'President's proper leadership liberated country'

Nimal Jayasinghe Gampaha Roving Corr.

"It is the proper leadership and guidance offered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is the Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces and the Defence Secretary which enabled our war heroes to liberate the country from cruel terrorism.

Above all the bold leadership, and the farsighted vision of the President who is the saviour of the nation which made victory possible which is the nation's good fortune' said DIG (Central Province) B.K. Gamini Navaratne.

He was speaking at a 'Ranaviru Upahara' ceremony at the Veyangoda Bandaranaike MMV as a special invitee on June 26. A batch of 117 war heroes past and present who were products of the Bandaranaike MMV were honoured at this ceremony. Among them were Maj. Gen, Jayanath Perera, Rear Admiral Ranjith Rohana Wijesundera, Wing Commander Athula Kaluarachchi and DIG Navaratne.

Navaratne said eventhough the terrorists had been wiped out from the North the Security Forces were presently engaged in demining operations to clear the land safe for resettlement of the displaced people. The Security Forces had to play a big role in the process of normalising civilian life in the battered North. The President needed the continuous support and assistance of the Security Forces and police to develop the liberated areas he added.

Bandaranaike MMV Principal W.P.S.K. Wijesinghe said his school was both proud of the great services rendered by a section of its past pupils as members of the Security Forces and Police to liberate the motherland from terrorism.

Bandaranaike MMV's PPA President Keerthi K. Manchanayake Maj. Gen. Jayanath Perera, Rear Admiral Ranjith Rohana Wijesundera, Wing Commander Athula Kaluarachchi and Ellakkala Grama Niladhari J.A. Sisira Kumara also spoke.

Mementos were also presented to the next of kin of several departed war heroes in appreciation of their services.