55th INDEPENDENCE DAY COMEMORATED ON A GRAND SCALE

Sri Lanka\'s 55th National Day (Independence Day) celebration at the historic Independence square in Colombo on Tuesday (4), by all standards, was reminiscent of the ancient grandeur, heroism and the sheer majesty that this island-nation has been proud of from time immemorial.

Recapturing its splendour, the ceremony was dignified by the presence of three armed service personnel, members of the Police and thousands of school children in full regalia who added colour to the mammoth but colourful spectacle and marched past the President, Prime Minister, three Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Chief Justice, Diplomats and a host of distinguished dignitaries who graced this Nation's grandest commemorative event at a time the country is determined to resolve its problems through dialogue and reconciliation.

The Day\'s ceremonies got underway after the arrival of three Service Chiefs, the Army, Navy and Air Force at the venue, followed by the arrival of the Chief Minister for Western Province Reginald Cooray, Mrs. Cooray, Minister of Home affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Earl Gunasekera, Mrs Gunasekera, Governor for Western Province Alevi Maulana, Minister of Home Affairs Alick Aluvihare and Mrs Aluvihare, Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, the Speaker Joseph Micheal Perera and Mrs Perera.

Before the arrival of the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, several Ministers laid floral tributes at the statue of the Father of the Nation Hon. D S Senanayake, whose unfailing efforts and vision saw the dawn of freedom to this Nation exactly 55 years ago.

Minutes later, President Kumaratunga, who arrived at the venue, accompanied by mounted Policemen and Military Police outriders was received by Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, Mrs. Wickramasinghe, Ministers Alick Aluvihare, Earl Gunasekera, Governor Western Province, Alevi Maulana and Chief Minister Western Province Reginald Cooray amidst the blowing of trumpets as the stage was set for the dignified ceremony.

As hundreds of National flags fluttered in the slight breeze, the main ceremony at the Independence Square commenced after the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga hoisted the National Flag heralding the event to the tune of Magul Bera (ceremonial drums) and the blowing of conch shells. It was followed by the singing of the National Anthem, by a bevy of 100 school girls, dressed in white \'Lama saris\', reminiscent of Sri Lanka's rich and age-old cultural traditions.

Precisely, at 9.18 a.m. the President was conducted to the special dais by three Service Commanders and the Inspector General of Police where school children joined together to recite auspicious \'Jaya Mangala Gathas\' to invoke blessings of Triple Gem on the Nation and also the chanting of \'Devo Vassatu Kalena\' stanza to invoke blessings of \'Deva\' (deities) on Sri Lanka and her people.

Thereafter a two-minutes silence was observed in memory of all patriots and in honour of all those who have laid down their lives to preserve Sri Lanka\'s territorial integrity and sovereignty as the play of the National Anthem again made Service Commanders present arms for the Guard of Honour to take center-stage.

A colourful Guard of Honour by members of three armed forces was then accorded to the President, preceded by the 21 gun salute in her honour. The subsequent march past of the three Armed Forces, the Police, members of the National Youth Council and school children, representing all ethnic groups in the island, adorned the occasion.

The public address system was renting the air with the instrumental rendition of the song \'Danno Budunge\' before the official inauguration of the celebrations commenced, as its melody was wafting into the air, comforting spectators who witnessed this annual commemoration.

After a lapse of several years, the Sri Lanka Army contributed to the occasion this year with as many as 12 Regiments, each of them represented by three officers and ninety nine troops, enhancing the glamour of the Nation's commemorative event.

Among the marchers was the spectacle \'Kandula\' the caparisoned baby elephant who walked majestically to match the grandeur of this historic occasion of the country as varying melodies of their bands rented the air while raising patriotic sentiments with resonant songs like, “Peradiga Mutu Etayayi Me” Hela Jathika Abhimane” “Sasara Wasanathuru” and so on.

The solemn ceremony graced by three Service Chiefs, Commander of the Army Lt. Gen L.P Balagalle RWP RSP VSV USP ndc IG, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri VSV USP ndc msc (Def), Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Donald Perera VSV USP ndc psc and the Inspector General of Police T. E Anandarajah, was also attended by Speaker Joseph Michael Perera and Mrs. Perera, Minister of Home affairs Alick Aluvihare and Mrs Aluvihare, Minister of Power and Energy Karu Jayasooriya and Mrs. Jayasooriya , Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Rukman Senanayake, Minister of Home affairs Earl Gunasekara, Mayor of Colombo Prasanna Gunawardene, Chief Minister, Western Province Reginald Cooray and Mrs Cooray, secretaries to Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior affairs, Governor for Western Province Alevi Maulana, Chief Justice Sarath N Silva, a host of foreign dignitaries, diplomats, distinguished guests, senior government officials and a fair number of other invitees.

The 25 Gun Salute accorded by the Sri Lanka Navy to the honour of the Nation culminated the day\'s celebrations amidst best wishes and greetings on the Nation\'s 55th Independence Day.