Steps underway to celebrate National War Heroes ceremony

• The ceremony will be held on May 19 at the Battaramulla War Heroes Memorial

Arrangements have been made to hold the National War Heroes Commemoration Ceremony with pride to honour the nation’s war heroes, a statement from the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.  

A preliminary discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday under the chairmanship of Sagala Ratnayake, the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of the Presidential Staff, the statement said.  

The National War Heroes Ceremony will be held on May 19 at the Battaramulla War Heroes Memorial.   

Former Presidents, Prime Ministers, Deputy Ministers, the Speaker, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Chiefs of Defence, as well as Commanders of the three Armed Forces including the Inspector General of Police and the war heroes who were injured in the war, the relatives of the fallen war heroes as well as school cadet groups, are expected to be invited for the ceremony.  

Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (retired) said that this war hero celebration has been organized this year with a special war drum beat and floral tributes to appreciate the bravery, heroism and eternal memories of the war heroes of the Army, Air Force and Navy, Police and Civil Defence Department who laid down their lives to secure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.  

State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, the commanders of the three Armed Forces, including the Inspector General of Police, and heads of departments of the Security Forces participated in this discussion.  

• This war hero celebration has been organized this year with a special war drum beat and floral tributes