Bouquet to Mother Lanka’s children of steel
Our Defence Force personnel are the saviours of the Nation.
While many petty political games are played without much
consideration to the Nation and her territory, dear men and women in the
uniforms of the Defence Forces always put their best foot forward for
the greater good of all Sri Lankans.
What prompted me to pen these few lines was the glowing tribute paid
to our Defence personnel by a friend of mine who just returned from a
holiday in Sri Lanka.
He with his family were among the tens of thousands who witnessed the
majestic Kandy Perehara.
He thankfully recollected how the Defence personnel provided the
security and efficiently handled checking and close supervision of all
those who were assembled.
He told me that he felt proud to be among such valiant men who went
through the chores with diligence and dedication.
Gratefully he said that the forces found three claymore mines in the
vicinity of the area where crowds mingled.
The detection of these deadly devices did not make world headlines,
but, if even a single bomb was exploded and hundreds of civilians were
killed, the story of the terrorists would have provided a gold mine to
the news hunters.
The politicians and the scribes without any scruples would have made
a hue and cry over the dead bodies of the unarmed men and women.
I remember how endless number of brickbats were thrown at the Defence
Forces when the LTTE light aircraft made some aimless raids and how
LTTE’s ‘air force’ was made to look BIG.
Without wavering in the face of bouquets or brickbats, our men and
women of steel continue to serve the Nation in the name of millions of
innocent citizens who have placed their trust on them.
In the deepening dawn or in the gathering of night gloom, whether
fighting the terrorist criminals or protecting school children and
pregnant mothers, holding high the Nation’s honour, people’s hopes.
My dear sons and daughters
of steel,
We send our warmest
greetings to you
Even though we are many
thousands of miles away
from Lanka.
The blessings of dauntless
kings and queens of yore
Be with you: so that the
Nation will live.
RANJITH SOYSA - Australia
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