Sri Lanka history Archives

Sri Lanka’s Independence Day: A Celebration of Freedom and National Identity – By Bhanuka – eLanka Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, celebrated annually on February 4th, marks the country’s liberation from British colonial rule in 1948. This historic day is a symbol of national pride, unity, and the resilience of the Sri Lankan people in their struggle for self-governance. The event is commemorated with grand ceremonies, cultural performances, and patriotic fervor across the nation. Historical Background Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, was under colonial rule for nearly 450 years, first by the Portuguese (1505-1658), then the Dutch (1658-1796), and finally the British (1796-1948). The fight for independence was fueled by national movements that sought to reclaim sovereignty, with leaders such as D.S. Senanayake, who played a crucial role in negotiations with the British government. As a result, Sri Lanka peacefully gained its independence on February 4, 1948, becoming a self-governing ...

Clean minds essential for a Clean Sri Lanka. The system change must begin with mind-set change. – By Aubrey Joachim Resemblances to the early pre-transformation days of Singapore are beginning to show up with the new regime in Sri Lanka. Six decades following Lee Kuan Yew’s cleansing and development of that nation has given rise to a world leader in a number of contexts including corruption elimination and cleanliness. More recently, it has also emerged as a leader in digitalisation. Ironically at the beginning of Singapore’s transformation journey Lee Kuan Yew set out to model his fledgling nation on the Ceylon of the 1960’s. Ceylonese were invited to help with setting up administrative and other processes. To date, Singaporeans of Ceylonese descent hold important positions in the country and are held in high esteem. In the six decades that followed, while Singapore scaled the heights of economic and governance achievements, ...