Nation salutes War Heroes on May 27

Sandasen Marasinghe

The National War Heroes' Memorial to offer the nation's salute to the valiant men who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the motherland, will be held on May 27 under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's patronage.

The first National War Heroes Memorial Flag will be pinned on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees at 11.30 am. The War Heroes Memorial Month from May 19 to June 19 will be declared by the President on the same day.

Media Centre for National Security, Director General Lakshman Hulugalla told a press conference yesterday that although special attention is paid to the war heroes during the War Heroes Memorial Month, the government is dedicated to provide welfare to the families of war heroes and disabled war heroes on the President's instructions. He added that President has instructed measures to be taken uplift the mental state of war heroes' family members.

Hulugalla stated that National War Heroes Memorial Flags will be handed over to the Governors by the President at Temple Trees on May 19 to make them available to the public in the respective provinces for the public to purchase.

The MCNS Director General said that after the victory parade at the Galle Face Green on May 27 a salute of the nation to Army, Navy, Air Force and Police war heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the unity of the motherland, will be held in the evening opposite the War Heroes Memorial at Parliament ground, Kotte.

Ranaviru Seva Authority chairperson Padma Wettewa said that War Heroes memorial ceremonies will be held at provincial level from May 20 to 26.

The Central Province ceremony will be held on May 20.

The Northern Province, Eastern Province and Uva Province ceremonies will be held on May 21. The North Central Province ceremony will be held on May 24 while Sabaragamuwa Province and North Western Province ceremonies will be held on May 25.

The Northern Province ceremony will be held on May 26.