Published on - 2/8/2005
Though 57th Independence Day commemoration in 2005 was not on a high profile in view of the recent disaster, several island-wide Independence Day observances were made in Jaffna, Galle, Batticaloa and elsewhere.
The Guard of Honour was one of the major events accorded to the Chief Guest Mr. Kingsley T. Wickramarathne, Governor for Southern province at the simple ceremony held in his office in Galle, to coincide with the major highlight in Colombo on 4th February.
A two-minute silence in memory of fallen heroes and tsunami victims was then observed at this brief ceremony before members of tri-forces with other civilians took part in a Shramadana campaign to clear the roads and sites in some tsunami devastated locations in Galle township.
Meanwhile, a similar Independence Day ceremony was in place at Jaffna the same day following initiatives taken by Major General S.D.Tennakoon, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna,
Hoisting of the national flag, recital of the national anthem and observance of two-minute silence to remember the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the war and those who died in the tsunami, a tree planting campaign, etc were among the major events of the day.
Troops of the 51 Division commanded by Brigadier P. Pannipitiya took part in this tree planting campaign in the peninsula. Simultaneous religious observances were also made in places of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Islam worship in the morning hours before the day's proceedings got under way.
To underline the importance of the event, Army troops entertained all sixty orphaned children at the Urumpirai, Palali orphanage to a sumptuous lunch. Troops from 55 Division also joined hands together with their brethren to mark the day.
A ceremony in this connection was also held at Batticaloa District Secretariat.
