Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to attend the state’s annual “National Victory Day Commemoration Ceremony” today, marking 17 years since the end of the armed conflict which culminated in the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils.
The ceremony will take place on 19 May at the “National War Heroes’ Monument” in Battaramulla under the patronage of Dissanayake, according to the Ranaviru Seva Authority.
The event comes just one day after Tamils across the North-East homeland and the global diaspora commemorated Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, marking the mass atrocities committed against Tamils during the final stages of the war in 2009.
Addressing a media briefing at the Department of Government Information, Chairman of the Ranaviru Seva Authority Brigadier S. B. Kohona confirmed details of this year’s event and stated that several changes had been introduced compared to previous years.
“As in previous years, this commemorative ceremony will be held on May 19 at the National War Hero’s Monument in Battaramulla,” he said.
“It will take place under the patronage of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake.”
Kohona stated that this year’s event would place greater emphasis on the participation of military families.
“This year marks the 17th commemoration. We have introduced several special changes. Compared to previous years, we have significantly increased the participation of members of Ranaviru families.”
He further noted that relatives of Tamil and Muslim soldiers from the North-East who served in the Sri Lankan armed forces during the conflict had been invited to attend for the first time.
“There are groups of Tamil and Muslim war veterans from the Northern and Eastern provinces who joined the armed forces during the conflict and contributed to establishing peace in this country,” he stated.
“In most cases, we have not adequately included their association. Therefore, this year we have created a special opportunity for the relatives of fallen soldiers from the Northern and Eastern provinces to attend this event.”
According to Kohona, around 30 individuals from the North-East had accepted invitations to participate.
“We have invited around 30 such individuals, and they have confirmed their participation. Accordingly, this will be a special occasion where they will be able to join the President, pay tribute in honor of the nation, and express their respect in memory of their deceased loved ones.”
It remains unclear whether Kohona was referring to paramilitary organisations, who have long been affiliated with the Sri Lankan military, and accused of committing war crimes.
The annual state commemoration continues to take place amid ongoing international scrutiny over Sri Lanka’s wartime record and lack of accountability for the genocide.