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Army Chief Dwivedi Honors IPKF Fallen Heroes at Colombo Memorial

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi paid respects at the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial in Colombo during his official visit to Sri Lanka. The ceremony honored Indian soldiers who lost their lives during Operation Pawan, part of the IPKF's deployment from 1987 to 1990. The memorial stands as a lasting symbol of the valour and sacrifice of the troops who operated in challenging counter-insurgency conditions. General Dwivedi's visit to Sri Lanka follows his official trip to the United Arab Emirates.

Key Points: COAS General Dwivedi Pays Tribute at IPKF Memorial in Sri Lanka

  • Wreath-laying at IPKF Memorial
  • Tribute to Operation Pawan sacrifices
  • Memorial honors 1987-1990 mission
  • COAS on official Sri Lanka visit
2 min read

COAS General Dwivedi pays tribute at IPKF Memorial in Colombo during official visit to Sri Lanka

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi laid a wreath at the IPKF Memorial in Colombo, honoring soldiers who died in Operation Pawan from 1987-1990.

"paying solemn homage to the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of peace, stability and regional harmony - ADGPI, Indian Army"

Colombo, January 7

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Wednesday laid a wreath at the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as part of his official visit to the island nation, paying homage to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during Operation Pawan.

According to a post by the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army on X, the wreath-laying ceremony was a moment of quiet remembrance and respect for the brave personnel who sacrificed in the service of peace, stability and regional harmony during the IPKF's deployment in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990.

The ADGPI noted that the IPKF Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the valour, courage and professionalism of Indian Army troops who served under challenging circumstances during the mission and also commemorates the Army's role in peacekeeping operations and reflects the unwavering commitment to regional security and stability.

"General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, laid a wreath at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial in Sri Lanka, paying solemn homage to the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of peace, stability and regional harmony during Operation PAWAN," the post read.

"The IPKF Memorial honours the valour and supreme sacrifice of Indian Army troops during the IPKF's operations in Sri Lanka from 1987 to 1990. It stands as an enduring symbol of courage, professionalism and the Indian Army's unwavering commitment to peacekeeping and regional security," it added.

Operation Pawan, undertaken under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed on 29 July 1987, marked India's first major overseas peacekeeping deployment. The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) entered Sri Lanka in August 1987, tasked with disarming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and stabilising the Jaffna Peninsula. At its peak, the IPKF strength reached nearly 100,000 personnel, who operated in intense counter-insurgency conditions until March 1990.

The COAS is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka after completing his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He will be there at the island nation from January 7 to January 8. His visit also comes against the backdrop of Operation Sagar Bandhu, according to an official statement from the ADGPI.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Respect to the bravehearts. 🙏 But we must also remember the families who lost their sons and husbands. The government should ensure all veterans and families of IPKF are well taken care of, even today. Their service was for the nation's call.
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Arjun K
Operation Pawan is a lesson in foreign policy. Our intentions were noble for peacekeeping, but the geopolitical outcome was messy. Still, the soldier's job is to follow orders, and they did so with unparalleled bravery under fire. Salute.
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Sarah B
Visiting from the US, I find this deeply moving. It shows India's long-standing commitment to being a regional security partner. Honoring past sacrifices while building current ties with Sri Lanka is a smart diplomatic move.
K
Karthik V
Good to see this act of remembrance. However, I hope the visit also focuses on strengthening current defence ties. The Indian Ocean region needs stability, and cooperation with neighbours like Sri Lanka is key. The past should guide future partnership.
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Nisha Z
My uncle served in IPKF. He rarely talks about it, but we know it was tough. Seeing the COAS pay respects means a lot to families like ours. It validates their service. Thank you, General Dwivedi.

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