'Uttama Pooja Tribute' medals awarded for 'Rana Viru' families - Matara

Secretary Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the chief guest at the 'Uttama Pooja' felicitation ceremony held at the Mahinda Wijesekara Grounds in Matara Fort, Matara today (27th September).

The 'Uttama Pooja' is a brainchild of the Secretary Defence and has been initiated to pay tribute to the families of the brave men and women of the Sri Lanka armed forces and police who made the ultimate sacrifice in safe guarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the motherland.

Secretary Defence speaking at the event said that the government has initiated numerous welfare programmes for war heroes and the 'Seva Vanitha' units of tri forces and police have contributed immensely towards implementing these programmes. Paying tribute to the war heroes the Secretary Defence said that their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and safeguarding the motherland will never be forgetting. He thanked the families of war heroes for the commitment and courageous support they have shown to the war heroes involved in national service.

Speaking further the Secretary said that hundreds of 'Ranaviru Houses' have been built for war heroes and their families. The government has established 'Mihindu Seth Medura', healing home for war heroes and 'Abimansala', wellness resort to ensure the welfare of the disabled security forces personnel and the Defence Services Schools dedicated for the education of the children of security forces personnel he added.

Secretary Defence also praised the role played by the security forces in demining the former conflict zone which has enabled the speedy resettlement all IDPs.

1773 medals were presented to the family members of 1213 fallen war heroes who were from the Matara district. Out of the 1213 fallen war heroes 1064 were from the Army, 71 from Navy, 04 from Air Force and 74 were from the Sri Lanka Police.

The Chairperson of the Ranaviru Seva Authority Mrs. Padma Wettawa, Additional Secretary (Defence) of the Ministry of Defence Mr. S Hettiarachchi, Military Liaison Officer of the Ministry of Defence Major General (Retd) Palitha Fernando, Security Forces Commander (South) Major General SR Manawaduge, Southern Naval Commander Rear Admiral WMLTB Ilangakoon, Director welfare of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air vice Marcel WA Silva, District Secretary of Matara Mrs. K.W Athukorala, senior security forces personnel and a large number of members of war hero families were present at the occasion.