Ministry of Defence  – Media Centre

It is imperative to have a proper plan to face natural and other emergencies within the country and also build capacity to assist other countries faced with such calamities, said State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon making a visit to CBRN Response Regiment at Mattegoda.

State Minister Tennakoon arrived at the Sri Lanka Army Engineers in Mattegoda on a familiarization visit to observe the specialized capabilities and response preparedness of Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE) on Tuesday (26 Mar).

The State Minister was received by the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force and Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Engineers Major General M K Jayawardena on his arrival at the 14 CBRN Response Regiment at Mattegoda. He was accorded a Drive Past on his arrival by SLE troops.

During the briefing held at the Convention Hall, a comprehensive presentation on Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) response, Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Humanitarian Demining capabilities and operations of the SLE was presented. Minister Tennakoon after inspecting the CBRN/ EOD/ HDM kit and equipment on display at the facility also observed a demonstration of CBRN/ EOD/ HDM capabilities.

Senior Army officers including Colonel Commandant of the SLA Corps of Engineer Services Maj. Gen. Lanka Amarapala, Chief Field Engineer Maj. Gen. Shewanth Kulatunge, GOC 59 Engineer Division Maj. Gen. Kapila Dolage and Director General Disaster Management Centre Maj. Gen, Udaya Herath (Retd) were also present at the occasion.