Sri Lanka celebrates 72nd Independence Day
This year’s theme ‘A Secured Nation - A Prosperous Country’
The 72nd Independence Day celebrations, the first of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his Government’s, was held at the Independence Square in Colombo yesterday showcasing a military parade and a cultural pageant.
The celebrations were held under the patronage of the President, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and other official dignitaries.
The theme of this year’s ceremony was “A Secured Nation - A Prosperous Country’ and the ceremony began with the hoisting of the National Flag at Independence Hall by the President.
Some 2,500 invitees, including Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Attorney General Dappula De Livera, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Ministers, Parliamentarians and members of the diplomatic corps took part in the ceremony.
Commander in Chief of the Land Forces of the Russian Federation General Oleg Salyukov also participated in the National Day ceremony as a special guest at the invitation of Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva. A special area was demarcated at Independence Square for about 1,000 members of the general public to view the ceremony.
According to the Government Information Department, the military parade consisting of 8,260 Tri Forces personnel was led by Major General Mahinda Mudalige.
Over 4,000 members of the Sri Lanka Army 868 personnel from the Navy and 815 from the Air Force participated in the parade. Over 1,300 police personnel also took part in the Independence day celebrations.
The Sri Lanka Navy joined to celebrate Independence Day with the customary gun salute at the Colombo Lighthouse at 11.20 a.m. yesterday.
After the main ceremony, the Navy put on a display of sea manoeuvres at sea off Galle Face Green and also performances by troops on Galle Face Green.
The elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) provided a special display in the sea off Galle Face.
A special air show was also held at the celebration and according to Air Force, 30 aircraft flew in the aerial fly-past. The Air Force air show included three K8 aircraft, five PT-6 aircraft, three F7 jets, three MI17 helicopters and a Bell 212 helicopter.