A glittering ceremony that offered deep reverence to the memory of valour and gallantry of tri-service War Heroes who enabled all of us to live in peace, took place Monday (19) evening at Battaramulla War Hero monument as the second principal segment of the National Victory Day’s 5th anniversary commemoration ceremonies.
Just a day after the main spectacle got underway at Matara with the mammoth Victory Day Parade, the tribute at the War Hero monument, organized by Ranaviru Seva Authority collected a gathering of more than 5500 children, spouses, next of kin of fallen War Heroes who received the opportunity to pay their respect to their beloved ones.
Prime Minister, Speaker, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army, Commander of the Navy, Commander of the Air Force, Inspector General of the Police (IGP) and Director General Civil Security Department, were at Battaramulla Parliament ground to receive HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, scheduled to grace the special war memorial ceremony at Battaramulla as the Chief Guest.
At Battaramulla, it was a glittering ceremony that offered a deep reverence to the valour and gallantry of our War Heroes whose invaluable sacrifices, made our today totally safe and more comfortable.
President Rajapaksa on arrival at the venue was warmly received by Mrs P.B Wettewa, Chairperson, Rana Viru Seva Authority (RVSA) and ushered him to the special dais.
President Rajapaksa afterwards received the salute of the troops and paid respect to the National Anthem. A one-minute silence in memory of all War Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland, was then observed before religious observances of all denominations, began.
Rhythmic beats of traditional Rana Bera, including Hevisi, Purappattu, Magul Bera, Geta Bera, etc, presented by Tri-service and Police bands then began reverberating, symbolizing the bravery and courage, shown by departed War Heroes of the Tri services as the ceremony reached its peak. It also symbolized a tribute paid to the memory of them as was the case during the times of our ancestral kings.
Mrs Padma Wettewa, inaugurating the formal commemorative ceremony as the Chairperson, RVSA, welcomed the Chief Guest and all the invitees in a brief speech.
Seconds after that, President Rajapaksa along with Speaker, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, CDS, Army, Navy and Air Force Commanders and the IGP in succession, walked up to the cenotaph and laid floral wreaths, in remembrance of all War Heroes of our times.
It was a moment filled with grief, pain and loss, but the magnificent monument lit up brilliantly, appeared to have immortalized their memory for the living to see and receive veneration.
Immediately after the President, beloved next of kin of fallen War Heroes, many with their sons and daughters, queued up wailing and recalling shared memories of yester year. They spoke in flowers and paid their respect to the memory of their beloved ones as they knelt down at the foot of the memorial.
They went on bursting into tears while laying bouquets of fragrant flowers, some holding and embracing their children. It was a solemn moment of memory, filled with emotions, but their death did not happen in vain but for a worthy cause, a cause that does not have a price.
Next, sounded the Last Post honouring their memory in military formality. Trumpeters of Tri-services and the Police joined together to play the melody. As dusk was falling, the Reveille sounded, marking the culmination of the formal ceremony which was attended by a distinguished gathering.
President Rajapaksa and distinguished invitees afterwards joined together and lit lanterns in front of the monument as a mark of respect to the War Heroes. The Aloka Pooja illuminated the entire complex giving eternity to the heroism, displayed by members of the Armed Forces and the Police during their battle over terrorism in different humanitarian operations that plagued this country for more than 30 years.
A brief speech to the occasion by President Mahinda Rajapaksa reminded us of the invaluable services of our fallen War Heroes.
Just a day after the main spectacle got underway at Matara with the mammoth Victory Day Parade, the tribute at the War Hero monument, organized by Ranaviru Seva Authority collected a gathering of more than 5500 children, spouses, next of kin of fallen War Heroes who received the opportunity to pay their respect to their beloved ones.
Prime Minister, Speaker, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army, Commander of the Navy, Commander of the Air Force, Inspector General of the Police (IGP) and Director General Civil Security Department, were at Battaramulla Parliament ground to receive HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, scheduled to grace the special war memorial ceremony at Battaramulla as the Chief Guest.
At Battaramulla, it was a glittering ceremony that offered a deep reverence to the valour and gallantry of our War Heroes whose invaluable sacrifices, made our today totally safe and more comfortable.
President Rajapaksa on arrival at the venue was warmly received by Mrs P.B Wettewa, Chairperson, Rana Viru Seva Authority (RVSA) and ushered him to the special dais.
President Rajapaksa afterwards received the salute of the troops and paid respect to the National Anthem. A one-minute silence in memory of all War Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland, was then observed before religious observances of all denominations, began.
Rhythmic beats of traditional Rana Bera, including Hevisi, Purappattu, Magul Bera, Geta Bera, etc, presented by Tri-service and Police bands then began reverberating, symbolizing the bravery and courage, shown by departed War Heroes of the Tri services as the ceremony reached its peak. It also symbolized a tribute paid to the memory of them as was the case during the times of our ancestral kings.
Mrs Padma Wettewa, inaugurating the formal commemorative ceremony as the Chairperson, RVSA, welcomed the Chief Guest and all the invitees in a brief speech.
Seconds after that, President Rajapaksa along with Speaker, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, CDS, Army, Navy and Air Force Commanders and the IGP in succession, walked up to the cenotaph and laid floral wreaths, in remembrance of all War Heroes of our times.
It was a moment filled with grief, pain and loss, but the magnificent monument lit up brilliantly, appeared to have immortalized their memory for the living to see and receive veneration.
Immediately after the President, beloved next of kin of fallen War Heroes, many with their sons and daughters, queued up wailing and recalling shared memories of yester year. They spoke in flowers and paid their respect to the memory of their beloved ones as they knelt down at the foot of the memorial.
They went on bursting into tears while laying bouquets of fragrant flowers, some holding and embracing their children. It was a solemn moment of memory, filled with emotions, but their death did not happen in vain but for a worthy cause, a cause that does not have a price.
Next, sounded the Last Post honouring their memory in military formality. Trumpeters of Tri-services and the Police joined together to play the melody. As dusk was falling, the Reveille sounded, marking the culmination of the formal ceremony which was attended by a distinguished gathering.
President Rajapaksa and distinguished invitees afterwards joined together and lit lanterns in front of the monument as a mark of respect to the War Heroes. The Aloka Pooja illuminated the entire complex giving eternity to the heroism, displayed by members of the Armed Forces and the Police during their battle over terrorism in different humanitarian operations that plagued this country for more than 30 years.
A brief speech to the occasion by President Mahinda Rajapaksa reminded us of the invaluable services of our fallen War Heroes.
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