He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has also given the directions and the necessity to form a separate institution in the army for this purpose.
“A committee has been set up to come up with proposals in establishing an institution of this sort,” he said. But it is more likely to come out as a separate directorate within the Army.
The Army has also able to save more than Rs.300 million to the government by carrying out such projects ranging from constructing houses to road construction projects, the Commander said.
Currently the Army engineers supported by a large number of soldiers from every regiment are engaged in a large number of infrastructure projects implemented by the government in all parts of the country mainly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
They are engaged in road construction projects in Trincomalee and Batticaloa. A large number of bridges, buildings, playgrounds and parks are also being built by the Army.
The Army was also involved in certain aspects in the construction of the Suriyawewa International Cricket Stadium while the Diyagama Sports Stadium was also constructed by the Army.
19 January 2012/Supun Dias
DM