by Our Defence Affairs Editor
The distinguished military leaders who gathered last Saturday at Army House — Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Generals Vikum Liyanage, Mahesh Senanayake, Chrishantha Silva, Jagath Jayasooriya, Daya Rathnayake, Srilal Weerasooriya, Shantha Kottegoda, and Shavendra Silva — are not just names etched into Sri Lanka’s military history. These men are the architects of peace, the stewards of a nation that emerged from the darkness of prolonged civil conflict. Under their command, Sri Lanka endured a brutal war, with each of them playing critical roles in ensuring its resolution, at times with strategies that pushed the limits of conventional warfare. Their leadership, both on the battlefield and behind closed doors, was decisive in ending a war that had scarred the nation for decades. However, as we reflect on their efforts, it is essential to remember the countless soldiers who gave their lives in anonymity, whose sacrifices, though unsung, were the foundation of the peace these commanders helped establish.
Yet, it is precisely this peace that we have come to take for granted, forgetting the immense cost at which it was achieved. The words of Sun Tzu, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting,” ring hollow in the face of the bloody reality that so many had to endure. These commanders were, without doubt, brilliant tacticians, but their success came only because they led men and women who sacrificed everything. Behind every victory, there was a soldier whose name will never be known, whose family may never receive the recognition they deserve. It is all too easy to honour the leaders whose names are engraved in history, while the true heroes — those who died on the frontlines — remain relegated to silence. This is the uncomfortable truth that we must confront: the very peace we now enjoy is built upon the blood and sacrifice of countless individuals, whose struggles were not just fought in the fields of battle but in the shadows of history, where their names will never be written in lights.
The literature surrounding military operations and the philosophy of war speaks volumes about the profound, often painful, sacrifices required to secure peace. Throughout history, military leaders, ideologues, and theorists have reflected on the brutal reality of war, understanding that each battle won is not merely a victory in itself but a means to a greater end — the preservation of peace, the survival of the nation, and the protection of its people. As Clausewitz famously noted, “War is merely the continuation of politics by other means.” His assertion underscores the grim truth that battles, no matter how strategically significant, are never ends in themselves. They are the means through which broader political and national objectives are achieved. But in the process, victory is never without cost. The bloodshed, the lives lost, and the unspoken sacrifices form the core of what it means to protect a nation. In the words of military theorist Antoine-Henri Jomini, “The art of war is the art of decision-making, but the consequences of those decisions can be the ultimate price — the lives of soldiers.” These words ring particularly true in the context of Sri Lanka’s own military history, where the blood and sweat of countless soldiers paved the way for the nation’s hard-won peace.
The military leaders who emerged victorious in such conflicts — whether on the battlefields of Europe, Asia, or Sri Lanka — are often celebrated for their strategic brilliance, their courage, and their ability to inspire. Yet, as history has shown, it is not only their tactics and decisions that define the victory but the sacrifices of those who fought under them. A battle won does not only mark the defeat of an enemy; it signifies the price paid for that success. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu writes, “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” This speaks to the notion of preparation, the psychological understanding that the true victory is not merely in the immediate moment of battle, but in the prolonged effort and resilience that leads up to it. The sacrifice of soldiers, the unspoken heroes who bore the brunt of the conflict, is an integral part of this prolonged effort. It is their commitment that creates the conditions for military leaders to claim victory. As we reflect on these sacrifices, we must remember that while commanders orchestrated operations from behind the frontlines, it was the soldiers in the trenches who laid the foundation for success.
The harsh reality of war is that these victories, no matter how strategically valuable, can only be achieved through immense human sacrifice. This is why, according to military historians like Sir Michael Howard, “The consequences of war are irreversible and always involve the loss of life, the disruption of society, and the cost of victory, often paid in blood.” For the soldiers who fight on the ground, the cost of victory is often far greater. It is in their blood, their sweat, and their unrelenting courage that the future of a nation is secured. The history of any nation at war is littered with the memories of these sacrifices, and these memories should not fade. Nations must honour the lives of those who gave all for the protection of the land. “A soldier’s life is not for glory,” as General George Patton once said, “it is for the nation, for the survival of its people, for the future of its children.” In a world where the ease of daily life often blinds us to the sacrifices that brought it to us, we must hold on to these memories. The blood and sweat that soaked the soil, the sacrifices made so that future generations could live in peace, are part of the very fabric of the nation. Nations must remember not only the leaders who commanded the operations but the soldiers who fought and died in the trenches — for it is through their sacrifice that the land was kept safe.
A nation that forgets the sacrifices made by its soldiers, who laid down their lives to secure the peace it now enjoys, is one that risks losing the very essence of what makes it strong. The memory of these fallen heroes must be preserved, not as a relic of the past, but as a living testament to the price of peace. As Winston Churchill famously said, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” The sacrifices of soldiers in Sri Lanka, who fought to safeguard the nation, must be remembered by future generations — for it is their blood, their courage, and their enduring legacy that secured the very freedom and safety that we, today, too often take for granted. In the end, the battle won is not just for land, but for the lives that were lost in securing it, and it is the responsibility of every citizen to carry forward the memory of those who fought so that we could live in peace.
