Sri Lankan President Calls for Tribute to War HeroesSri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has called for national tribute to be paid to the war heroes by observing a day of quiet remembrance on Thursday for them with an aspiration for peace.In her message carried by official Daily News on Thursday, Kumaratunga said the day has been declared to specially remember those who sacrificed their lives in the defense of the nation and also others maimed in action, those presently engaged in establishing the writ of government in the north and east of the country. She said this year's theme should be on Remembrance and Peace as everyone has suffered due to the ethnic strife. " This situation prompted the government to initiate moves to establish a just and lasting peace, where all people irrespective of their ethnicity could live with dignity." she said. Thursday has been declared National War Heroes Day in the war- torn country where separatist Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting since 1983 for an independent Tamil homeland in the north and east. It is reported that Norwegian Foreign Minister Thorbjoern Jagland, who is accompanied by peace envoy Erik Solheim, was due to arrive here on Thursday in an effort to revive stalled peace process in the war-torn country. He will meet President Kumaratunga. |
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