Fallen Defenders of the Nation, belonging to tri-services and the Police were remembered and merits invoked during the ‘Ranaviru Punyanumodana-2011’ (Transfer of Merits to Fallen War Heroes), a religious ceremony, organized by the ‘Karuna Samadhi Padanama’, chaired by Mr Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Minor Irrigation, Industries, and Environment for Western Province at Nugegoda Ananda Samarakoon Open Stadium Friday (17) morning.
Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa as Chief Guest graced the ‘Ranaviru Punyanumodana-2011’ ceremony which offered alms to 60 Buddhist monks and two-year long scholarships to 16 children of permanently disable War Heroes. Governor for Western Province Hon Alavi Maulana, Ministers Susil Premajayanth, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral D.W.A.S Dissanayake, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal H.D Abeywickrama, Chief Minister for Western Province, Provincial Ministers and a large gathering of invitees were present at the ceremony.
After the brief welcome address of Mr Udaya Gammanpila, Chairman, ‘Karuna Samadhi Padanama’, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa symbolically distributed a few of those 16 scholarships to children of War Heroes. Governor for Western Province, Ministers Susil Premajayanth and Patali Champika Ranawaka also joined in awarding scholarships to those Ranaviru children.
Afterwards, Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed the gathering.
‘Time has come again for all of us to unite together and voice our concerns against attempts being made by LTTE rump and Tamil Diaspora at international level, in order to achieve what they could not reach through terrorism in the past. Heroic efforts of our War Heroes are belittled and insulted by those interested parties, by projecting our armed forces as members who have committed war crimes, according to whims and fancies of interested parties who influence the international community. As a nation who salvaged this country from scourge of terrorism, it is our duty now as patriots to rise to the occasion and defeat those international attempts, meant to bring discredit to the country,’ Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
‘Some of those elements are serving the agenda and requirements of the terrorist leader, Prabakaran while using the international community. Some run to western embassies for complaint before they report even to the Police when any incident occurs. Channel-4 video conveniently forgets to mention even the name of the terrorist leader, Prabakaran who cold-bloodedly butchered unarmed 600 Policemen, numbers of Buddhist monks, villagers, passengers, et al in the country. Nobody appears taking any interest in talking about how US operational troops in Pakistan shot and killed the wife of Bin Laden at first during their swoop’, he added.
Mr Rajapaksa referring to the non-participation of certain western powers in the recent Army-organized seminar, ‘Defeating Terrorism - The Sri Lankan Experience,’ noted that had those countries genuinely wanted to learn how the Sri Lanka Army fought terrorism, they would have sent their representatives to the seminar, enabling the Army to respond to any queries or clarifications as they required. Some of them want to provide a lifeline for revival of terrorist aspirations, he added.
Paying a tribute to the organizers of the event, Mr Rajapaksa added that the memory of our War Heroes should always be kept in mind without forgetting them, and we, as a united nation, should strive and rise against allegations of the international community against our War Heroes, most of which have been largely influenced by pro-terrorist elements operating at international levels.
The day’s ceremony commenced after recital of the national anthem and observance of a two-minute silence in memory of all fallen War Heroes. Distinguished guests later on paid obeisance to Buddha, offering Gilanpasa and flowers. As a token of his dedicated commitment, Mr Rajapaksa was presented a memento by Mr Gammanpila at the end of his talk to the occasion.
Members of the Maha Sangha, headed by Most Venerable Dauldena Gnanissara, Uththareethara Maha Nayaka Thero of the Amarapura Sangha Sabha, Ven Dr Omalpe Sobhitha Nayaka Thero, Ven Ranpathvila Wimalarathana Thero and Ven Pathberiye Wimalagnana Thero delivered Anushasana (orations) and performed other religious rites and rituals, associated with the Sangeeka Daana (offer of alms). Ven Harispattuwe Ariyawansalankara Thero, Ven Dr Bandagiriye Somawansa Thero, Ven Mawarale Baddhiya Thero and several other well-known monks attended the ceremony.
Soon after the main segment of the ceremony, Mr Rajapaksa was invited to inaugurate a manioc Dansela (free eatery) at the same venue where students as well as civilians in the area were offered cooked manioc with sambal in accordance with the traditional precept of ‘Daana’ (giving), taught in Buddhism. It was revealed a record collection of about two tonnes of manioc was used for the Dansela, declared open by the Secretary Defence.
The event fully supported by Rana Viru Seva Authority, Ministry of Defence, Western Province Provincial Council members, donors and well-wishers was one of the programmes that coincided with the ongoing Rana Viru (War Hero) month commemorative activities across the island.
Members of the Maha Sangha attending the alms-giving ceremony recalled invaluable sacrifices of the fallen War Heroes and the services, being rendered by all War Heroes at present for development of the country after terrorism was wiped out. With the offer of Ata Pirikara and other offerings, the ceremony came to an end.
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