Navy breaks custom in according 25 gun-salute
When the nation held the 74th Independence Day celebrations on Friday, the Navy ship SLNS Gajabahu was anchored about 600 metres from the Galle Face Green to mark the day with the centuriesold tradition of according a 25 gunsalute.
Using a Navy vessel for the gun salute close to the Galle Face Green was a breaking away from the norm of presenting honour from the Navy Lighthouse in the heart of Colombo. Last year too, a Navy Gun Salute was accorded on board but far away (17 nautical miles) from Colombo due to the usage of live ammunition. This time the Navy used drill ammunition at the Galle Face Green.
The gun salute accorded to the nation on board the good ship SLNS Gajabahu was executed onboard platform for the second time after 72 years, first presented way back in 1950 onboard HMCyS ‘Vijaya’, according to the Navy.
According to a Navy custom, the main mast and deck out of the vessel were decorated with signal flags denoting the phrase ‘ 25 Gun Salutes for the Nation’ when the honour was presented. The bursts of gunfire from four 47 mm guns fitted onboard echoed across the Colombo port as the event was telecast live.