Today (May 18) marks 16 years since the conclusion of Sri Lanka’s three-decade-long civil war, which ended with the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the separatist militant group—the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)—at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces near the Nandikadal Lagoon on May 18, 2009.
This day commemorates the defeat of the LTTE, a group that engaged in a prolonged and bloody conflict against the Sri Lankan state for over thirty years.
The war came to a decisive end with the elimination of Prabhakaran by the country’s armed forces, who are widely hailed as national heroes for their role in restoring peace. Alongside ending the conflict, the security forces also carried out what is regarded as the world’s largest humanitarian rescue operation, saving thousands of civilians held hostage by the LTTE.
To mark the 16th anniversary of the end of the war, the National War Heroes’ Day—also known as Victory Day—will be observed tomorrow, May 19, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the National War Hero Cenotaph in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
The event will take place under the patronage of Deputy Defence Minister, Retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara. Distinguished attendees will include Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who led the tri-forces during the final stages of the war; Admiral of the Fleet and former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda; and Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic National Front held a media briefing yesterday, urging all citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes today, in a show of unity and support for the National War Heroes’ Day commemorations.
