Defence Secretary graces Remembrance Day ceremony
November 14, 2021Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne was the Chief Guest at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony held at the War Memorial in the Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo today (Nov 14).
Today's ceremony was organized by the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen's Association (SLESA) as it falls on the second Sunday in the month of November.
Two-minute silence was observed in honour of fallen war heroes and the Defence Secretary paid floral tribute at the cenotaph during the event held this morning.
Remembrance Day was originally observed in honour of War Heroes who sacrificed their lives during the First World War. Then onwards the annual ceremony is held in memory of all war heroes of World Wars.
The War Memorial in Colombo was initially erected in November 07, 1921 at the Galle Face but the cenotaph was later dismantled and reassembled at its present location during the Second World War as it was thought to be a prominent landmark for approaching enemy reconnaissance aircraft.
The event organized with a limited gathering was held in keeping with the stipulated healthcare guidelines to contain the spread of COVID-19.
