74th Independence Day

The Fourth of February, Independence Day marks the historic date in 1948 when Sri Lanka with great pride marked its liberty from the British Empire with a conventional opening of parliament after the ‘Independence Bill of Ceylon’ was passed in December 1947. 

Quoting a past speech the first Prime Minister of Ceylon D.S. Senanayake, who led the righteous movement that led to the establishment of self-rule, made at a meeting held at Palm Court on September 6, 1946 said: “ Irrespective of whether we be Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Eurasian we are one single nation, the Sri Lankan nation. Long live the Lankan nation!”

Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, is a day that is celebrated with much fervour throughout the country with flag-hoisting formalities, military drills, cultural parades, and the singing of the Sri Lankan National Anthem. The day is commemorated to honor our independence warriors' victories and to remind us that we are first and foremost Sri Lankans, regardless of caste or creed.

The 74th Independence Day celebrations under the patronage of the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Independence Square, Colombo on the 4th of February ,2022 will be held under the theme “An affluent tomorrow and prosperous motherland with challenges overcome”. It has been decided to hold the traditional Parithrana Dhamma Sermon at the Independence Hall and a project to plant 500,000 saplings will also be implemented. 

Each passing Independence Day nurtures peoples’ hearts and minds with concepts such as patriotism, bravery, national duty, knowledge of national history, peace and harmony. The country's growth is in the hands and shoulders of its residents. Our perspectives differ, and our goals are diverse, but if we walk together and work together, we could agree on a viewpoint that will aid in the flourishment of our nation.

Written by: Rtr. Sayumi Tissaaratchy