Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid tribute to Sri Lanka’s war heroes on Victory Day, saying the country regained peace through “strong leadership, brave military commanders and the sacrifices of courageous soldiers.”
In a message marking May 18, Rajapaksa said a generation had witnessed a time when fear and uncertainty overshadowed daily life, with families living under the burden of violence and grief during three decades of conflict.
He said the peace enjoyed today remains “priceless” and stressed that the day was not about celebrating war, but remembering the sacrifices made for peace and the courage that allowed the nation to “breathe again as one country.”
Rajapaksa also said true statesmanship lies in an uncompromising commitment to protecting the country’s borders and heritage. (Newswire)