Army celebrates a 'Decade of Peace'

National War Heroes’ Day was organized by the Rana Viru Seva Authority (RVSA) and held on May 19th at the Battaramulla War Heroes Monument. The event was graced by President Maithripala Sirisena and was attended by the kith and kin of fallen and missing tri-services and police war heroes.

On the same day (19), island-wide religious places, state and private agencies, houses, tri-services camps and police stations simultaneously lit a ‘Lamp of Peace’ at 7.00 p.m. in memory of the fallen armed forces personnel. Arrangements were also made to issue a coin portraying the Vellamullivaikkal War Hero monument, where the war for peace was brought to an end. This was one more feature of the commemorative programmes of the ‘Dasawarshabhishekaya’ (Decade of Peace).

A first day cover plus a commemorative stamp displaying the same Vellamullivaikkal War Hero monument was issued on 22 May 2019 at the BMICH coinciding with the ‘Dasawarshabhishekaya’.

In recognition of the Army’s Parama Weera Vibushanaya (PWV) laureates as National War Heroes, their victorious warfare achievements and biographies were highlighted in the book titled ‘Uththamachara’ that was launched at the BMICH on 22 May 2019 under the patronage of the President and other distinguished invitees. Parama Weera Vibushanaya is awarded to those who fought in defence of their comrades fulfilling the objective of their mission and laying down their precious lives voluntarily, displaying an unparalleled spirit of gallantry and bravery irrespective of enemy threat risking their lives.

During this book launch, 29 PWV laureates, posthumously recognized as National Heroes in contemporary times were honoured first copies of the ‘Uththamachara’ book was handed over to the next of kin of the fallen PWV War Heroes by the President.

To honour more service personnel for the services they have rendered in protecting our motherland, 65 senior tri-services officers were awarded the Vishista Seva Vibushanaya (VSV) medal on 22 May 2019 at the Presidential Secretariat under the auspices of the President. The Award of the VSV medal for Regular officers in the Tri Services was made in accordance with the provisions in the Extraordinary Gazette No 156/5, issued on 1 September 1981. These officers have served over 33 years not less than 25 years of an unblemished and exceptional record of service in the regular force and were thus eligible to receive this prestigious medal.

Similarly, island-wide Security Force Headquarters on 22 May 2019 launched the ‘Dasawarshabhisheka’ ‘Walk for Peace’ where hundreds of troops covering main cities, such as Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mullaittivu, Polonnaruwa and Kilinochchi, together with Divisions, Brigades and all formations under the close supervision of respective Security Force Commanders participated.