To mark the 78th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai hosted a flag hoisting ceremony with the participation of the Sri Lankan community in the western region of India. Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe attended the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The celebration commenced with the ceremonial hoisting of the national flag by Consul General Priyanga Wickramasinghe together with the visiting Deputy Minister, followed by the singing of the national anthem and a minute’s silence observed in memory of fallen national heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. Religious representatives of the four main faiths of Sri Lanka offered blessings for the future of the country. The independence day messages of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath were also read out.
In his address, Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe underscored that independence should not be a celebration restricted to one day of the year, but an active practice of everyday life, which would be the best way to pay homage to those who sacrificed life and limb so that citizens could enjoy their freedoms today. He also spoke of the resilience of the Sri Lankan people in dealing with the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, and the government’s efforts to steer Sri Lanka in the direction of prosperity.
Observing that resilience is one of Sri Lanka’s most important national characteristics, the Consul General noted in her remarks, that as a nation Sri Lanka’s strength lies in its ability and resolve to overcome challenges through the people’s collective efforts. She noted that with the existence of “a strong government and the necessary political will” the country can “march towards a future that we can collectively be proud of; a future that we will author ourselves.”
The celebration concluded with the national anthem of Sri Lanka being sung in Tamil symbolically indicating Sri Lanka’s commitment towards equality amidst diversity. The event provided an opportunity to bring together in fellowship, the Sri Lankan community residing across the western region of India.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka
Mumbai
07 February 20206
