Sri Lanka today, 18 May, marks 16 years since the end of its decades-long civil war, a conflict that spanned over 30 years and claimed thousands of lives. The war formally ended on 18 May 2009 with the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at the Nandikadal Lagoon.
To honour the lives lost and the military personnel involved, the 16th National War Heroes’ Day – also known as Victory Day – will be commemorated tomorrow, 19 May, at the National War Hero Cenotaph in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. The ceremony is scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Deputy Defence Minister, Retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara, will preside over the event. Distinguished military leaders including Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who commanded the final phase of the war, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke are expected to attend.
