A Tribute to the Guardians of Our Peace
Sixteen years ago, Sri Lanka emerged from the shadows of war. It was not a war against a race, religion, or region, it was a war against terror. And it was the Sri Lankan Armed Forces who stood firm, unwavering in the face of brutality, to deliver our nation from fear to freedom.
It was not a triumph of one community over another, but a victory for every Sri Lankan, Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and all others, who yearned to live in peace, dignity, and unity.
It was the defeat of terrorism, not the defeat of identity.
More than 27,000 of our brave sons and daughters gave their lives, and tens of thousands more live with the lifelong scars of sacrifice.
They did not fight for conquest. They fought so that our children could carry books instead of rifles, dreams instead of nightmares, and walk the streets of Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, or Matara without fear.
They fought so we may stand today under one flag, proud and free.
Their sacrifice demands more than silence or ceremonial remembrance. It calls on us to build the peace they died for, to reject division, to heal the wounds of the past, and to create a Sri Lanka that belongs to all her children.
We must remember, peace is not merely the absence of war, it is the presence of justice, inclusion, and respect. The real tribute to our heroes is to ensure that never again will violence be the language of our land.
Let us walk forward, hand in hand, with courage in our hearts and unity in our purpose.
Let love be our language, peace our path, and division be far from our hearts!
“Prema vada, saama beda, durālela namō namō mātā.”