Two hundred and ninety seven recruit sailors of 227th regular intake pass out at SLNS Shiksha
 

Two hundred and ninety seven naval recruits belonging to the 227^th regular intake of the Sri Lanka Navy passed out at SLNS Shiksha in Poonewa on 12^th November 2016. The Director General Logistics, Rear Admiral Chandana Kulasekara graced the event as the Chief Guest and took the salute. Commander North Central Naval Area, Rear Admiral Merril Wickramasinghe, Deputy Area Commander ofNorth Central Naval Area, Commodore Upul De Silva, senior naval officers, senior officers from sister services and Police, sailors and parents of the sailors who were passing out also present on the occasion.

At the end of the colorful parade, trophies were awarded to those who were outstanding in various disciplines during the basic training. Recruit AH Athapaththu was adjudged the Best Recruit and the Recruit with the Highest Aggregate in all subjects. Meanwhile, Recruit PWDM Rupasinghe won the award for the Best Marksman. Recruit MVPP Mawaththa and Women Recruit HAK Hasarangi jointly won the awards for the Best Sportsman and woman. Dutugemunu Division was selected as the Best Division.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Rear Admiral Chandana Kulasekara stated that the Navy has an immense responsibility to protect the motherland being and island-nation. The battles fought by the Navy both at sea and on land as a professionally competent and technically efficient naval force immensely helped to uproot the brutal terrorism which had gripped the entire nation. As such, he requested the new recruits to be mindful of their bounden duty to safeguard the hard won peace for the benefit of the future generations while being proud of the opportunity of joining a victorious navy. On behalf of the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kulasekara also thanked the parents for giving the consent to their beloved sons and daughters to serve the motherland with a noble resolve.