27th October 2015 14:27:19 Hours
The newly-constructed state-of-the-art SLLI War Heroes monument that eternally pays tribute to the memory of 3868 War Heroes of the SLLI Regiment, the highest supreme sacrifices made compared to all other Regiments in our contemporary history was ceremonially unveiled this morning (26) by HE the President Maithripala Sirisena in the company of past SLLI Commanders, veterans and the Commander of the Army at Panagoda at the invitation of Major General K.A.D.A Karunasekara, Colonel of the Regiment, SLLI soon after the prestigious President’s Colours awarding was over.
The symbolic cenotaph, considered to be the biggest one in the South Asian region is 80 ft in height and contains three parallel skyward planks which symbolize the celestial interaction between those War Heroes laid to rest and those believed to have joined the heavens, based on a flat bronze footing, out of which the replica of a brave soldier who is all the time prepared to emit his energy for the greater benefit stands.
President Sirisena after unveiling the monument laid the first wreath at the foot of it and respected their memory and joined up to have a close a look at the special SLLI museum and several other useful units underneath, unseen and unheard in other such memorial tombs. A little later President Sirisena did not forget to address the troops again and share a couple of views with the families of fallen SLLI War Heroes who had come there to say their grief in flowers soon after the President revered them.
This exceptional monument became a reality with the foundation-laying ceremony on 23 October 2009, the day SLLI Regimental Centre’s 20th Anniversary fell. It saw its fruition following a conceptual notion of the former Commander of the Army General R.M.D Ratnayake who was the Colonel of the Regiment at that time who attended the occasion as a distinguished guest.
More than 99% of the construction work of the symbolic memorial site was carried out by all fellow-soldiers of the SLLI with enormous enthusiasm and commitment, supported by architectural expertise offered by private sector consultants.
Soon after the President honoured with flowers Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Eng Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary to Ministry of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army, Air Marshal GP Bulathsinghala, Commander of the Air Force, Mr Chandraratne Pallegama, Director General, Civil Security Department, General Shantha Kottegoda (retd), former Commander of the Army, General Daya Ratnayake (retd), former Commander of the Army, several retired senior officers and representative group of next of kin of SLLI War Heroes respected the monument.
The mammoth ceremony, organized by all in the SLLI Regiment, giving each and every segment of the arrangements a close and deep evaluation, proved a huge success under the close supervision and guidance of Major General K.A.D.A Karunasekara, Colonel of the Regiment, SLLI.
