The twelfth anniversary of the war victory of 2009 was commemorated adhering to the COVID-19 health guidelines near the War Heroes’ Monument in Battaramulla last evening.
The celebration was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and with the participation of former President Maithripala Sirisena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara, State Minister Dilum Amunugama and Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Retired General Kamal Gunaratne.
Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Marshal of Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, Chief of Defense Staff, Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickremeratne and Director General of Civil Security Department and the servicemen and women of the Tri Forces participated on this occasion.
This year the number of participants for this national event had been limited considering the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Acting Chairperson of the Ranaviru Seva Authority Sonia Kottegoda welcomed the Chief Guests and the participants to the commemoration.
In remembrance of the fallen war heroes, floral tributes were offered to the monument using three Bell-412 helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The President, Prime Minister, other invitees and the family members of the fallen war heroes also offered floral wreaths to the monument on this occasion.
Members of the Tri Forces along with the Sri Lanka Police, STF and CSD brought an end to the three-decade long civil war with the barbaric LTTE on May 18, 2009 under the leadership of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Here are some vignettes of the event.
