Defence Secretary visits Thoppigala

COLOMBO: Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa toured the Thoppigala area on Saturday to recognise and pay tribute to the valiant soldiers who liberated Thoppigala and to inspect the security situation in the East.

The Defence Secretary was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera and Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka and they were received by Brigadier C.P. Gallege, the Commander of Commando Brigade.

The Defence Secretary also advised the troops on the resettlement programme of the displaced families and as well as on the further security measures in the East.

The Defence Secretary also unveiled the monument that was erected at Iluppadichenai junction in Karadiyanaru to commemorate the fallen war heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for the Motherland during the Thoppigala liberation operation and to encourage the Security Forces personnel who liberated the Eastern province from the LTTE terrorists.

A road was named to commemorate Sergeant Pathirana who paid the supreme sacrifice in the humanitarian mission of Thoppigala.