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Sri Lankan Army commandos march during the 59th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo, February 5.

Sri Lankan Special Forces take part in the military parade

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse speaks to Special Forces soldiers

Police cadets

Sri Lankan Air Force jet fighters

Traditional dancers perform during the celebrations

Sri Lanka displays military might on Independence Day



COLOMBO- Insurgency-torn Sri Lanka celebrated 59 years of independence Sunday with displays of its military air and sea power , as the president said he would not give in to the separatist Tamil Tigers “ bloodthirsty” demands.
The celebrations followed a successful military campaign to seize several strategic areas in eastern Sri Lanka from the Tigers’ control.
“We are not ready to give into the bloodthirsty demands of the LTTE, “ President Mahinda Rajapakse said, referring to the Tigers’ official name, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
“I emphatically state before you of my total commitment to ensure the honour and prosperity of this blessed land, by decisively defeating separatism,” Rajapakse said as he presided over the festivities on a green in the capital, Colombo.
He said his government was willing to discuss autonomy,but not separatism. Some moderate Tamil leaders are asking for more autonomy for areas dominated by the country’s minority ethnic Tamils, mostly in the north—but within a united Sri Lanka.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 to create an independent Tamil homeland after decades of discriminations by the majority Sinhalese.
About 3,600 people have died since violence escalated early last year despite a 2002 cease-fire.
Days ago, the government renewed calls for a return to peace talks to end the fighting that has killed about 68,000 people since 1983. There has been no formal response from the rebels, and Rajapakse did not address the issue Sunday.
Artillery guns, tanks and multi-barrel rocket launchers were featured in the parade down Colombo’s main thoroughfare, Galle Face, facing the Indian Ocean.
Thirty warplanes and helicopters flew over Galle Face while 12 navy gun ships and attacking crafts sailed along the coast in view of the city. Rajapakse unfurled the national flag amid the blowing of conch shells , and school girls sant the national anthem to launch the celebrations.

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