GR’s Founding Father Remembered on 31st Death Anniversary Day

Grateful Gajaba Regiment (GR) ‘Keterians’ at Saliyapura, Anuradhapura on Tuesday (8 August) to mark the 31st death anniversary saluted the cherished memories of their founding father, late Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne RWP RSP VSV USP psc whose precious life was sacrificed along with a team of War Heroes, led by late Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa on 8 August 1992 at Araly Point in Jaffna.

Major General I.A.N.B Perera RWP RSP ndu psc, General Officer Commanding, 21 Infantry Division graced the occasion as the Chief Guest at Saliyapura and paid his floral tribute to the memory of fallen War Hero, Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne RWP RSP VSV USP psc.

The day’s proceedings at Saliyapura began after the arrival of the Chief Guest for the occasion. The recital of the national anthem and the Gajaba Regiment song, two-minute silence, citation for the fallen War Hero, laying of floral wreaths, sounding of the Last Post and the Reveille brought the commemorative events at Saliyapura to an end.

Amid solemn melodies of the Gajaba Regiment band, Major General I.A.N.B Perera RWP RSP ndu psc together with Brigadier H.T.W Vidyananda RWP RSP USP Center Commandant at GR Regimental Center laid a floral wreath before the statue of the late Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne RWP RSP VSV USP psc at the GR Regimental Center and saluted his golden memory before formal military honours were presented.

Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne RWP RSP VSV USP psc, a gallant War Hero along with a team of veteran military commanders and others, inclusive of Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha, Lieutenant Colonel H.R Stephen, Lieutenant Colonel G.H Ariyaratne, Lieutenant Colonel Y.N Palipana, Commander Asanga Lankathilaka, Lieutenant Colonel Nalin de Alwis, Lieutenant Commander C.B Wijepura and Private W.J Wickremasinghe fell victim to an LTTE landmine blast at Araly Point on 08 August 1992 while they were on a military assignment, connected to the liberation of the Jaffna town from LTTE terrorists’ grip.

Deputy Commandant of Regimental Centre, Colonel K.R Kalupahana RSP USP, Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks participated in the commemoration ceremony.

On Monday evening, GR Officers and Other Ranks made religious offerings at historic Ruwan Weli Maha Seya and transferred merits to the fallen War Hero.

Meanwhile, 7 Gajaba Regiment troops in a separate commemorative ceremony placed floral wreaths at the life-size statue of the military veteran, Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne RWP RSP VSV USP psc at Makola, Kiribathgoda near his hometown before his untimely demise and saluted his memory.

Representing the Army, Director General Infantry at the Army HQ, Major General K.P.S.A Fernando RWP RSP ndu, Director Welfare, Brigadier R.P.A.R.P Rajapaksha RSP placed the first floral wreath and honoured the memory of the fallen War Hero.