Presidential medals for heroes who liberated country

*Eastern Humanitarian operation recipients 197,776

*Medals for Northern Humanitarian ops 282,830

*Commendations for strategic help 173,151

Rasika SOMARATHNA

All heroic servicemen who took part in the humanitarian operation that liberated the country from the clutches of terrorism were yesterday honoured and felicitated for their gallantry and sacrifice by Commander-in-Chief President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony at Temple Trees.

A batch of 1,000 persons including the Three Service Chiefs, IGP, Security Forces and Police personnel and civilians who had contributed towards the successful completion of the humanitarian operation in the North were awarded the “North-East Humanitarian Operation Medal” by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony at Temple Trees yesterday morning. Here Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke and IGP Mahinda Balasuriya receiving the medal from the President. Prime Minister D M Jayaratne, Ministers, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and senior members of the Security Forces and Police were also present. Pictures by Sudath Silva

Accordingly a total of 197,776 Army, Navy and Air Force personnel together with police and others received the Eastern humanitarian operation medals while a further 42,260 received commendations for strategic assistance .

Servicemen, police and others who received were made the recipients of the Northern humanitarian operation medals numbered 282830.A further 130,891 received commendations for their practical inputs.

A total of 479,906 persons who took part and supported the humanitarian mission in various capacities from September 28, 2006 to September 10, 2007 in the eastern theatre and from February 26, 2007 to May 18, 2009 in the north are to be honoured with the medal.

Conferring of the North-East operations medal was first announced in the Government Gazette notification issued on January 5, 2010.

During yesterday’s ceremony the inaugural medals were presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister D M Jayaratne.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge,

Chief of Defence Staff and Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshall Roshan Gunetilleke, Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe and IGP Dr Mahinda Balasuriya also presented medals. A large number of Ministers, politicians and family members of medal recipients were present.