JKRSOTHY: National war hero week launched in Sri Lanka to commemorate first anniversary of war victory

Sri Lanka commenced the war hero week, today for the first time after the victory of the war against Tamil rebels Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at a ceremony held in Temple Trees today (11).

Marking the beginning of the National Ranaviru week, the first war hero flag was pinned on President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Waruna Rashminda, the 9-year-old son of late Sgt. B.S.Chandrasiri (Singha Regiment 511/581), an Army soldier who was killed in a battle in Muhamalai in the northern tip of the rebel-held Wanni territory.

A distinguish gathering of provincial governors, ministers and deputy ministers, and provincial chief secretaries, heads of three armed forces and the police and representatives of war hero families along with President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa participated in the event.
Ranawiru flags were handed over to the governors of the nine provinces today for island wide distribution. Income from the sale of these flags is to be utilized for the welfare of the war heroes.
Sri Lanka government declared the week from May 12 to 18 as National Rananiru Week to mark the victory of the three-decade long war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).