Sri Lanka Mission in Iran pays tribute to Armed Forces

S. Jamaldeen in Tehran

Sri Lanka is at the threshold of liberating the entire North from the clutches of the LTTE, having over run Kilinochchi, said Sri Lankan Ambassador in Tehran, M.M. Zuhair.

“This is thanks to the Armed Forces led by the Commander in Chief President Mahinda Rajapaksa, assisted by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Service Chiefs Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramaratne and men and women in the Armed Forces”, he said.

“The entirety of the people of Sri Lanka, Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim are with the forces in their moment of glory to achieve freedom for the oppressed people of the North.

This is a victory for every Sri Lankan and we in Tehran join the nation in saluting the armed forces of the country,” Zuhari told a special meeting of the staff of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran, summoned to pay tribute to the Armed Forces for on liberating Kilinochchi.

Earlier, the Ambassador hoisted the National Flag at the Embassy followed by the National Anthem. Two minutes silence was observed in remembrance of the members of the Armed Forces who laid down their lives during the 25 year struggle.

The Ambassador said several countries including Iran had stood firmly in support of Sri Lanka’s struggle to liberate the country from terrorism.

“Iran had provided strong economic support to Sri Lanka by way of interest free credit for purchase of oil from Iran during the whole of 2008 in addition to assisting us in upgrading our refinery and laying the foundation for the Uma Oya Hydropower and Irrigation project, both of which will bring vital Iranian financial aid that would boost our economy in 2009,” he said.

This is a moment of great historical importance to everyone in Sri Lanka. The name of President Rajapaksa will be remembered for thousands of years for preventing the division of the country and ensuring that every Sri Lankan lived in one united Sri Lanka,” Zuhair said.

First Secretary Bodhi Vidyaratna said today we remember heroes in the armed forces for fulfilling a long cherished Sri Lankan dream. “We are also grateful to all those who stood by our country in our movement of struggle,” he said.