24th July 2023 18:12:43 Hours
Memories of 44 Officers and 1125 Other Ranks who sacrificed their lives in the ‘Battle of Mullaittivu -1996’ during 18-25 July 1996 were revived and honoured during a commemorative ceremony, held at the War Heroes' Monument inside the Security Force Headquarters-Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT) complex on Tuesday (18 July), headed by Major General M.K Jayawardena RSP VSV USP ndu, Commander, Security Forces-Mullaittivu who attended the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Members of the 'Maha Sangha' conducting 'Mathaka Wasthra' (recollection of memory) ritual transferred merits to all of them in a religious programme before Officers and Other Ranks lined up to pay floral tributes to the monument. At first, Major General M.K Jayawardena RSP VSV USP ndu, Commander, Security Forces-Mullaittivu placed the wreath and saluted fallen War Heroes in a solemn moment of gratitude.
Similarly, the nearby 591 Infantry Brigade HQ troops of the 59 Infantry Division of the SFHQ-MLT in order to commemorate fallen War Heroes in the Mullaittivu battle arranged an all-night 'Pirith' chanting plus offer of breakfast (Heel Daana) to members of the Maha Sangha (monks) in the following morning (19 July). The 591 Infantry Brigade Commander in coordination with the SFHQ-MLT organized the event as per guidelines given by the General Officer Commanding, 59 Infantry Division.
Commander, Security Forces - Mullaittivu, Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks participated in both commemorative events.
After losing control of the Jaffna peninsula in late 1995 and early 1996, LTTE terrorists unable to face the humiliating defeat in the Jaffna peninsula and the world at large, began to retreat to the Wanni jungles on the mainland, saving most of their arsenal and launched a fierce attack against the Army garrison in the centre of Mullaittivu before they established their terrorist headquarters in the heart of Kilinochchi.
