One of the greatest warriors in our time remembered

General Kobbekaduwa and veterans commemorated

COLOMBO: The fourteenth death anniversary of the legendary war hero of our time Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and eight others including Lieutenant General Wijaya Wimalarathne, fell on August 6.

Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa perished with other veterans like Major General Wijaya Wimalarathne, Lieutenant Colonel H.R. Stephen, Lieutenant Colonel G.H. Ariyarathne, Lieutenant Colonel Y.N. Palipana, Commander Asanga Lankathilake, Major Nalin de Alwis, Lieutenant Commander C.B. Wijepura and Private W.J. Wickramasinghe in an LTTE terrorist blast at Arialay point, Jaffna.

This year's commemorative ceremony began on last Sunday with a special Pinkama at Lankaramaya in Anuradhapura, attended by Buddhist clergy of the Atamastanaya and Tantirimale. Over fifteen monks attended the commemorative Pinkama there and large crowds joined the event. Chief incumbents of Atamastanaya and Tantirimale Raja Maha Viharaya delivered anusasana in memory of the fallen war hero and others who valiantly fought for Nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Commemorative Pinkam (meritorious acts) organised under the auspices of wife of the slain War Hero Laly Kobbekaduwa and members of his family will also be held today at Tantirimale, off Anuradhapura.

Tantirimale temple as well as villagers was quite close to the heart of Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa since he ensured security to their villages in a magnificent manner. Villagers belonging to one hundred families in Amalwewa and Siyambalagaswewa will be provided with dry ration parcels, farming equipment, school books and stationery, etc by Mrs. Kobbekaduwa.

His Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps is also to commemorate their fallen Hero in a separate ceremony.