Sri Lanka set to pay tribute to fallen war heroes

Arrangements have been finalized to pay tribute to the fallen patriotic War Heroes of the Tri-forces, the Police and Civil Security Department (CSD) on the 11th National War Heroes’ Day today at Battaramulla National War Heroes’ Monument during a dignified ceremony, headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Army said in a statement.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, together with a galaxy of dignitaries, inclusive of Prime Minister, Governor for Western Province, Admiral of the Fleet, President’s Secretary, Defence Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, Navy & Air Force Commanders, Inspector General of Police, Chairman, Ranaviru Seva Authority and a host of close relatives of fallen ones, the statement continued.

This year’s 11th National War Heroes’ Day commemoration ceremony, organized by the Rana Viru Seva Authority (RVSA) adhering to health guidelines will begin at 4.00 p.m. this evening, upon the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the Chief Guest at the national event, preceded by Prime Minister and other distinguished invitees in succession.

A total of 28,619 War Heroes of the Army (23,962), Navy (1160), Air Force (443), together with 2598 Policemen and 456 Civil Security Department personnel, who had made the supreme sacrifice in the fight against LTTE terrorism before May 2009 will be respectfully remembered by all peace-loving ethnicity in Sri Lanka for their gallantry, invaluable and selfless dedication during this national ceremony.

They will be adorned with recital of the national anthem, two-minute silence in honour of their memory, reading of the citation for bravery, religious observances, playing of ‘Rana Bera’, vigil mounting, the President’s address, aerial drop of flowers on the monument, in the presence of the President, Prime Minister, Governor, Secretaries, Tri Service Commanders, Inspector General of Police & others in succession, joined by the representative gathering of next of kin of all fallen ones to offer floral tributes to the Monument, seconds after aerial drop of flowers of the Air Force gets underway, the Army said.

At dusk, the sounding of the Last Post and Reveille in conformity with military traditions would culminate the formal ceremony, a feature that takes prominence in all tri service-related commemorative ceremonies, the statement read further.