Annual Poppy Day walk tomorrow - SLESA
October 07, 2022- Poppy Flowers pinned on President and PM
- Main Remembrance day parade to be held in November
The Ex-Servicemen’s Association of Sri Lanka (SLESA) has organized a series of events to commemorate the Poppy Day anniversary this year. The programmes include the pinning of poppy flower, a Poppy Day walk and the main parade at the War Memorial Cenotaph at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo with the participation of the President.
This was revealed at a press briefing held at the MOD Media Centre in Kollupitiya last evening (06 Oct).
The SLESA kicked off its celebratory events by pinning the first Poppy on President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday. Poppy flowers were also pined on the Prime Minister, Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition.
The Poppy Day walk will be held tomorrow (08 Oct). The walk will commence from the SLESA premises at Bristol Street in Fort, Colombo 1 and it is expected that more than one thousand members including that of its associate associations of the SLESA said so, Maj Gen. (Retd) Ruwan Wanigasooriya while speaking at the press briefing.
SLESA hopes to collect funds for its war hero welfare activities by the sale of poppy flowers and wreaths to the public. Poppy wreaths are valued at Rupees 100.00 and 200.00 while a poppy sticker is priced at Rupees 20.00. The SLESA expects generous contributions from the public for single poppy flowers which are not priced.
Such funds collected thereby would be utilized for all welfare activities carried out by the SLESA including, medical assistance for members, educational scholarships and assistance for children of members and also operate the two Veteran’s home at Bolagala and Katugastota.
These Poppy flowers are provided to the SLESA by the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League. The SLESA expects to obtain the support of state institutes including the Ministry of Defence with the support of Secretary Defence Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff, tri forces comanders and Ministry of Education to sell poppy flowers.
The final and the main Remembrance Day Parade will be held on 13th November at the War Memorial Cenotaph at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo.
SLESA General Secretary Lt Col (Retd) Ajith Siyambalapitiya, Treasure Maj. Shanthilal Kankanamge, Vice President (Air Force) Wing Commander Malinda Wijenayake and President of the Poppy Day Organizing Committee Maj. Gen. Ruwan Wanigasooriya were associated with the press briefing.
Those interested in purchasing poppy flowers can contact the Administration Officer of SLESA no: 077 220 1350.
