On April 26, the Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Team returned home, their mission complete. There were no loud cheers or celebrations, only a quiet homecoming, marked by respect and gratitude. Their efforts in Myanmar had touched the lives of many, and today, they returned to the embrace of a nation proud of their service.
Led by Brigadier Punya Karunathilake, the team was welcomed by Major General Nazeer Majeed and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Disaster Management Centre, and the Tri Forces. Their arrival was met with a silent recognition of the hard work, dedication, and compassion that had been carried across seas to heal a broken land.
The team was deployed to Myanmar on April 5 in response to an earthquake that had left thousands displaced and many more in urgent need of assistance. Under the direction of His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, they arrived in Nay Pyi Taw Province, where the devastation was particularly severe. Their task was not only to provide medical care but to offer comfort and hope to a people who had lost everything.
In the days that followed, the team worked tirelessly, setting up mobile clinics, treating the injured, and providing vital psychological support to the displaced. Their efforts were felt in shelters like the Ministry of Commerce complex, the Lat Lok Toun Pagoda, and the Mashikhana Monastery, where the displaced sought refuge.
Today, as the team returns, they bring with them not only the gratitude of Myanmar but the quiet pride of Sri Lanka. Their mission has come to an end, but their legacy of compassion, care, and service remains woven into the fabric of both nations.
