GINKEL HEATH, Netherlands (AP) — Hundreds of paratroopers dropped out of near-cloudless skies over a heath in the central Netherlands on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden — one of World War II's most daring but ultimately unsuccessful missions.
Paratroopers from the Dutch Air Mobile Brigade and 12 other NATO nations took part in a series of jumps over Ginkel Heath, watched by a small group of World War II veterans and around 60,000 spectators.
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GINKEL HEATH, Netherlands (AP) — Hundreds of paratroopers dropped out of near-cloudless skies over a heath in the central Netherlands on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden — one of World War II's most daring but ultimately unsuccessful missions.
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands, center, meets some surviving veterans in Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Local mayor Rene Verhulst called the heath near Arnhem a place “where 80 years ago courage, sacrifice and hope came together in the shape of the airborne landings during Operation Market Garden. Today we commemorate the brave young soldiers who risked and sometimes gave their lives for our freedom.”
One of the soldiers involved, 99-year-old Geoff Roberts, was among 12 World War II veterans present on a warm day.
For Operation Market Garden, he arrived in the nearby village of Wolfheze a day before the mass drops at Ginkel Heath in September 1944.
“Well, I landed at Wolfheze in a glider and our next job was to capture this area for the people to come in the following day,” Roberts said.
He said that the arrivals were delayed by bad weather and by the time the paratroopers arrived, “it was getting a bit naughty” at the drop zone as German forces had begun fighting back.
After days of heavy fighting, he was taken prisoner and sent to work in a coal mine in Czechoslovakia. He was 20 when he returned home at the end of the war.
Operation Market Garden was an audacious plan that aimed to seize back key bridges and roads from Nazi occupiers of the Netherlands, so that Allied forces in Belgium could advance into the industrial heartland of Germany and bring the war to a swift end.
It involved dropping nearly 35,000 paratroopers behind enemy lines using an aerial armada of gliders and other military planes. But stiff German resistance and stretched supply lines scuppered the plan as the Allies failed to hold a key bridge across the Rhine at Arnhem in a battle immortalized in the book and star-studded 1977 movie “A Bridge Too Far.”
About 11,500 Allied troops died in the nine days of Operation Market Garden, more than than during the D-Day landings in France two months earlier.
The British 1st Airborne Division led the airborne assault. Paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and Poland’s 1st Independent Parachute Brigade also were dropped into the Netherlands.
The top general for U.S. forces in Europe, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, told The Associated Press that the way those countries fought together laid down a bedrock for the NATO alliance.
“It’s the spirit that we build on, right? It’s the spirit of cohesion that infuses the alliance today,” Cavoli said.
“The terrible events of the past couple of years have brought the alliance together, which is exactly what an alliance is for. It comes together in times of trouble," he added. "It comes together and builds on the bonds of the past. And you can feel that at a commemoration like this today, you feel the spirit of that alive.”
Saturday's drops came just over a week after a tiny Dutch village remembered becoming the first settlement in the Netherlands to be liberated from German occupation. While parts of the southern Netherlands were recaptured by Allies in 1944, the major cities and other areas had to wait months and endure a winter famine before their occupation ended.
Kink Willem Alexander of the Netherlands, center, meets some surviving veterans in Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands, center, meets some surviving veterans in Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Parachutists jump over Ginkel Heath Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of an audacious by unsuccessful World War II mission codenamed Market Garden to take key bridges in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Voting ended in Sri Lanka's presidential election Saturday as the country seeks to recover from the worst economic crisis in its history and the resulting political upheaval.
The election, contested by 38 candidates, was largely a three-way race among incumbent liberal President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Marxist-leaning lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
There were no major incidents reported during the vote but authorities declared a countrywide curfew until Sunday morning as a precaution, police said.
There are 17 million eligible voters, and final results are expected Sunday.
They will show whether Sri Lankans approve of Wickremesinghe's leadership of a fragile recovery, including restructuring Sri Lanka's debt under an International Monetary Fund bailout program after it defaulted in 2022.
The government announced Thursday that it passed the final hurdle in debt restructuring by reaching an agreement in principle with private bond holders.
At the time of its default, Sri Lanka’s local and foreign debt totaled $83 billion. The government says it has now restructured more than $17 billion.
