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ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව

ජාතියේ ආරක්ෂකයා

Kurunegala Special Ceremony Salutes Fallen North Western Province War Heroes

Over 463 War Heroes of Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) of the North Western Province who made the supreme sacrifice in the war for peace were honoured and their dedication was remembered during a provincial War Hero commemoration ceremony at Kurunegala Maliyadeva Girls’ College auditorium, Sunday (25) morning.The SLLI Regiment which had always been in the forefront in times of war and peace in Sri Lanka during the last three decades organized the event with a large number of War Hero family members in attendance.

Major General R.M.D Ratnayake, Chief of Staff of the Army and also the Colonel of the SLLI regiment attended the event as the chief guest. He was received on arrival by Major General Karunasekara, General Officer Commanding 53 Division and a host of senior officers of the SLLI Regiment at the venue including Brigadier DA Amunugama Commandant Infantry Training School, Brigadier KGHSK Embowa, Director 'Senehasa' Special School, Brigadier M. Mudalige, 234 Brigade Commander, Brigadier S. Perera General Officer Commanding 55 Division, Brigadier H.M.J.K Gunaratne Commander Task Force II, Brigadier W.D.L.P Wickramasinghe, Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka National Guard and Colonel J. Kodithuwakku, the Regimental Center Commandant of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry.
 
The day's ceremony commenced at the auditorium after observing one- minute silence by all in memory of the fallen War Heroes.  Thereafter, the regimental anthem was sung, followed by presentation of a short TV documentary. At the end of the short film, there was a symbolic distribution of "Ranaviru Pranama" certificates to several next of kin of War Heroes in recognition of the supreme sacrifice of their much-loved sons, fathers or brothers.

Addressing the gathering, Major General R.M.D Ratnayake paid tribute to fallen Sri Lanka Light Infantry war heroes, their families and those who had turned disable in action during decades-long war against terrorism. Citing exemplary contributions made by people in Kurunegala and suburbs in the face of invasions even in ancient Sri Lanka during Portugese, Dutch and British colonial rules the chief guest lauded their invaluable sacrifices during recent humanitarian operations which brought peace and freedom to the motherland. 

He also did not forget to remember the leadership provided by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces towards the victory and emphazised that it is the duty of all country-loving citizens to share their part in the name of the motherland towards development of the country and peaceful co-existence among ethnicities. He added that the real honour to those valiant men could only be paid in that way.
 
Mrs. Damayanthi Ratnayake, President SLLI Seva Vanitha Unit, Mr. Nimal Chandrasiri, Mayor for Kurunegala, and senior government officials in the area were also among the guests.