Sri Lankan community celebrates 69th Independence Day |04 February 2017

On this remarkable day (February 4) 69 years ago, Sri Lanka began to see a new dawn. The many people who put aside their differences in religion and cast ripped the seeds of unity on this memorable day. Where joint effort for a common dream brought an independence without bloodshed, after over a century of complete colonisation by the British. However, before them there were other European colonists occupying parts of the coast for many centuries and so this new found freedom was met as a breath of fresh air.

This year the Pearl of the Indian Ocean reneges on the promise her forefathers made and celebrates its 69th year of independence under the theme ‘National Unity’.

In Seychelles, the Sri Lankan community will gather at the Sri Lankan high commissioner’s residence this morning in a flag raising ceremony and this evening gather at the ICCS for a cultural show.

While in Sri Lanka celebrations will take place at the Galle Face Green from 8am to 12pm Sri Lankan time.

Ruth Mohotti

Ministry of Education