Despite a significant improvement in key economic figures, Sri Lankans are struggling with high taxes and living costs.
Both Premadasa and Dissanayake say they will renegotiate the IMF deal to make austerity measures more bearable. Wickremesinghe has warned that any move to alter the basics of the agreement could delay the release of a fourth tranche of nearly $3 billion that is crucial to maintaining stability.
Most Sri Lankans voted with the economy in mind, hoping a new government will lead the way out of crisis and end entrenched corruption.
“I think corruption is one of the main reasons that led the country to the present pathetic condition. So, the next leader should pay attention to eliminate corruption and start building the country,” said Chandrakumar Suriyaarachchi, a driver who voted in Saturday's election. "Our children deserve a better life.”
Political experts say widespread disenchantment with the political old guard — widely blamed for Sri Lanka's economic instability — could mean no single candidate is able to secure 50% of votes as a first preference. In that scenario, the top two candidates move to a second round of counting that takes into account second-choice votes.
There are concerns that if a clear winner fails to emerge, the island nation could plunge into more instability.
Voter Visaka Dissanayake said he hopes Sri Lanka votes for a “strong leader, who will set the path for economic recovery."
“We have now come out of a very difficult situation. So, I hope the economic recovery will continue,” Dissanayake said.
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis resulted largely from excessive borrowing on projects that did not generate revenue. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s insistence on using scarce foreign reserves to prop up the currency, the rupee, contributed to the economy’s free fall.
The economic collapse brought a severe shortage of essentials such as medicine, food, cooking gas and fuel, with people spending days waiting in line to obtain them. It led to rioting in which protesters took over key buildings including the president’s house, his office and the prime minister’s office, forcing then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign.
Wickremesinghe was elected by a parliamentary vote in July 2022 to cover the remainder of Rajapaksa’s five-year term. Now, Wickremesinghe is seeking another term to strengthen the gains.
However, many people accuse him of protecting members of the Rajapaksa family, whom they blame for the economic crisis.
Wickremesinghe, who was the only member of his party in Parliament, was elected mainly with the votes of Rajapaksa loyalists. They also supported him as members of his Cabinet and in voting for the reforms he proposed.
Associated Press video journalist Rishi Lekhi contributed to this report.
Sajith Premadasa, opposition leader and the presidential candidate of United People's Power or Samagi Jana Balawegaya party, gestures as he leaves a polling station after casting his vote, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sep. 21, 2024. (AP Photo)
Leader and the presidential candidate of National People's Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake leaves a polling station after casting his vote in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
People wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling center during the presidential election Colombo , Sri Lanka Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sajith Premadasa, opposition leader and the presidential candidate of United People's Power or Samagi Jana Balawegaya party, gestures as he leaves a polling station after casting his vote, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo)
Leader and the presidential candidate of National People's Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake leaves a polling station after casting his vote in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
An election monitor watches voters waiting in queue at a polling center during the presidential election on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
People wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling center during the presidential election on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Polling officers set up their booth in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A police officer stands guard as polling officers set up their booth in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
People wait in a queue to casts their votes at a polling station in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
People wait in a queue to casts their votes at a polling station in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sri Lankan president and independent presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe shows indelible mark on his baby finger after casting his vote, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sri Lankan president and independent presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe reacts after casting his vote, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sri Lankan president and independent presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives to cast his vote in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sri Lankan police officer stands guard as voters queue to cast their vote at a polling center for presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sri Lankan police officer stands guard as voters queue to cast their vote at a polling center for presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sri Lankan show their baby fingers marked with an indelible ink after casting their vote at a polling center for presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A person shows indelible mark on his finger after casting his vote in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardane)
People stand in a queue to cast their votes in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardane)
Election officials leave a distribution center after collecting polling material for the upcoming presidential election, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Police officers wait for transport to travel to polling stations ahead of the upcoming presidential election, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
A police officer stands guard outside a polling material distribution center ahead of the presidential election, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's opposition leader and presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa speaks to his supporters during a public rally in Thalawakele, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Leader and the presidential candidate of National People's Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaks to supporters during the final public rally ahead of the election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's president Ranil Wickremesinghe speaks during a public rally in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Women election officials walk past security personnel outside a distribution center before collecting polling materials for the upcoming presidential election, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
