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Galle Face Green gets ready for 69th Independence Day
The stage being set up at Galle Face
Preparations are underway to celebrate the country’s 69th Independence next Saturday. The main celebration will be held at Galle Face Green commencing at 8 a.m.with the participation of over 8000 personnel from the tri forces at the traditional victory parade and ceremony.
President Maithripala Sirisena will be the Chief guest at the celebrations while Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, ministers and diplomats will be among others in attendance.
The celebrations on February 4 will be preceded by religious functions on February 2 and 3 that will include pirith chanting at 9.15 p.m. on the 2nd at the Independence Square, and a Sangatha Dakshinawa Piligannweema at 6.45 a.m at Vajirarama temple at Bambalapitiya. The religious ceremonies on February 4 include a Buddhist function at 6.15 a.m. at Colombo Polwatte temple, a Hindu ceremony also at 6.15 a.m. at Sri Ponnambalam Vaneshvar kovil Colombo 13, an Islamic function at the Grand Mosque, Colombo 12 at 6 a.m. and Catholic and Christian services at 6.15 a.m. at St. Theresa’s cathedral, Thimbirigasyaya and St. Lukes Borella respectively.
Liquor shops will be closed on February 4 and Galle Road will be closed from the roundabout upto old parliament from today until Friday (February 3) from 7 a.m. on wards until rehearsals are concluded on each day.