President to place War Heroes volume in National Archives

BY MANJULA Fernando

PRESIDENT Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will place a historical volume containing the details of the nation's heroes who made the supreme sacrifice since independence, at the National Archives on War Heroes Day on June 7.

"This special volume titled 'Sri Lanka Ranaviru Wamsaya' is intended to keep alive the memory of our heros who died in battle since 1948," the Ranaviru Seva Authority Chairman Maj. Gen Niel Dias said.

The volume which will contain the names of these valiant men, the locations they laid down their lives, and the contact details of their next of kin will include the details of 21,500 soldiers and officers who laid down their lives in the North-East battles, the Chairman said.

This volume will be deposited in the Archives coinciding with the National War Heros Day commemoration program held under the patronage of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the Memorial Park at Mailapitiya, Kandy on June 7.

President Kumaratunga will also present the first commemorative flower at the event.

Speaking at a media conference at the Information Department Maj. Gen. Dias said "This year we planned the Ranaviru commemoration on a grand note as an encouragement to the thousands of serving soldiers."

The Ranaviru Seva Authority has also made arrangements to issue a new stamp to mark the fifth anniversary of the Authority and a CD containing songs dedicated to fallen heros by popular artistes including Deepika Priyadarshani, Amarasiri Peiris, T.M. Jayaratne, Sanath Nandasiri, Dayan Vitharana, Nelu Adikari, Kolitha Bhanu, Chandrasena Hettiarachchi, Edward Jayakody and Maj. Gen. Sunil Tennakoon.

Also in line will be the launching of three autobiographies of highly decorated war heros at a War Literary Awards Ceremony at the John De Silva Memorial Theatre on June 1.

The winners of the school literary competition and other competitions will receive awards at this event.

He requested all households to light a lamp on June 7 at 7.00 p.m. and pay their respect to the fallen heros who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure a united country for future generations.