The Sri Lanka Army Corps of Engineers who applied a crucial role in the three year long humanitarian operation has now moved onto another challenging sphere, this time to pioneer the first 4 X 4 challenge in association with the Four Wheel Drive Club (FWDC) of Sri Lanka.
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Major General Samarasingeh and Brigadier Udantha
Wijeratna unveling the Gympo logo |
The inaugural “Sappers 4 X 4 Gympo” as it will be known will be held on August 14 the at the Sri Lanka School of Military Engineers in Tunkama , Embilipitiya, it was announced on Friday by Major General Mendaka Samarasinghe, Colonel Commandant, Corp of Engineers of the Sri Lanka Army.
The Army Field Engineers who are better known as “the Sappers” are no strangers to track construction given the experience they have had on the battle field over three years building bridges, culverts, and mine clearing activities among other activities.
The Sappers have been involve in the construction of the speed tracks including at Fox Hill at Diyathalawa, Gunners Minneriya, Cavalry – Ibbangamuwa and Gajaba –Saliyapura. In the same manner, they have joined hands with the FWDC to transform the picturesque area around the Chandrika wewa into the 4X4track.
They have chosen a bison with wheels for his hind legs as the logo for the Gympo, a name which was randomly chosen on a suggestion by an army colleague, as Major General Samarasinghe explained.
The FWDC has been prompting 4x4 sports in Sri Lanka since 2004 and have enforced environmental friendly practices among its members to follow a code of “off road ethics” so as to maintain the balance with the environment when venturing into trails. |