A representative group of one thousand War Heroes of Tri services and the Police, whose unrelenting pursuit of military operations in the North and East against ruthless terrorists brought peace to the nation, were felicitated and their dedication lauded during a special ceremony at Temple Trees Tuesday (14) morning.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces graced the occasion as Chief Guest, flanked by Prime Minister, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Army and Navy Commanders, Inspector General of Police and hundreds of close relatives of those medal recipients.
The award ceremony of the Medal for North and East Humanitarian Operations to 680 Army War Heroes, 170 Navy War Heroes, 85 Air Force War Heroes and 65 Police War Heroes got underway after representatives of all three forces and the Police read out the citation for award of such medals. HE the President was conducted to the main hall in a colourful Army pageant.
The occasion, turned more dignified as HE the President was cordially and respectfully invited to inaugurate the award of medals to those War Heroes.
Giving a symbolic meaning to numerous sacrifices made by thousands of War Heroes, the President at first pinned the Medals on Tri service Commanders and the Inspector General of Police before he moved to honour other War Heroes who sweated day and night to bring peace to Mother Sri Lanka. Accordingly, separate groups representing Tri services and the Police ranging from senior ranks to the lower ones were awarded those honours by the President.
Prime Minister D.M Jayarathne, Secretary to President, Mr Lalith Weerathunge, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister Rauf Hakeem, Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe and the Inspector General of Police Mr Mahinda Balasuriya followed suit afterwards and pinned those medals on War Heroes who stood in waiting at respective places at the main auditorium.
Those medals symbolically recognize the most sacred bravery, commitment, dedication and invaluable sacrifices our War Heroes made during the humanitarian operations in the North and East which finally brought durable peace to the country.
A large gathering of Senior Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senior Tri-Service and Police officers and their spouses attended the occasion.
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