In recognition of his contribution to East Timor's freedom struggle, President Ramos Horta awarded Sri Lankan civil activist and journalist Freddie Gamage with the highest award of the country's government.

Gamage arrived at Katunayake Airport on December 7. Gamage is a well-known human rights activist in Sri Lanka.

East Timor is a small country located between Indonesia and Australia. It remained a Portuguese colony until November 28, 1975, and the state that gained independence on that day was taken over by Indonesia after a few days, on December 7, 1975.

The freedom fighters of the Asia-Pacific region have been engaged in a long struggle with the people of East Timor to get freedom.

Freddy Gamage, who was going to East Timor to participate in this struggle, was deported twice, once at the Manila International Airport in the Philippines and again at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.

As a result of these struggles, East Timor became an independent state on May 20, 2002, and the contribution made by Freddy Gamage for that freedom struggle was evaluated and this prestigious award was presented to him by the country's President Ramos Horta on November 27.

A large group of journalists, civil society activists, relatives and friends were at the airport to welcome Gamage.

Source: https://www.dailynews.lk/2023/12/09/local/282347/civil-activist-conferred-prestigious-award