President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday declared the month beginning from May 19 as the Ranaviru Month to commemorate the second anniversary of the defeat of terrorism in the country.

The first Ranaviru flag was pinned on President Rajapaksa by Umasha Rashmi Weerasinghe, the daughter of war hero A. Weerasinghe, who was felicitated with Veera Prathapa national award, and a female soldier Mallika Jayawardana at a ceremony held at Temple Trees yesterday.

Provincial governors handed over proceeds of 3.5 million rupees from the sale of last year's Ranaviru flags to the President. The proceeds are to be allocated for the welfare of the war heroes. The task of selling flags in year 2011 was also assigned to the provincial governors.

Ministers, members of Parliament, Governors of Provincial Councils,Chief Ministers of Provincial Councils, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Defense Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Commanders of Security Forces and the Chair Person of Ranaviru Seva Authority Ms. Padma Wettawa participated in the occasion.