Jun 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka today staged an extravagant military parade at the Galle Face Green in Colombo to celebrate the first anniversary of the monumental victory over the terrorist war waged by the Tamil Tiger rebels for three decades.
The victory celebrations presided by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa were held at the Galle Face sea front promenade in Colombo with the participation of the armed forces commanders, Defence Secretary, government ministers and other political leaders.
The parade displayed over 9,000 troops from the three armed forces, the police, and the Civil Defence Force representing their units involved in the military operations against the LTTE last year. Highlight of the parade was the participation of disabled soldiers in wheel chairs.
Major General Kamal Gunaratna was the Commanding Officer of the entire parade. Commanders of the Wanni, Northern, and Eastern theaters commanded their respective contingents.
Showing the military might of the country, a large number of military vehicles including armed personnel carriers, Sri Lanka Navy ships, and fighter jets joined the parade.
The parade concluded with a group of paratroopers including two women with colorful parachutes jumping from 6,000 feet onto the Gall Face green.
The government declared today a Special Public and Bank Holiday in view of the Victory Day Parade.
The first anniversary celebrations, due to be held on May 18, were postponed for today due to the inclement weather and heavy flooding in the Western Province including in capital Colombo.
By Courtesy of www.colombopage.com
18th June 2010.
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