“No one must bow to tyranny. We must only bow to truth, to humanity, to compassion.” With these stirring words, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered a bold and emotionally charged address, urging Sri Lankans to transform the painful lessons of history into a future of peace, justice, and national dignity.
Speaking at the 16th National War Heroes Commemoration Day, the President reflected on the blood-soaked chapters of Sri Lanka’s past, where rivers ran red and tears flowed in torrents. He called on the nation to rise from the ashes of war and division, and to reject the politics of fear, ethnic hatred, and authoritarianism.
“We are a people who have shed enough blood to soak this earth. A nation whose rivers have run with blood, whose families have wept oceans of tears. We have lived through the worst horrors of war. If these are truly our experiences, then we must ensure such a tragedy never happens again.”
President Dissanayake emphasized that true victory lies not in military conquest, but in building a peaceful, inclusive society where every citizen—regardless of ethnicity or faith—can live without fear.
“We can only become true victors by creating peace in this land. That is why we must not fear tyrants. We must be ready to take every step necessary for peace.”
He issued a heartfelt appeal to every soldier and officer in the armed forces, urging them to become guardians of peace, not just warriors of war.
“I ask every soldier, every officer—be a force for peace. Be the ones who will build a future where our children no longer fear war.”
The President also warned against the resurgence of ethnic nationalism and political opportunism, which he said are being reignited in both the North and South—not for justice, but for power.
“Let us be clear: these flames are being fanned not for justice, but for power. True freedom for our motherland was not achieved merely by ending war. We must now achieve economic sovereignty, social justice, and national dignity.”
He painted a sobering picture of the country’s current vulnerabilities—from economic instability to climate threats—and called for a transformation that would make Sri Lanka a proud, independent state on the global stage.
“Are we truly free when a small conflict anywhere in the world threatens our economy? When we lack the strength to make our own economic decisions? We must build a nation admired by the world—not one crippled by crime, corruption, and mistrust.”
President Dissanayake stressed on with a vision of a Sri Lanka governed by the rule of law, free from violence and fear, where sovereignty is not just a word on paper, but a lived reality.
“Let us not allow sovereignty to remain a phrase on parchment. Let us make it the truth of our land.”
