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Remembrance Day in Sri Lanka
11/11/2007
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond will today, Remembrance Sunday, visit the graves of Commonwealth war dead in the main cemetery in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to pay tribute to those who lost their life in war.
Mr Salmond and the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter, laid wreaths at the war memorial at Liveramentu Cemetery.
Also present during the short ceremony was Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, and other members of the Commonwealth Games delegation which was in Colombo for the ceremoney which saw Glasgow named as the host city of the 2014 Games.
Mr Salmond said:
"As the Commonwealth nations come together next week, it is important that we pay our respects on Remembrance Sunday to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in war. "They helped to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today, and we must never forget them."
The entrance to the cemetery incorporates the Memorial Tablets commemorating over 300 men who died while serving in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), whose graves either could not be found or, if found, could neither be permanently maintained nor (for religious or other reasons) moved to cemeteries where their maintenance for all time would be assured.
The Liveramentu Cremation Memorial also stands within this cemetery and commemorates over 150 men of the Hindu faith who died while serving in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), and who were accorded the last rite required by their religion - committal to fire.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon laid a wreath on behalf of the Scottish Government at the City Chambers in Edinburgh.