The National Day Message of His Excellency the President was read out in all three languages at the ceremony. His Excellency the President in his message noted that ‘the aspiration of the nation is to make more meaningful the freedom won with much sacrifice.’ Recalling the words of the first Prime Minister of independent Sri Lanka, Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake, he stressed that ‘freedom had been obtained to relieve the pain and increase contentment of the people regardless of ethnic, party or religious differences.’
His Excellency the President has also called for an acceleration of the work being done on nation building and a setting right of errors of the past and present in a bid to achieve greater freedom.
Addressing the gathering the newly appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka said that although the 60 anniversary of independence was celebrated amidst war Sri Lanka had entered a new post war era. While we are proud that we prevailed over the enemy which attempted to dismember the country, we cannot be proud that the mistakes and shortcomings of the past resulted in a thirty years long war. We must now apply the same political resolve that won the war, to the task of winning the peace. A sustainable peace is one that ensures justice and equity for all citizens, communities and collective identities in Sri Lanka. That drive for a just peace cannot but be guided by the universal truths embedded in the major religious doctrines that enrich our civilization.
The Ambassador also hosted a reception for the Sri Lankan community in France.
Ambassador Jayatilleka in his address on this occasion, referred to the destruction caused by the recent flooding in Sri Lanka and called on the Sri Lankan community to support efforts underway to provide relief to those affected and rendered homeless.
Speaking on the occasion, Head of Chancery, Ms. W. S. Perera highlighted the reconstruction work being carried out on the railway system in the north of Sri Lanka and requested the Sri Lankans to support the initiative which would improve connectivity in the country and among its people.
Thereafter a reception was organised and was attended by a large and distinguished gathering of Ambassadors from the bilateral arena as well as Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates accredited to UNESCO and senior officials of the UNESCO Secretariat were present at the reception. Several prominent business leaders who engage very closely with Sri Lanka were also present.
Ambassadors of India, Cuba, Venezuela, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, Germany, the Vatican, Slovakia as well as Chargés d’affaires of several Embassies and Permanent Delegations including Pakistan, USA, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cameroon, Senegal, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Kuwait among others were present.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Paris
5th February 2011
