05th February 2024 12:47:19 Hours
In conjunction with the 76th National Independence Day, a celebration event was organized in Oddamawadi with the participation of approximately 300 school children and their parents The commemoration was graced by the presence of religious leaders, government officers, and personnel of the military and the police.
As the initiation of the programme, the school children belonging to Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim ethnicities together with the other school cadet corps arrived on foot at the Oddamawadi Bridge from Oddamawadi clock Tower holding national flags and tributes were paid to the monument near the bridge. This walk consisted of 75 Sinhala children 25 Tamil children from Polonnaruwa and 75 Muslim children from Oddamawadi following the tribute, the national flag was hoisted by the General Officer Commanding of the 23 Infantry Division. Then the national anthem was sung by the school children.
In addition to the formal celebrations, the programme comprised a boat riding competition. The General Officer Commanding the 23 Infantry Division Major General Nilantha Premarathne RSP USP psc also inaugurated a boat safari service .
Troops of the 23 Infantry Division provided 420 lunch packets, drinking water, and sanitary facilities for over 1000 participants, along with transportation for school students.
