Working towards a better tomorrow

Passing out parade of the Sri Lanka Navy in Galle:

by Sajitha Prematunge and Anushka Nanayakkara

This sacred land is worshipped by Gods and Brahmins as a golden flower, so not even a handful of soil can escape as long as the gold fence is all around it...the translation of a song we heard echoed in our minds as we passed through the security process.

All along the way we saw sailors in their neatly pleated trousers tucked into their boots. It's said that the seven pleats in their uniform resemble the seven oceans of the world.

With the roar of the blue-green sea of Galle in our ears, we all gathered to see the passing out parade of the Navy, with 12 officers and 808 sailors entering their service of the silent force - an indelible evening for all who were fortunate enough to witness this spectacular event.

The sailors and officers in the navy fight side by side on an unstable platform, in itself unique. Consequently the officers and sailors need special training to serve in the Navy. Navy discipline involves hard core, on the job training before graduation.

The mission of the Sri Lanka Navy training centre is to mould officers and sailors with a high degree of physical and mental fitness.

Though the Sri Lanka Navy is known as the silent force, their training involves a remarkable overall education including training on weapon handling, hospitality, courage, determination and much more.... Their ultimate goal is to gift them to mother Lanka as a group of lifelong heroes to stand by their theme 'Rata wata ran weta'.

Of all the armed forces in the world, the Navy is the senior most force in the world possessing one of the most oldest cultures. Some of the traditions and customs were acquired from the Royal Navy, while some others were altered according to Sri Lankan culture.

The Navy passing out parade in Galle, was a prime example for their diversified culture, with the bag pipes, quilts, Kandian and Kavadi dancers playing and dancing side by side. The whole event was a cultural extravaganza.

What really caught our eyes was the western and cultural band of the Navy which played songs like "Hettin uda wana lokaya samatama suwadayaka karamu". The dancers were playing on tip-toe to the beat of Sinhala, Tamil and English songs which attracted the audience and the response from them were of true patriotism.

The enactment of a combat scene captured every one's attention, by the sound of explosions and flaring guns. One truly felt what it meant to be a sailor, that in spite of their image as being sea bound, the sailors and officers are also trained in hand to hand combat.

The special squadron consisted three groups, 36 in each, dressed in khaki uniforms. There is one line which touched us the most - the oaths given by the young heroes. An oath to never leave their fellow soldiers when they are injured and to protect their motherland at any stake. This itself shows the commitment they have towards one another and the country as a whole.

The whole stadium went dark and the blinking lights fastened on the sailors wrists shone brilliantly. A suddenly illuminated fireworks display read 'Ranweta'. At the end all the officers walked out of the stadium while the band played. We were all so overwhelmed with pride, but all we could afford to do was clap.

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