The grand finale of the year which not only provided a stage for their talents but also a break from their routine hard work, drew a flock of more than 7500 service personnel to one spot which was enthralled by a galaxy of popular outside stars in the industry.Private H.H.S Madushan of 12 (V) Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) as the ‘Dancing Star - 2019’ and Lance Corporal A.C.G.S Pushpakumara of 16 (V) Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) as the ‘Singing Star’ were crowned after close selections. Competitors attended several rounds of selections judged by a professional board before they were qualified for the finale.
The panel of judges, comprised of Visharada Nirmala Ranathunga, Visharada Nihal Gamhewa, Musician Antony Surendra, Veteran Dancer, Pradeepa Ariyawansha, Veteran Dancer, L.L Rangana Navodani Ariyadasa and Professor Ariyarathne Kaluarachchi and well-recognized veteran compères, Mr Kamal Addararachchi and Mrs Subuddhi Lakmali added curiosity and excitement to the onlookers as competitions turned sensationally challenging minute by minute. The floor of gigantic reality show assumed exciting proportion as the finalists entered the decisive final round of the fray amidst non-ending roars of applause of the onlookers.
With enormous interest, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army, together with Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, SF-J who is the architect and prime mover of the Jaffna’s first military reality show of this nature, many other Senior tri-service Officers and a large gathering of Other Ranks witnessed the colourful spectacle, adorned with many entertaining cultural feaures of the highest standards.
Illuminated with the most modern lighting systems, coupled with stage backgrounds provided a historical artistic dimension to the entire settings that befitted all the entertaining features and multi-coloured dancing troupes of the tri-services.Those eye-catching aesthetic features added sensational flavour to the mega spectacle that kept the audience spellbound, accompanied by thundering applause and unfailing revelry of the fans who supported respective finalists right throughout until their reach to the zenith.
The winner, ‘Dancing Star - 2019’ was awarded a cash prize of Rs 100,000/= while the ‘Best Singer - 2019’ was presented with a similar cash prize. All three other runners-up in both categories carried cash gifts of Rs 75,000/= to 50,000/= Private N.P.U.M Nawarathna of 4 VIR, Lance Corporal J.D Soyza of 1 Mechanized Infantry Regiment (MIR), Private R.M.D Ravindra of 4 Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps (SLAMC) and Lance Corporal W.M.E.A Gunarathne of 12 (V) VIR were adjudged runners up in the Singing and Dancing categories and rewarded respectively.
Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army flanked by Major General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Staff, Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, SF-J, Major General Jagath Gunawardena, Commander, Security Forces - Wanni (SF-W), Major General Aruna Jayasekara, Commander, Security Forces - East (SF-E) and Major General Laksiri Waduge, Commander, Security Forces - Central (SF-C) participated in the distribution of awards to the winners.