May 18, Matara: Sri Lanka today staged an extravagant military parade to celebrate 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 Southern city of Matara with the participation of the Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne, armed forces commanders, Defense Secretary, government ministers and other political leaders, the diplomatic core and other dignitaries.
The three armed forces - Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force, police and Civil Defense Force paraded along the streets of Matara town. Highlight of the military parade was the wheel chair parade of the disabled soldiers.
The parade included 3,734 army, 1,189 navy, 1,100 air force, 643 police and 578 civil defense personnel of other ranks and 24 paratroopers of all the forces.
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