The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Armed Force, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena paid his respects to all members of the Armed Forces and Police who made the supreme sacrifice in the name of the Nation at the Ranaviru War Memorial located at the Parliament Grounds yesterday evening (19th May 2019). The event was organized by the Rana Viru Seva Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence.

The singing of the National anthem marked the commencement of the ceremony. His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena addressed the gathering and thereafter paid his respects to the war heroes by placing a floral wreath in front of the Ranaviru Memorial. He was followed by the Prime Minister Hon Ranil Wickremasinghe,  Speaker of Parliament, Honorable Karu Jayasuriya, Leader of the Opposition, Hon Mahinda Rajapaksa, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva and the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy also placed floral wreaths in front of the Ranaviru Memorial and paid their respects.

The ceremony concluded with the traditional final salute to the fallen, the playing of the Last Post by buglers of the Tri Services.