“I will develop the Country as well like winning the War”-President

(May 22, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankans’ spontaneous cause for celebration and the widespread euphoria that coupled with the elimination of menace of LTTE terrorism reached its apex Friday (22) evening during the National War Hero Tribute ceremony that got underway at Sri Jayawardenapura Parliament complex, headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Millions of Sri Lankans, thronged Colombo streets in the past several hours and wended their way to the venue of the National War Hero Tribute ceremony (Jathika Ranaviru Upahara Ulela), in many cases in the company of respective people’s representatives.

The occasion was dignified by the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who in the capacity as Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces addressed the Nation assuring the public that he would now start the war against drug trafficking corruption and wastage.

“No one can now use the War as an excuse not to develop the country. Like winning the War, I promise to develop the country as well. Many powers including our own leaders tried their maximum to prevent me from waging this War to an end. Local as well as foreign powers were leading among them. Some started shivering when I appointed certain chiefs for security establishments. There will be still elements who would sabotage our onward march and progress. They would come in different forms and in disguise.”

President also said that ‘Panchamaha Balawegaya’ will be in the future joined by War Heroes (Ranaviruvan) as the sixth component (Shad Balavegaya). He also proposed that a special flower, dedicated in the name of the War Hero should be set apart in the future and appealed all of them to help rebuild the country.

The sea of heads, blended with patriotic sentiments and expressed with magnanimity, included hundreds of parents and spouses of dead War Heroes who joined the procession with photos of their fallen heroes. Prabhakaran’s several effigies were also taken in the procession along with many floats.

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka, Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Rishad Badurdeen, M. Athaulla, Vinayagamurthi Karuna Amman, Douglas Devananda, Patali Champika Ranavaka, Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker W.J.M Lokubandara and Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa also addressed the gathering. A cultural show and a musical entertainment added colour to the occasion.

An elderly woman who has collected Rs. 1.5 million since her childhood was also donated President Rajapaksa on the occasion as a tribute to the War Heroes.

-Sri Lanka Guardian