President Chief Guest at National War Heroes' Day
 

Commemorating the heroics of armed force personnel, the National War Heroes' Day 2018 was held under the auspices of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena at the War Heroes’ Monument in Battaramulla yesterday (19 May 2018). The occasion was also attended by the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe.

The ceremony which was held for the 9^th successive year had been organized by the Ranaviru Seva Authority. Having conducted formalities of all religious faiths, His Excellency the President, the Honourable Speaker, Honourable Ministers, dignitaries, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Chief of Defence Staff, Army, Navy and Air Force Commanders, Director General of the Civil Security Department, distinguished invitees and members from war hero families offered floral tributes in memory of their beloved ones.

Addressing the occasion, the President recalled invaluable services rendered by War Heroes and urged the importance of further taking care of their standard of living through a number of welfare measures initiated by the government. The President also paid his gratitude to all war heroes who made numerous sacrifices for the unity and territorial integrity of the motherland.

The event was attended by religious dignitaries including Maha Sangha, dignitaries, senior officers and other ranks from the Ranaviru Seva Authority, tri-services, Police and Civil Security Department, members of war hero families and a large number of general public as well.

Meanwhile, a special Aloka Pooja organized at the most sacred Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya premises last evening was also presided over by His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena. This special spiritual event which was held to invoke the blessings on departed souls of the armed forces, who gave their today for our tomorrow, had been organized in coordination with the tri-services, Police and Civil Security Department.