Tri servicemen on Tuesday (18) marked the birthday of their Commander-in-Chief, HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa after offering a free luncheon treat to over 20,000 people in the centre of Colombo’s commercial hub.
The arrangement at the newly-opened Floating Market on Bastian Mawatha inaugurated around noon during a brief ceremony, attended by Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera, Commander of the Navy, Air Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, Commander of the Air Force and a host of tri service senior officers.
Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the Chief Guest for the occasion served meals to a segment of civilians at the inaugural phase and the tri-service chiefs followed suit.
Large crowds of people including foreigners joined the occasion, reminiscent of a typical mammoth ‘Dansela’ (free eatery), usually held during the annual ‘Wesak’ and ‘Poson’ festivals.
HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa turned 69 years of age today (18) and island-wide religious ceremonies got underway throughout the day and the evening, invoking blessings.
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