It has been 14 years since patriotic and heroic War Heroes of the Army (23,962), Navy (1161), Air Force (443), together with 2598 Policemen and 456 Civil Security Department personnel, altogether a total of 28,620, had laid down their precious lives in defence of the motherland from LTTE terrorism. As dusk fell on 18 May 2009, guns fell silent in Nandikadal and the country became free from terrorism which had plagued the Nation for over 35 years.
Similarly, a total of 24,814 War Heroes who resisted LTTE atrocities valiantly became permanently handicapped, some of who still remain under recuperation and rehabilitation at wellness resorts, managed by the Army.
The government dedicated 19 May every year as the National War Heroes’ Day alias the ‘Victory Day’ with the objective of paying tribute to the cherished memories of all those War Heroes during a state ceremony at the Battaramulla War Heroes’ Monument.
Hon. President, Speaker of the Parliament, Leader of the Opposition, Ministers, State Minister of Defence, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Tri Service Commanders, Inspector General of Police, Director General Civil Security Department, Chairman, Ranaviru Seva Authority, Spouses and parents, children of War Heroes, grateful people of this country and All Ranks would join to pay floral tributes to the memories of those War Heroes on Friday (19 May).
