The significance of June 07:

Remembrance Day from a national perspective

Lt. Col. Lalith GUNARATNE

REMEMBERING HEROES: The week beginning June 1 is declared the National Remembrance Week and will be dedicated to the memory of the Heroes who gave their lives for the territorial integrity of the motherland.

Remembering the fallen heroes of a country is a tradition followed by every nation throughout the world. Placing importance on the remembrance of a country's fallen soldiers has been viewed by different observers in different lights.

Some claim that it is the prime duty of every member of a distinct society to protect his native land by being sensitive to the influences that may threaten its independence and sovereignty.

This being so, some tend to assume that professional soldiery is a routine attribute common to any society and as such, does not deserve any special recognition.

As known by all. Sri Lanka has been observing the Remembrance Day jointly with all other nations who dedicate the November 11 to the memory of those soldiers who gave their lives in the two world wars.

However, the Sri Lankans who sacrificed their lives in these two wars served a cause upheld by those nations whose conflict was beyond an issue confined to Sri Lanka.

During the past few decades a situation emerged where Sri Lanka's territorial integrity was threatened by a fraction demanding a separate State. This was the first time such a situation emerged in the history of Sri Lanka.

The atmosphere materializing under this situation was by every means detrimental to Sri Lanka's territorial integrity. Consequently, the situation was one concerned with the National interest of the country.

In this conflicting situation thousands of true sons of the soil had to serve with dedication in protecting the majority interest of the country by joining the struggle that cost their lives.

Hence, those who gave their lives and went missing in this national issue deserve national sympathy and gratitude. A soldier's role in such a national issue is a matter deserving the Nation's gratitude and veneration.

It is a role towards the preservation of national harmony and peace. It is in memory of those heroes who gave their lives for the great cause of concerned with the Territorial Integrity of Sri Lanka that the National Remembrance Day is observed every June 7.

It is the aspiration of the President to mark the Remembrance event as one of special significance to Sri Lanka's history. He earnestly supports the "Peace Theme" by linking it to the perils of war and advocates harmony among all communities in the name of humankind.

The National Remembrance programme according to his vision is reflective of the devastations and destructions associated with armed conflicts.

The damage to life and property and ethnic harmony are all manifested in the Remembrance Programme and it delivers a message to the Nation which advocates nothing short of absolute peace and harmony among all ethnic groups, the President claims.

This year's celebrations will be held as usual under the patronage of the President at the Mailapitiya National Remembrance Park. Members of the clergy who will observe the religious ceremonies associated with the event will be the other principal invitees besides the President.

The Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Service Commanders, the IGP and other dignitaries will also grace the occasion as in the past and will add colour and pomp to the event.

Amidst all these dignitaries the most important and most esteemed section is the survivors of the Heroes who gave their lives in the worthy cause of protecting the country and the people.

It is they who confronted the direct effect of the loss of their beloved family member. To the Nation a fallen solider is a National Hero. To the survivors of the soldier he is both a Hero and a protector who was one time their breadwinner.

The esteemed position and recognition bestowed upon the survivors of the fallen Heroes were vividly manifested when the President took the initiative to inaugurate the Ranaviru Week by receiving the first Ranaviru flag at the Temple Trees on June 1, from the daughter of a fallen solider who was killed in action three months before his child's birth.

The National Remembrance ceremony has a very short history being commenced in 2002. The Rana Viru Seva Authority (RVSA), the principal sponsor of the event was founded under Parliamentary Act No. 54 of 1999, its principal objective being the welfare of the survivors of those heroes who laid down their lives, went missing and were wounded in action in the separatist war.

Subsequently it was entrusted with the welfare of the service and Police personnel as well and has presently assumed the role of a benefactor in the country's security realm.

Notwithstanding the initial role prescribed in the RVSA Act the Authority presently confronts several issues concerned with the welfare aspect of the country's security machinery and to fulfil this important aspiration implements an array of welfare oriented projects designed in accordance with the needs of the security services.

Not limiting its activities to a narrow specification the RVSA has embarked on programmes affecting every dimension of the lives of the security personnel serving the country's security forces.

Some significant realms in which the RVSA's involvement is manifested are Education of Ranaviru children, housing, disabled welfare, parental care, Ranaviru settlements, vocational training and psychosocial issues.

The funds for these activities come from the Government as well as the revenue on the Jayaviru lottery sales. A portion of the revenue on the Jayaviru lottery sales are diverted to the RVSA via the Treasury.

Also, there are contributions from local and expatriate well-wishers. Certain leading private sector organizations like the Tobacco Company generously assist the RVSA in the Remembrance Celebrations as well as other activities.

The current constraints the RVSA is confronted with are the lack of support from the public and the lack of funds to implement the array of its vital projects. The annual budgetary allocation is meagre and covers only the Authority's administrative expenses.

The Authority has to be thrifty in its operations due to the said financial constraints and resorts to generating funds by investing its Project funds in savings schemes available with the State Banks.

Public support towards the RVSA funds is minimal at present. Towards the commencement of operations there was a significant response from the public towards the RVSA.

However, the enthusiasm among the locals in supporting the RVSA activities has gradually dropped and only a handful of Sri Lankan expatriates still continue to maintain their relations, which is a great consolation to the Authority. At times certain foreign philanthropists have come to the fore to assist the RVSA beneficiaries.

Hence, a national consensus among the Sri Lankans towards the importance of the activities of the RVSA is a need of the day.

(The writer is Chairman/Rana Viru Seva Authority)