Sri Lanka Navy accords 25 - Gun Salute to tribute nation on Independence Day

On the sidelines of the 72^nd Independence Day celebrations, the Sri Lanka Navy accorded a 25-Gun Salute to the nation today, 04^th February 2020, at the Lighthouse premises in Colombo Fort, by 12.00 noon.

The Navy’s traditional Gun Salute, the highest of its kind, was accorded under the direction of the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva and the supervision of the Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Sumith Weerasinghe. The Gun Salute Squad, which executed the tradition to military precision befitting the occasion, was commanded by the Gunnery Officer of SLNS Parakrama, Lieutenant Commander Sampath Ranasinghe. The Commanding Officer, Captain Indika Gunawardana and the Executive Officer, Commander Sudheera Dharmadasa of SLNS Parakrama were present on this occasion.

Sri Lanka Navy is the First Line of Defence of the island-nation and plays a vital role in protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. Out of the multitude of customary rites it performs, the Gun Salute made on the Independence Day is of great significance due to the national importance of the occasion.

In 1948, the Navy had fired a 15- Gun Salute at the Galle Face Green on the first Independence Day. In 1949, the Gun Salute had been accorded onboard HMCyS ‘Vijaya’, the Navy’s first warship. Onboard HMCyS ‘Vijaya’ one gun had been used to accord the Gun Salute, with an interval of 01 minute between each fire. After the HMCyS ‘Vijaya’ was decommissioned, 03 guns had been fixed at a place called Galle Buck Bay in the Colombo harbour. Due to the Colombo harbour development and expansion, the guns had been brought to the present premises at the Lighthouse in the Fort of Colombo in 2000. At present, on February 04^th, the Independence Day, the 25-Gunfire Salute is accorded to the nation by the Navy, exactly at 1200 hrs, continuing the time-honoured tradition.