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Daring parachutists star in Independence celebrations

By Kasun Warakapitiya

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President Maithripala Sirisena addresses the nation

The highlight of the Independence Day celebrations at Galle Face Green on Monday, a parachute “base jump” from a skyscraper, drew cheers from the assembled crowd.

Twenty parachutists from the three forces and the police – a female officer among them – carried the national flag as they descended from the heights, trailing smoke and performing acrobatic manoeuvres. Four of them stacked their parachutes one on top of the other.

The navy also displayed its might with a sail-past of ships and speedboats, saluting the President.

The Air Force carried out an aerial display with C130, AM 32 and MA60 transport aircraft, Y12, Bell212, and Mi17 helicopters, and Kfir and F7 jets. A group of training aircraft performed colourful acrobatic manoeuvres and airmen performed a “sky rope” operation, showing how they would deploy to save people in disaster situations.

A cultural pageant featured 865 dancers and musicians from the three armed forces, police and Civil Defence Force, cultural centres and the University of Performing Arts.

The flamboyant main parade displayed the military strength of Sri Lanka under this year’s theme, “Ekata Sitimu” (Let’s be together).

The marchpast included 3,620 soldiers, 1,249 navy personnel, 830 air force personnel, 800 police, 505 members of the Civil Security Force and 100 personnel from the National Cadet Corps led by the combined armed forces band and a float carrying a statue of a lion followed by personnel dressed as guards of ancient times carrying national flags.