No parachute display at simple Freedom Day ceremony; special focus on tree planting

This year's Independence Day ceremony will not feature the usual parachute display and only a limited number of aircraft and tanks will be used in keeping with the President's request for a simple ceremony.

The Freedom Day military and cultural parades will also be shortened.

The 72nd Independence Day will be held at the Independence Square in Colombo under the theme “Surakshitha Deshayak, Saubhagyamath Ratak” (a secure nation and a prosperous country) with P re s i d e n t G o t ab aya Rajapaksa taking part as the chief guest.

A separate enclosure with seating arrangements for 1, 500 is being set up at the nearby Sports Ministry grounds for the people to view the celebrations, according to Publ i c Administration Ministry Additional Secretary K. G. Dharmatilake.

“It will be a simple ceremony with expenditure cut down by about 50 percent. About 30 percent of the previous year's programmes will be missing this year but these measures will not affect the overall celebration. About 3,000 guests will grace the event,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had instructed officials to cut down unnecessary expenditure as requested by the

President. A key highlight of this ye a r ’ s Independence Day will be the countrywide tree planting campaign. A circular had been issued by the Public Administration Ministry, announcing the release of funds for the purchase of trees, he said.

People are also requested to plant trees, preferably a tree that has a medicinal or food value, in their gardens, while those who have larger gardens are requested to plant mee ( Madhuca Longifolia) , kohomba ( Margosa) or kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna) trees.

Mr. Dharmatilake said 7.29 a. m and 8.30 a. m on February 4 will be the auspicious times to plant trees.