President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that neither chemical weapons, air attacks, suicide bombers, disastrous monsoon rains nor major floods can stop troops from going forward in the battlefield as the soldiers would never be deterred by such obstacles created by foes or by nature.
The President made these remarks at the annual ceremony held at the Sinha Regiment headquarters in Ambepussa for the 19th year, to invoke blessings on soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield.
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| President Mahinda Rajapaksa unfurls the National Flag at the Sinha Regiment Headquarters with Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka beside him. Pic. by Sanka Vidanagama |
“Our forces are equipped with the latest technology. Today our soldiers are performing in a bold manner on the battlefield and this can be considered as the greatest battle ever. Our soldiers are achieving victory after victory,” he said.
The President said that this was a battle for freedom and was never used to gain political mileage. Not only the people here but the entire world was aware of the objectives of the Government, he said.
He said that today the soldiers were proud to be in the forces and the public has a great affection towards them. The President said that from parents who send their children to the battlefield to the school child who donate simple items to the Army, there is ample evidence of the support for the soldiers.
President Rajapaksa said that the “Negenahira Navodaya” (Awakening the East) was indeed an awakening to the people of the East and the “Uthura Wasanthaya” (Re-awakening the North) would definitely win the hearts of the people of the North.
He assured that not a single portion of land that was freed from the terrorists would go back to the hands of the terrorists.
The opening of the Mahinda Rajapaksa indoor stadium and the operating theatre at the Sinha Regiment headquarters also took place yesterday.
President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, Sinha Regiment Commanding Officer L.K.J.C.Perera and officials as well as the families of the dead soldiers were present. | 
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