The ‘National Victory Day Commemoration’ was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Victory Day Memorial near the Parliament Complex in Battaramulla on Wedesday afternoon.
The solemn ceremony marked the 12th Anniversary of the war victory achieved by defeating the LTTE terrorism which lasted for three decades in the country.
A total of 28,619 war heroes from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and the Civil Defence Force sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the Motherland.
More than 27,000 war heroes were disabled. The commemoration was held in a dignified manner to pay nation’s tribute to these war heroes, adhering to health guidelines.
After the National Anthem was played, the President, the Prime Minister and others observed a two-minute silence in remembrance of the fallen war heroes.
The Acting Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Ranaviru Seva Authority Mrs. Sonia Kottegoda delivered the welcome address.
The Sri Lanka Air Force paid their tribute by showering flowers while the Sri Lanka Army offered a Guard of Honour.
The President, the Prime Minister, former President Maithripala Sirisena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Ministers and MPs, Defence Secretary, Tri-Forces Commanders, the IGP, the Director General of the Civil Defence Department and war heroes as well as their family members paid their tribute to the war heroes by placing flower bouquets at the War Heroes’ Memorial.