24th August 2020 16:36:42 Hours
The Army's one of the most battle-hardened regiments, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) for the 28th consecutive year commemorated its 143 Officers and 3719 Other Rankers who made the supreme sacrifice while defending the country's territorial integrity before May 2009 in a fitting ceremony with hundreds of relatives of fallen War Heroeson in place on Saturday (22) at the SLSR Regimental Centre at Ambepussa.
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak added significance to the commemoration by gracing the day's solemn occasion as the Chief Guest at the invitation of Major General Jayantha Senevirathna, Commander, Security Forces-West and Colonel of the Regiment, SLSR.
The day's Chief Guest after a warm welcome upon arrival was greeted to a Guard Turnout honour near the Truncheon House before he was saluted in a formal Guard of Honour in conformity with military formalities. Adding memories, the day's protagonist was then invited to plant a sapling in the RC SLSR premises before he was ushered to attend the day's climax, the mammoth floral wreath-laying and SLSR flag unfurling ceremony at the SLSR War Heroes' Monument.
The recital of the Army song and the Regimental song, vigil mounting, two-minute silence, reading of the honorary citation of War Heroes commenced afterwards at the venue while hundreds of sons and daughters and relatives of fallen War Heroes were in attention holding SLSR flags, floral wreaths and bouquets as transfer of merits was done. The simultaneous unfururling of SLSR flags occurred as the reading of the citation of their heroism was done culminating that phase.
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva in his much-awaited address to the troops and hundreds of War Heroes' relatives made a few moving remarks commending valuable roles of the SLSR throughout its distinguished history. "When I was commanding the 58 Division in the Wanni during the most decisive phases of the humanitarian operations, I closely worked with SLSR battalions and those SLSR War Heroes exclusively exhibited their infantry skills in an impressive way and actively supported to bring peace to our country at the expense of their own precious lives, legs and limbs, a true brave act that should not be forgotten by any of us."
Major General Jayantha Senevirathna, Colonel of the Regiment, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment made the brief welcome note before the main proceedings got to a start. The visiting Commander of the Army added more dignity and importance to the occasion by talking and sharing a few thoughts with those bereaving next of kin present and sat for group photos.
In addition, religious observances representing Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu and Islamic faiths got underway at separate sacred places in Warakapola during the day with the participation of several Senior Officers. An overnight 'Pirith' Chanting followed by an alms-giving ceremony on Sunday (23) morning culminates those commemorative programmes.
Senior Serving Officers, Centre Commandant, Retired Senior SLSR Officers, Officers, Other Ranks and hundreds of relatives of fallen War Heroes were participated in the commemorative events at the RC SLSR.
