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    South Asia's largest Cenotaph unveiled in Panagoda Featured

    October 27, 2015

    President Maithripala Sirisena declared open a monument to commemorate fallen war heroes of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment adjacent to the Regimental Headquarters in Panagoda.

    In the 134 year long history of the regiment, 3,868 soldiers from the regiment, have laid down their lives for their motherland, the highest supreme sacrifices made compared to all other Regiments.

     

    The symbolic cenotaph, considered to be the biggest one in the South Asian region is 80 ft in height and contains three parallel skyward planks which symbolize the celestial interaction between those War Heroes laid to rest and those believed to have joined the heavens, based on a flat bronze footing, out of which the replica of a brave soldier who is all the time prepared to emit his energy for the greater benefit stands.

     

    President Sirisena after unveiling the monument laid the first wreath at the foot of it and respected their memory and joined up to have a close a look at the special SLLI museum and several other useful units underneath, unseen and unheard in other such memorial tombs. Thereafter President Sirisena addressed the troops and shared views with the families of fallen SLLI War Heroes.

     

    More than 99% of the construction work of the symbolic memorial site was carried out by all fellow-soldiers of the SLLI with enormous enthusiasm and commitment, supported by architectural expertise offered by private sector consultants.

     

    Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Eng Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary to Ministry of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army, Air Marshal GP Bulathsinghala, Commander of the Air Force, Mr Chandraratne Pallegama, Director General, Civil Security Department, Former Commanders of the Army General Shantha Kottegoda (retd) and General Daya Ratnayake (retd), several retired senior officers and representative group of next of kin of SLLI War Heroes also respected the monument.

    Last modified on Wednesday, 28 October 2015 10:01

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