I consider it is a privilege and honor for me to give a message to the Sri Lanka Army Engineers Association Website as the Secretary of SLAEA.

After the present Executive Committee took over the responsibility of conducting affairs of the association, on the direction of the president, we decided to focus on the “Growth and sustenance” of the Sri Lanka Army Engineer Association in the first stage.

As this hallowed association was established by the far thinking distinguish Members of the Corps of Engineers, it is our bounded duty to uphold the very principles on which this association was formed, specially to promote the dignity and pride of the Corps of Engineers and bring about the welfare for the aging members who are in need. Now the association is in its 74th year and it consists of 1565 members which is not satisfactory. When we analyze the drawback in enlisting members, we observed that it is mainly due to the lack of awareness among retiring officers and men, and also there was no coordination with RHQ SLE. To rectify these shortcomings, the proper mechanism was put in place in coordination with the RHQ SLE Veteran affairs branch.

Further request was made to Col Comdt for serving officers to obtain the membership as done in the past, which is in progress.

Today everything is revolved around money. Therefore, the plan was drawn to conduct certain activities/ projects to raise funds for the association. The timely suggestion made by the president at the exco meeting to launch a website for SLAEA was unanimously endorsed by the exco members and decided to implement it immediately. Website is the best means to disseminate information by the SLAEA to its members and communicate with all serving and retired sapper offers and men.

In this, we must be grateful to Maj Gen SK Thirunavukarasu (retd) RSP VSV USP for undertaking the responsibility voluntarily to design the website and also bear the cost by himself.

Finally, with the support of all members of the exco, the website was ceremonially launched by the chief patron Lt Col VSM Jayawardana (retd) RSP VSP Psc MSc (Def) FCMS on 20 Aug 2022 during the members get together at SLEBA Matthegoda. I consider launching the website is a very important landmark on our journey to achieve the mission for which the association was formed.

I trust now the members can be aware of the activities of the association and obtain the information speedily by accessing the website and communicate with the association to project their ideas, views, and suggestion to contribute to the development of the association. Further, it would motivate serving and retired sapper officers and men to join as members of the association.

I wish the committee headed by Maj Gen SK Thirunavukarasu RSP VSV USP appointed to maintain the website will continuously update.

Major General PMR Bandara (Retd) WWV VSV USP