Celebrating The 75th Independence Day Of Sri Lanka

Share

Sri Lanka, an extraordinary island nation located at the heart of the Indian Ocean, is often referred to as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”.

Surrounded by the magnificent blue-green seas, it is a country of rich cultural diversity, history, biodiversity, and of course, courageous people.

On the 4th of February 1948, the island nation commemorates the occasion of gaining political independence from the British rule that prevailed in the country for over a century, which consequently concluded the period of colonization of the nation after having been colonized by first the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and lastly the British; independence was finally on the horizon after 443 years.

Although the Sri Lankan Independence Day is celebrated annually on the 4th of February, the nation only gained the status of a Republic on the 22nd of May, 1972. Sir D. S. Senanayake, the leader of the Sri Lankan Independence Movement which lead to the establishment of an independent Sri Lanka, became the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 1948. However, the legal head of state was Queen Elizabeth II’s governor at the time. In 1972, Sir William Gopallawa became the first president of the island nation, which substituted the role of governor.

In 2023, the 75th independence milestone is to be celebrated with various religious and cultural performances, military parades, and more. Moreover,  the President of Sri Lanka addresses the nation, raising important issues, speaking of the achievements of the government during the year that passed, and requesting all Sri Lankans alike to come together to commemorate the historic day, during the speech.

The path to independence of Sri Lanka was a prolonged and strenuous one. The celebration of the 75th Independence Day of Sri Lanka is a reminder of the bravery of the Sri Lankan people and a means of paying homage to the forepersons of this glorious nation.

References:

  1. Lanka, T. N. T. S. (2021, April 21). All that You Need to Know about the Sri Lanka Independence Day History! Travel Destination Sri Lanka. https://nexttravelsrilanka.com/sri-lanka-independence-day-history/
  2. Lakpura LLC. (n.d.). National Independence Day of Sri Lanka. https://us.lakpura.com/pages/national-independence-day

 

Image Courtesies

 
Tagged : / /