12th July 2023 20:36:50 Hours
Undying memories of 131 Officers and 2864 Other Ranks of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) who made the supreme sacrifice during the protracted war against terrorism were refreshed and revered during a commemorative ceremony, held at the VIR War Heroes' Monument at the VIR Regimental HQ on 10 July 2023.
Recitation of the National anthem, Army Song and the Regimental Song respectively at first set the tone for the sequence of commemorative events after giving prominence to religious observances as the day’s priorities.
As troops stood vigil around the memorial, all those who had gathered there, the Colonel of the Regiment of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF), Major General S. U. M. N Manage WWV RWP RSP psc, Commander, Security Forces -West, and Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps, Major General D. M. K. D. B Pussella RWP RSP, the Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army, Major General S. R. B. Aluvihare RWP RSP ndu psc, VIR Council Members, Senior Officers, Officers including family members of those departed ones, observed a two-minute silence in hounour of all fallen VIR War Heroes.
Then, the Council Member of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and Master of the Event, Brigadier P. A. D. T. U Perera delivered the welcome speech appreciating the presence of all the participants despite their commitments. After playing of ‘Rana Bera’, vigil mounting and reading of the citation for bravery, all eyes were glued to the monument, as the day's Chief Guest, flanked by several Senior Officers and family members of fallen War Heroes amid reverberating solemn melodies inched their way to the monument and saluted their indelible memory of those valiant war heroes by placing floral wreaths whilst simultaneously lighting the lamp at the War Heroes' Monument in a solemn ceremony.
After a while, the Colonel of the Regiment addressed all the troops and beloved next of kin of fallen VIR war heroes and urged those bereaved family members to reach out to the VIR Regimental HQ at any time for any assistance as the VIR would not forget fallen war heroes for ever.
As dusk fell, the sounding of the Last Post and Reveille in accordance with military traditions brought the formal ceremony to end by letting all beloved ones of fallen VIR War Heroes to light candles and burn fragrant incense sticks. Many of those relatives were seen carrying bouquets of flowers before they knelt down shedding tears at the foot of the monument.
The Colonel of the Regiment and several other Senior Officers took time off to share a few pleasantries with those family members, consoling their hearts and minds by being present at the location. The Chief Guest on arrival was received by the VIR Centre Commandant, Brigadier M. A. D. J. D Gunathilaka RSP USP at the entrance.
A large gathering of Senior Officers, Officers, Other Ranks and relatives of fallen VIR War Heroes were associated with the VIR War Heroes' commemoration.
