During the ceremony the Secretary presented 15 members of the Ex-Servicemen's Association special medals for their Services to the welfare of the war veterans.

Secretary Fernando together with other invitees paid floral tributes at the monument during the ceremony.The annual ceremony is held in memory of all war heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the motherland.

The War Memorial in Colombo was initially erected in November 07th, 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 land mark for approaching enemy reconnaissance aircraft.

Chief of Defence Staff,Army and Navy commanders, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Sri Lanka Ex- Servicemen's Association, military veterans, family members of fallen war heroes and a large number of service personnel attended the event.