On the morning of 4th February 2015, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Jakarta organised a celebration attended by over 80 Sri Lankans and well wishers living in Jakarta. The ceremony included hoisting the national flag, playing the national anthem and lighting the traditional oil lamp. A meal of traditional kiribath and Sri Lankan sweetmeats followed.
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Indonesia, Anoja Wijeyesekera read President Maithripala Sirisena's National Day Message, in English. The National Day Messages of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera were also read in Tamil and Sinhala respectively.
Religious dignitaries representing Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam conferred blessings on Sri Lanka and a minute’s silence was observed for the armed forces who sacrificed their lives for the motherland as well as all Sri Lankans who perished in the conflict.
In the evening a formal reception was held. A gathering of 260 people comprising 80 ambassadors and spouses of friendly countries, Ministers and dignitaries of Indonesia and the Sri Lankan diaspora in Indonesia attended a truly Sri Lankan event replete with Sri Lankan food and entertainment organised by the Sri Lankans living in Indonesia. Sri Lankan traditional dancing and singing were performed. A group of Sri Lankan musicians played and sang classical Sri Lankan songs.
In her speech, Ambassador Wijesekera explained the gains since Sri Lanka’s independence, emphasising that the investment in free universal health care and free universal education, by successive governments over the last 67 years resulted in a population that is educated and healthy. This educated population exercised their democratic rights in the peaceful election conducted in every part of the country, to bring about a re-calibration of the democratic architecture of Sri Lanka to ensure good governance, transparency, accountability a commitment to the sovereignty of parliament and the promotion of pluralism.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Jakarta
11th February 2015
