Heroes forever!

Sarashi SAMARASINGHE

Ran Malak Lesa Dew Bambun Dothin Pidu me pin bime
Pas Pindak Gilihi Noyannata Ran Watak Atha Sivu Kone
Neth Pura Eka Heenaye Mulu Lokaya Nidana Raye
Deshaye Mura Devatha Eli Ra Pura Dalvee Thiye

These were some of the touching lyrics sung by veteran singer Sunil Edirisinghe a few years back honouring our fallen war heroes. There will always be a tear drop falling down from our eye whenever we hear this song commemorating our brave guardian angels who sacrificed their blessed lives on behalf of our future.

There have been many lyrics penned, many songs composed, many artistic creations in memory of our departed war heroes but their ultimate service towards our motherland could not be retrieved.

When we go down our memory lane there have always been many great kings and queens, political leaders, revolutionists in our small island from the past until the present who have fought for the freedom of our country as well as sacrificed themselves during conflict situations.

King Pandukabaya, Devanampiyathissa, Valagamba, Dhatusena, Dutugemunu, Vasaba, Maha Parakramabahu, Maha Vijayabahu and King Parakramabahu the VI are some of the great kings who united Sri Lanka and protected Buddhism according to the history books.

Apart from the above, King Vimaladharmasuriya the I, King Rajasinghe the II and King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe are the other kings who have golden names in the history.Vihara Maha Devi and Soma Devi were two queens who were even ready to sacrifice their lives on behalf of their motherland.

Veera Monaravila Keppetipola Adikaram Thuma, Wilbewe Adikaram Thuma, Gongalegoda Banda, Veera Puran Appu, Uthuvakkande Sura Saradiel are some of the great heroes from the past who were active participants during the Uva, Mathale revolutions as well as act against the English Colonists.

Don Stephen Senanayake, Fredrick Richard Senanayake, Anagarika Dharmapala Thuma, E W Perera, D R Wijewardena, James Peiris, Henry Pedris along with some others were the active members of the 1948 Independent Movement.

The national war heroes who fought to defeat Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were late General Densil Kobbekaduwa, late Corporal Hasalaka Gamini Kularathna, late Corporal Ranjith Premasiri (NERO), late Lieutenant Colonel Lalith Jayasinghe, late Major Tuvan Nizam Muthalif along with many other figures which also include former army commander General Sarath Fonseka, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Marshal Roshan Gunathilaka, Major General Shavendra Silva, Major General Prasanna de Silva, Major General Kamal Gunarathna, Major General Chagi Gallage, Major General Jagath Dias, Major General Nandana Udawatta together with rest of the crew.

We can never forget their great efforts in bringing peace to our country as we celebrate the third anniversary of our military victory today over the terrorist after the scarring 26-year civil war, which was among the bloodiest in modern Asia, ended, the economy is the hottest in its neighborhood.

We always salute our present and past war heroes for their great efforts in bringing peace to our motherland. Your courage, determination, strength is always remembered and honoured by us. You are the real heroes of our nation today and you will always be remembered.