‘Jaffna Got Talent’ Musical & Dancing Star Thrills Tri-Service Men in Thousands

The grand finale of the mammoth ‘Jaffna Got Talent’ musical and dancing competition for tri-services serving the Jaffna peninsula got off at the grounds in the Security Force Headquarters – Jaffna (SFHQ-J) Thursday (29) evening to a packed crowd of more than 6000 service personnel.

Lieutenant C.T Joshep of the 7 Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps (SLAWC) as the ‘Dancing Star - 2018’ and Private H.A.P.M.M Hettiarachchi of the 4 Mechanized Infantry Regiment (MIR) as the ‘Singing Star’ were crowned after a close selection in two competitive rounds. In both events separate six finalists vied for supremacy.

The selection done by the panel of judges, comprised of Visharada Mr Samantha Perera, Visharada Mr Nihal Gamhewa, a prominent Sri Lankan vocalist, Mr Anthony Surendra, veteran Actress, Ms Meena Kumari, Actor Mr Hemal Ranasinghe, Movie Star, Mr Devinda Kongahage, veteran Actress, Ms Swineetha Weerasinghe, veteran Actor, Mr Kamal Addaraarchchi and the veteran Compère, Ms Subbuddhi Lakmali.

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest, together with Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, Security Forces – Jaffna (SF-J) who is the architect and prime mover of the Jaffna’s first military reality show of this nature witnessed the colourful spectacle adorned with many entertaining cultural features of the highest standards, together with senior tri-service Officers and a large gathering of Other Ranks and invitees.

The floor of gigantic reality show assumed exciting proportion as the finalists entered the decisive final round of the fray.

Illuminated with the most modern lighting systems coupled with stage backgrounds provided a historical artistic dimension to the entire settings that befitted all the entertaining features and multi-coloured dancing troupes of the tri-services.

Those eye-catching aesthetic features added sensational flavour to the mega spectacle that kept the audience spellbound, accompanied by thundering applause and unfailing revelry of the fans who supported respective finalists right throughout.

The winner ‘Dancing Star - 2018’, Lieutenant C.T Joshep of the 7 SLAWC was awarded a cash prize of Rs 100,000/= while the ‘Best Singer - 2018’, Private H.A.P.M.M Hettiarachchi of the 4 MIR was presented with a similar cash prize. All three other runners-up in both the categories carried cash gifts of Rs 25,000/= to Rs 50,000/=.

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army flanked by Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, SF-J and several artists participated in the distribution awards to the winners.