Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said that the country must strive to build a developed, just and peaceful society in honour of the sacrifices made by security forces during the civil conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE. Addressing the 17th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony in Colombo, the President said the aspirations of war heroes were rooted in the vision of a democratic nation where all citizens enjoy equal opportunity and equality before the law. He noted that many families continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones in the decades-long conflict and stressed that such suffering must never be repeated.
President Dissanayake emphasized that the war was fought against separatism and not against any ethnic community, adding that Sri Lanka belongs equally to all its people, irrespective of ethnicity or background. He also praised the armed forces for their continued contribution to disaster response and national emergency situations.
