IMA Welcomes 419 New Officers; Sri Lankan Army Chief Returns as Reviewing Officer, Gets Emotional

The Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun held its Passing out Parade on Saturday, commissioning 419 new officers into the Indian Army. The ceremony was made even more special by the presence of Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and an IMA alumnus, who served as the reviewing officer and chief guest. A total of 451 gentlemen cadets graduated, including 32 officers from friendly foreign nations. The newly commissioned officers were from the 156th Regular Course, 45th Technical Entry Scheme (TES), 139th Technical Graduate Course (TGC), and 54th Special Commissioned Officers (SCO) Course. Lt Gen Rodrigo, who was visibly emotional, shared his journey at IMA and urged the new officers to lead with wisdom and carry the nation's hopes with pride. He emphasized the responsibilities that come with the uniform and the importance of earning respect through conduct and character. The event also featured a precision march by the Officer Cadets to patriotic tunes like 'Sare Jahan Se Achha' and 'Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja.'