Sea of School Students Throng Closing Special 'Searchlight Tattoo' Show

Popular demands of unprecedented numbers of school students at the extended final day of the Army ‘Searchlight Tattoo - 2014’ at Kurunegala Welagedara grounds, prompted the organizers to have extra facilities organized on Monday (28), exclusively for students, free of charge.

With this extra morning ‘Searchlight Tattoo’ for school students, accompanied by hundreds of teachers and principals, the curtains came down on the ‘Searchlight Tattoo - 2014’ which drew a record number of visitors during four days.

Monday’s unexpected numbers of students, estimated to be more than 20,000 to the final hours of the mega show, posed several provisional difficulties such as seating arrangements, supply of water, etc to the organizers, but the organizers, managed the situation by supplying drinking water in extra bowsers, in addition to thousands of water bottles and refreshments that had been provided to the spectators.  

The four-day long ‘Searchlight Tattoo - 2014’ that showcases the exceptional assortment of exclusive skills of Army personnel was opened at Kurunegala Welagedara ground on Friday (25) afternoon. It was originally, meant for three days (April 25-27), but numerous requests made by Kurunegala schools for an extension, compelled the Commander of the Army to prolong it till Monday (28) with an extra show.

Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, taking a special interest in this direction, has instructed the Commander of the Army to take the Searchlight Tattoo across the country since the people and children seldom get those exposures which add thrill and excitement to the youth.

Chief of Staff in the Army Major General Crishantha de Silva, attending the day’s event as the Chief Guest on Monday (28), personally ensured the sea of visitors to the show are properly facilitated, cared and offered the best exposure, despite limited space in the ground.       

The mega Army ‘Searchlight Tattoo’, a show of huge attraction in the Army at Kurunegala on its first day, was opened by Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Commander of the Navy at the invitation of the Commander of the Army.

Hon Tissa R Balalla, Governor for North Western Province and Hon Dayasiri Jayasekara, Chief Minister for North Western Province, General Jagath Jayasuriya, Chief of Defence Staff and a few more at the invitation of the Army as Chief Guests, opened the ‘Searchlight Tattoo’ during all four days.

The Army ‘Searchlight Tattoo’ generally highlights undisputed skills of Army personnel, including conduct of mock simulation attacks and rescue of hostages, Army ceremonial features, free fall parachute jumps, dog shows, demonstration of the Bailey bridge construction, assembling of artillery guns and jeeps, stunt riding displays, talents of disable War Heroes, Ranabera and Bugle displays, physical training and fire work displays, drill displays, etc, perhaps, never witnessed by those people in their lifetime.

On the directions of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, the spectacle was taken to Ethugalpura in parallel with the state policy of taking all major events of importance to provincial levels whenever possible.

Sensational Parachute jumps of Army Commandos and Special Forces during the three-day spectacle in Kurunegala are comprised of parachutists who represented Sri Lanka in several international competitions and championship tournaments. Recently, Army parachutists entered the finals in 'accuracy landing' category during the World Championship Tournament for Parachutists, held in China.