Sri Lanka ready to mark National War Heroes’ Day

The National War Heroes’ Day alias ‘Victory Day’ that pays tribute to the valour of patriotic War Heroes who laid their lives against terrorism and division of the country is commemorated on 19 May at Battaramulla War Heroes’ Monument.

The event will be held with the participation of the President, Ministers, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Tri Service Commanders, next of kin of fallen War Heroes and other invitees.

It has been 14 years since patriotic and heroic War Heroes of the Army (23,962), Navy (1161), Air Force (443), together with 2598 Policemen and 456 Civil Security Department personnel, altogether a total of 28,620, had laid down their precious lives in defence of the motherland from LTTE terrorism. 

As dusk fell on 18 May 2009, guns fell silent in Nandikadal and the country became free from terrorism which had plagued the Nation for over 35 years.

Similarly, a total of 24,814 War Heroes who resisted LTTE atrocities valiantly became permanently handicapped, some of who still remain under recuperation and rehabilitation at wellness resorts, managed by the Army.

The government dedicated 19 May every year as the National War Heroes’ Day alias the ‘Victory Day’ with the objective of paying tribute to the cherished memories of all those War Heroes during a state ceremony at the Battaramulla War Heroes’ Monument.

The President, Speaker of the Parliament, Leader of the Opposition, Ministers, State Minister of Defence, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Tri Service Commanders, Inspector General of Police, Director General Civil Security Department, Chairman, Ranaviru Seva Authority, Spouses and parents, children of War Heroes, and All Ranks would join to pay floral tributes to the memories of those War Heroes on Friday (19 May).

- Sri Lanka Army