Did Sri Lanka Army Commander Relive His Cadet Days at IMA?

New Delhi, June 14 (NationPress) Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, the esteemed Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, revisited his formative cadet days at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, on Saturday, as he took on the significant role of reviewing the passing out parade.

On the concluding day of his four-day visit, the Sri Lankan Army chief, who was commissioned in December 1990 as part of the 87th Course, had the honor of witnessing the commissioning of a new generation of officers, which included foreign cadets representing Sri Lanka.

While addressing the cadets, Lt Gen Rodrigo expressed profound pride in reviewing the Passing Out Parade at IMA, describing it as a deeply emotional homecoming.

He reflected on his own path, reminding the cadets that being commissioned into the armed forces signifies more than just attaining a rank; it embodies a lifelong commitment to service, responsibility, and leadership.

He encouraged the cadets to don the uniform with both pride and purpose, acknowledging them as part of an unbroken lineage of patriots.

Lt Gen Rodrigo celebrated the award recipients and recognized foreign cadets as ambassadors of IMA’s values, emphasizing that these principles transcend national boundaries. He urged the young officers to lead wisely, uphold justice, and contribute fearlessly to IMA’s legacy, invoking the timeless words of Field Marshal Manekshaw: “Be truthful, be honest, be fearless.”

His visit was aimed at strengthening defense diplomacy through structured collaboration and shared training values, which included discussions with Indian military leaders.

Throughout his four-day visit, Lt Gen Rodrigo engaged with senior Indian Army officials, including Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani and GOC-in-C, South Western Command, Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, focusing on enhancing military cooperation, joint training, and regional security frameworks.

India and Sri Lanka jointly conduct the bilateral exercise "Mitra Shakti", a premier Army-level counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism training initiative. The 10th edition of this exercise took place in Sri Lanka in August 2024, serving as a cornerstone for operational synergy and trust-building between the two armies.

Currently, approximately 700 personnel from the Sri Lankan Army are receiving training across various Indian Army establishments, establishing the Sri Lanka Army as the largest foreign participant in Indian military training programs.