Sri Lanka Air Force and its Seva Vanitha Unit honoured the war heroes at a ceremony titled ‘Guwan Viru Upahara’ to which nearly 600 of their family members were invited to the SLAF Base at Eakala. It was organsied by the Directorate of Welfare of the SLAF at its base at Ekala.

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest and the meeting was presided by Mrs Nelum Goonetilake, chairperson of the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit .

The First Lady was honoured by presenting a ‘Scroll of Appreciation’ by Mrs Nelum Goonatillake, Chairperson, SLAF Sewa Vanitha Unit, recognising the invaluable service she had rendered to the.

While two minutes silence was observed by everyone present in remembrance of the ‘war heroes’ the near and dear ones of the war heroes held back their tears

A father of a gallant airman from Polonnaruwa who died in the war against terrorism said "My son didn’t die in vain, he was against the division of the country."

"If not for the sacrifices made by these youth, the country wouldn’t have been able to defeat the terrorist outfit, the LTTE and wipeout terrorism from this land,".

Nelun Goonatillake paid a tribute to the families of the war heroes and said, "You have made a great sacrifice by sending your children to the war front and their bravery has enabled the tri-forces to save the country from terrorism, a scourge that ruined the country’s development for 30 long years."

She said a series of welfare projects had been launched by the SLAF Sewa Vanitha Unit to see to the welfare of the families of the gallant men and women.

Among them were housing and self employment projects, education of their children and welfare of the parents.

The mobile services conducted by the unit provideed advise and assistance on a number of issues concerning their family members.

Also present were Mrs Kusum Wickramanayake, wife of the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and chairpersons of the Sewa Vanitha Units of the Army, Navy, Police and the Civil Defence Force.

Twenty-five families of the officers and 231 families of the airmen and women who laid down their lives in defence of the country during the 30-year conflict as well as officers and men who sacrificed their lives were honoured at the ceremony.

All family members were presented with valuable gift packs.