Sri Lanka Celebrates 74th Independence Day In Colombo
Shakila Ifham
February 1, 2022
The Independence Day celebrations would take place with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gracing the event as the Chief Guest at 8:13 AM with more than 3,000 security forces and police personnel deployed to cover the city limits and the Western Province during the 74th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo on Friday February 4.
The Police Headquarters said that the number would include police, Special Task Force and officers of the three forces and in addition police and three forces intelligence sleuths would also be deployed.
The security operation would be under the direct supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon, police said.
The 74th Independence Day will be celebrated with pride with the participation of various units of security forces and police in accordance with the Covid health guidelines, said Defence Secretary General (retd.) G.D.H. Kamal Gunaratne.
Gen. Gunaratne told journalists yesterday that 3,463 soldiers from the Army, 919 sailors from the Navy, 804 Airmen from the Air Force, 363 Police Officers, 282 personnel from the Police Special Task Force, 437 members from the Civil Defence Force, and 257 cadets from the National Cadet Corps would take part in the Independence Day parade.
“In total 6,500 personnel will take part in the Independence Day parade,” he said.
Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that two-minute silence in memory of all the patriots and War Heroes who laid down their lives for the noble cause of defending the Nation, would be observed on that day.
He said the Independence Day parade would feature two segments, the first will be the foot columns march of the Three-armed Force, Police, Civil Defence Force, and the National Cadet Corp, and the second will feature the Mechanized Column of military hardware which includes nearly 111 military vehicles.
Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne said that the Sri Lanka Navy would accord a 25-Gun Salute to the nation from SLNS Gajabahu (P 626) at 12 noon from the seas off Galle Face Green.
Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana said the eyes in the skies will coordinate the Independence Day Fly Past with 26 aircraft and 50 pilots.
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