WITH A VIEW to eliminating fear psychosis of the people in the east and promoting tourism in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka Army, with the guidance of Commander Security Forces Headquarters – East (SFHQ – E) Major General Srinath Rajapaksha, organized a grand sports and musical extravaganza Saturday (31) at the famous Pasikuda beach in Batticaloa.
This centre of tourism which has been popular among local and foreign tourists for its beautiful beach and shallow sea remained inaccessible nearly for three decades since the area was dominated by LTTE terrorists.
However, new hopes among people in the east began to develop after lilberation of initially the Eastern Province and finally the entire country from LTTE terrorism recently.
A new revival is now seen in the whole of the east under the government’s development programme for the east, “Nagenahira Navodaya”.
The “Pasikuda Mega Beach Blast” was organized by the Army’s 234 Brigade Commanded by Colonel KDCGJ Thilakarathna under the guidance of the Eastern Commander Major General Srinath Rajapaksha to boost the mentality of the easterners who suffered both mentally and physically nearly for 30 years due to LTTE atrocities.
Events that generated fun for children, Special shows by Army-trained dogs, Sports events such as beach volleyball and tug-of-war for elders, Cultural performances of associations doing oriental dancing in the area and many other events included the daytime programme.
Burghers’ Circle in Batticaloa, Eastern College of Education and Anjana Dancing Group presented cultural shows to the large audience that included fans from neighbouring villages, tourists from various areas and school children.
A mega musical show at which popular vocalists sang to the tunes of the Army Band, Prathiba Group, Red Arrows with K. Sujeewa and Filt group was staged in the evening at the same location where happy young crowds gathered to dance and provide chorus to singers.
Shirley Vaijantha, Saman de Silva, K. Sujeewa, Korin Almedha, Krishantha Erandaka, Athula Sri Gamage, Cletus Mendis, Shelton Muthunamage, Gamini Susiriwardane, Dhanapala Udawatta, Maxi Jayaweera, Ajith Ariyarathne and HR Zoysa participated in the evening musical show.
Commander Security Forces (East), General Officers Commanding and Brigade Commanders in the East were present on the occasion which was witnessed by over 20,000 spectators.
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