President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived at the Independence Square for the Independence Day celebrationsthis morning.He was accorded a warm welcome by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The event, themed “A Secured Nation - A Prosperous Country”, officially commenced as the President graced the event and hoisted the national flag.

Nearly 2,500 guests including the Prime Minister, Ministers, State Ministers, parliamentarians and foreign diplomats have been invited for the celebrations.The march-past of the ceremony consists of 8,260 security forces personnel including 4,325 from Sri Lanka Army, 868 from the Navy and 815 from the Air Force. A total of 1,382 police personnel will also join the military pageant.