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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

13th November 2016 14:43:05 Hours

Poppy Ceremony Salutes Fallen War Heroes

The annual Remembrance Day and Poppy ceremony, arranged by the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association (SLESA), was held at the cenotaph at Viharamaha Devi Park, Colombo 7 this morning (13).

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as the Chief Guest took part in the commemorative ceremony and paid floral tributes to the memory of all fallen War Heroes, including those killed in World Wars. Today’s apex of the ceremony preceded a ‘Poppy Walk’ and a ‘Poppy Week’ where Poppy Flags, were also sold to the public. Earlier, the first Poppy Flag was pinned on the President during a brief meeting with him at the President’s Secretariat.

The Chief Guest was warmly received by Brigadier (retd) K.A Gnanaweera, President, SLESA on arrival, in the company of senior SLESA members before the day’s formalities got underway.

A one-minute silence in memory of all War Heroes, killed in action during the two World Wars before religious observances of all four denominations began in the ceremony.

The Chief Guest afterwards laid floral wreaths and saluted the fallen, paying a solemn tribute to all War Heroes. Others including Secretary Defence, Army and Navy Commanders, Former Army Commander General Daya Ratnayake, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Ambassadors, government officials, senior officers, retired service personnel and next-of-kin of the fallen War Heroes followed suit.

Next, sounded the Last Post honouring their memory in accordance with military traditions as trumpeters of the tri-services, joined together to play the melody.

As the dusk was falling, the Reveille sounded, marking the culmination of the brief ceremony, attended by a large gathering of ex-servicemen and serving servicemen.

This national service of remembrance is held on Remembrance Sunday, the closest Sunday to 11 November (Armistice Day), each year.

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