December and this draws thousands of devotees who flock here from all over the country and world. These devotees however, also leave behind large amounts of waste which endangers the beauty and the bio diversity in and around the holy site.
All teams engaged with this activity assembled at their respective launching pads at Palahabadala, Eratna and Nallathanni and commenced the march after religious activities performed at Maussakelle Saman Devalaya in the eve of the 19th before proceeding to the Peak. At dawn on the 20th of March, three SLAF teams of over 500 personnel who were at the peak started collecting waste along the paths leading down to Ratnapura, Kuruvita and Nallathanniya. The campaign was hosted by the Commanding Officer of SLAF Combat Training School at Diyatalawa, Air Commodore Suresh Fernando. Moreover, Director Welfare Air Vice Marshal Hemantha Soysa, Deputy Director Logistic Air Commodore Palinda Koswatte, Officers and Other Ranks participated to this meritorious event.
Also, cleaning the garbage beyond “Dolosmahe Pahana” (Eternal flame oil lamp) area is extremely difficult due the inaccessible nature to an ordinary person where this is required special equipment and skills. However, this task is deliberately assigned to the Regiment Special Force troops of SLAF every year who are well trained element to undertake special rescue missions in such locations of extreme ends.
The “Siri Pada” season starts with the 'Siripa Karuna’ period which commences after the Uduvap Poya Day in December and this draws thousands of devotees who flock here from all over the country and world. These devotees however, also leave behind large amounts of waste which endangers the beauty and the bio diversity in and around the holy site.
All teams engaged with this activity assembled at their respective launching pads at Palahabadala, Eratna and Nallathanni and commenced the march after religious activities performed at Maussakelle Saman Devalaya in the eve of the 19th before proceeding to the Peak. At dawn on the 20th of March, three SLAF teams of over 500 personnel who were at the peak started collecting waste along the paths leading down to Ratnapura, Kuruvita and Nallathanniya. The campaign was hosted by the Commanding Officer of SLAF Combat Training School at Diyatalawa, Air Commodore Suresh Fernando. Moreover, Director Welfare Air Vice Marshal Hemantha Soysa, Deputy Director Logistic Air Commodore Palinda Koswatte, Officers and Other Ranks participated to this meritorious event.
Also, cleaning the garbage beyond “Dolosmahe Pahana” (Eternal flame oil lamp) area is extremely difficult due the inaccessible nature to an ordinary person where this is required special equipment and skills. However, this task is deliberately assigned to the Regiment Special Force troops of SLAF every year who are well trained element to undertake special rescue missions in such locations of extreme ends.
‘Manusath Derana’ of TV Derana join hands together with Sri Lanka Air Force this year as the official media partner of “Annual Sri Pada Clean Up March”.
