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Sri Lanka Celebrates 77th Independence Day Under New Leadership-by Kalani-eLanka On February 4, 2025, Sri Lanka marked its 77th Independence Day with a solemn yet hopeful ceremony held at Independence Square in Colombo. This year’s celebrations were led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who recently assumed office, making it the first Independence Day under his leadership. A Historic Celebration Under New Leadership President Dissanayake’s leadership brings fresh perspectives to Sri Lanka’s independence celebrations. His vision for economic revival and national unity was a central theme of the event, reflecting the aspirations of the people for a prosperous future. Economic Challenges and Fiscal Responsibility Unlike previous years, the 2025 Independence Day celebrations were notably scaled down due to the nation’s ongoing economic hardships. The government, prioritizing fiscal responsibility, minimized state expenditure while ensuring the ceremonial significance of the event remained intact. The traditional military parade featured 1,800 personnel—significantly reduced from the ...

Feb 4, 2025 Posted by In Articles, Kalani Prabodha Tagged , , ,
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eLanka Newsletter – 2nd February 2025 – 1st Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter Divine intervention is Sri Lanka’s only hope of saving themselves from many blushes. Australia sits in wait for a historic Lanka thrashing in Galle. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). Health & Views – JANUARY 3rd issue 2025 – By Dr Harold Gunatillake NEW BORN FAITH (Litmus test) – By Lakshman Navaratne SUNDAY CHOICE – A PARENT’S RESPONSIBILITY – By Charles Schokman Watch Highlights of 1st Test, Australia vs Sri Lanka – Galle, January 29 – February 02, 2025 BERNARD Rulach is no more. Vale’ a great of St.Mary’s College Dehiwala. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor). Calum Scott: From Reality Show Hopeful to Global Music Sensation – A Memorable Performance at the Enmore Theatre – Sydney on ...

Feb 2, 2025 Posted by In Articles, eLanka Newsletters Tagged , , , , , , ,
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All PRIME MINISRTERS SOUGHT THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES – By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando Since Independence was sought on 4th February 1948, without shedding a single blood drop, the first Prime Minister was chosen by the Colonials as the as Right Honorable D.S. Senanayake.  He was the Prime Minster from 24 September 1947 till 22 of March 1952 when he had an accident and died immediately (after falling from horse riding in the morning). After his death there was a battle with Sir John Kotelawala to be the Prime Minister of Ceylon. As a result, according to the wishes of Rt.Hon. D.S. Senananayake, his son,   became (Dudley Senananayake ) became the Prime Minister of Ceylon from 02 December to July  in 1947. Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike became the Prime Minister  from 26 September 1959, known by the Sri Lankan people as “The Silver Bell of Asia”, the fourth Prime ...

Jan 31, 2024 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , ,
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Some Presentations on Independence Day in the Past in Thuppahi-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Anusha Palpita  in 2016: “Independence Day in Black and White Video,” 20 July 2020, https://thuppahis.com/2020/07/30/independence-day-1949-in-black-and-white-video/ Thuppahi 2022: ….. https://thuppahis.com/2022/11/21/eureka-the-film-clip-of-the-1949-independence-day-festivities-secured/ KLF Wijedasa: “A Symbolic Moment of Ethnic Oneness,” 4 February 2021, https://thuppahis.com/2021/02/04/a-symbolic-moment-of-ethnic-oneness-at-independence-day-4-february-1948/ Senanayake Foundation 2022: “Remembering DS Senanayake on Sri Lanka’s Independence,” 6 February 2022, https://thuppahis.com/2022/02/06/rememebring-ds-senanayake-on-sri-lankas-independenc-day/ Jehan Perera: “Our Seventieth Year: Reflections …..,” 9 February 2018, https://thuppahis.com/2018/02/09/our-seventieth-year-reflections-on-sri-lankas-independence/ Thuppahi: “Symbolic Snaps on Independence Day,” 6 February 2019, https://thuppahis.com/2019/02/06/symbolic-snaps-on-independence-day/ Duncan White, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sharm Mustafa and Oscar Wijesinghe are seen here after they carried a baton to the podium at Galle Face Green where DS Senanayake stood …. in the course of the ceremonies on 4 February 1948. Note the contrasting scenario in recent times. and take note of an interesting side-story related by Somasiri Devendra: .…. https://thuppahis.com/2022/11/28/sri-lankan-navys-salute-on-february-4th-thereby-a-tale/ ...

Feb 3, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Michael Roberts Tagged , ,
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Journey of Independence: Multiple Milestones to Celebrate Source:dailynews.lk As the country chalks up 74 years of national Independence today with the customary usual pomp and ceremony a stock taking is in order to determine our achievements and setbacks and also ponder on the prospects and challenges in the future. Have we collectively failed as nation or can we be happy at our present position seven decades on? Of course, there will be the usual patriotic rhetoric that will be heard from Independence Day platforms and of the achievements and advancement made as a people. But as is the norm most of these speeches will be centred on the political achievements of various individuals and entities. There certainly will be those who will entertain a sense of satisfaction by the strides made the country in the realm of social advancement and on certain development indicators on the long journey since Independence. ...

Feb 5, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , ,
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Text of keynote address by Sunil de Silva – at the 73rd Independence day celebration by Sri Lankan community groups in Sydney, Australia on 06 February 2020 [Text of keynote address by Sunil de Silva – at the 73rd Independence day celebration by Sri Lankan community groups in Sydney, Australia on 06 February 2020] It is an honour to address an event organized by Sinhalese, Tamil, Malay, Moor, Buddhist, Hindu Christian and Islamic philosophies and faiths. Today’s combined effort augurs well and hopefully finds similar events in our motherland. We are all siblings of one mother, we have our sibling rivalries, ‘I can run faster than my brother, I ‘am better than my sister at mathematics, I ‘am prettier than my elder sister’ but when it comes to celebrating the mother’s birthday, they all get together in baking the cake and preparing the food, and all join in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ ...

Apr 7, 2021 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , ,
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    Sri Lanka Independence: 72 Years – By Ajith Wickramaratne Source: Dæhæna – Monthly e-Newsletter Sri Lanka achieved the independence when the Dominion of Cey-lon was proclaimed on 4 February 1948. 4th February this year marks the 72nd anniversary of independence. It will be celebrated all over the country with flag-hoisting ceremo-nies, parades and cultural performances. The main celebration will take place at the Independent Square, under the patronage of the President under the theme ‘A Secured Nation – A Prosperous Country’. Independence Day is a day of reflection for Sri Lankans. The post independent governance initially commenced with a West-minster type of Parliamentary Government in the form of a dominion under the British Com-monwealth with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of State. In 1972, while retaining the Westminster type of Parliamentary structure, a republican constitution came in to play with an appointed ceremo-nial President as the head ...

Feb 4, 2020 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , ,
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