09th August 2019 17:02:01 Hours
The 27th death anniversary of the legendary War Hero of our times, Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and the team of leading fellow War Heroes and soldiers was commemorated at the Anuradhapura Denzil Kobbekaduwa statue and also at Arali Point on Thursday (8) in the presence of Mrs Laly Kobbekaduwa, family members and a host of military Officers.
The main commemorative highlight occurred near the statue of late Lieutenant General Kobbekaduwa in the heart of Anuradhapura town where Mrs Kobbekaduwa as the Chief Guest for the occasion, together with Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage, Colonel Commandant, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC) presented honours to this great warrior’s memory in a fitting ceremony in the presence of a large gathering, including Buddhist monks, veterans, military Officers and civilians.
The legendary War Hero’s two daughters and the son, together with relatives joined the commemoration and observed religious rites and rituals before the proceedings got underway. Mrs Shiromi Liyanage, Chairperson, SLAC-Seva Vanitha Unit welcomed Mrs Kobbekaduwa and other ladies on arrival at the venue.
Religious performances, formalities, wreath-laying and military salutes dominated the event at the statue in Anuradhapura. Mrs Kobbekaduwa, Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage, Major General K.M.R.P Karunatilleke, Major General Kumar Jayapathirana and a few others placed floral wreaths and revered his memory.
Meanwhile, a special commemorative ceremony to remember those War Heroes took place at Arali Point monument in Kayts where those War Heroes fell silent on 8 August 1992 while travelling. Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna giving prominence to the event laid a floral wreath, amid military formalities and pin-drop silence in honour of their memory.
The brief memorial ceremony ended heralding the Last Post in conformity with military traditions. Several Senior Officers of the SFHQ-J were also present at the ceremony.
Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, one of the finest warriors ever-produced by the Army in our contemporary history, along with a few more fellow military veterans and soldiers, Major General Vijaya Wimalarathne, Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha, Lieutenant Colonel H.R Stephen, Lieutenant Colonel G.H Ariyarathne, Lieutenant Colonel Y.N Palipana, Commander Asanga Lankathilaka, Lieutenant Colonel Nalin de Alwis, Lieutenant Commander C.B Wijepura and Private W.J Wickremasinghe were killed while they were on a military assignment in Araly Point, Kayts, Jaffna.
Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, an old Trinitian, joined the Sri Lanka Army on 25 May 1960. After the basic military training at the Army Training Centre, he left for Sandhurst, UK to receive further training at the prestigious Royal Military Academy before he was commissioned to the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, as a Second Lieutenant on 3 August 1962.
Floral wreath-laying and heralding the Last Post brought the day’s commemorative event to an end. A gathering of grateful Officers and Other Ranks of the Tri Forces were present at the occasion. Adidas footwear | Air Jordan Sneakers
