Ranaviru month declared

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday declared the month beginning from 19 May as the Ranaviru Month to commemorate the second anniversary of the defeat of terrorism in the country.

The first Ranaviru flag was pinned on President Rajapaksa by Umasha Rashmi Weerasinghe, the daughter of war hero A. Weerasinghe, who was felicitated with Veera Prathapa national award, and a female soldier Mallika Jayawardana at a ceremony held at Temple Trees yesterday.

Provincial governors handed over proceeds of 3.5 million rupees from the sale of last year’s Ranaviru flags to the President. The proceeds are to be allocated for the welfare of the war heroes. The task of selling flags in 2011 was also assigned to the provincial governors.

Ministers, Members of Parliament, Governors of Provincial Councils, Chief Ministers of Provincial Councils, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Commanders of Security Forces and the Chairperson of Ranaviru Seva Authority Padma Wettawa participated in the occasion.

“Forgiveness is greater than rhetoric” – DNA

BBC: The Government has forgotten former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka at the time when the second anniversary of the end of war in Sri Lanka is being commemorated, accuses the Democratic National Alliance (NDA).

The DNA Parliamentarians after meeting the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka at Welikada Prison on Thursday accused that it was regrettable to forget such an important person who led the war to its victory.

DNA Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayaka told media that people should come forward in making an effort to free Fonseka, whom the Government is continuing to keep in prison.

“Fonseka has been imprisoned by the Government illegally, which is undemocratic. Now, he has to go to courts asking permission even for his medical treatment which is a pity,” he said.

DNA MP Arjuna Ranatunga citing a message by the Government marking Vesak ‘to have a society devoid of hatred and jealousy’ said that to make it meaningful, the Government should free Fonseka.

“The President should act on what he says as a Buddhist without restricting it to words,” he said.

The controversial ‘White Flag’ case was taken up on Thursday but had to be postponed until 23 May due to Fonseka’s health condition.