High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

The 64th Independence Day of Sri Lanka was celebrated in New Delhi on Saturday 4th February at the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi. The day long celebrations commenced with High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam, joined by the staff of the High Commission, offering alms (the morning meal) to Buddhist priests representing the Sri Lankan Buddhist temples located in India including the recently established Jambudvipa-Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sarnath. The offering of alms was followed by the Flag Hoisting Ceremony with the participation of the Sri Lankan expatriate community. The Ceremony included the reading of the Message of the President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa. Addressing the Sri Lankan community, High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam stressed the important role that the Sri Lankan community must play in supporting the vision of H.E. the President in consolidating the hard won peace in the country. Highlighting the exchange of high-level visits between Sri Lanka and India in the recent past, the High Commissioner apprised the gathering of the successful implementation of programmes and projects that had been agreed during the State Visit of President Rajapaksa to India in June 2010, including the construction of 50,000 houses, the Sampur Power Plant, the Kankasanthurai Harbour, and the railway lines in Northern as well as Southern Sri Lanka.

Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation represented the Government of India at the Reception hosted by the High Commissioner at his Residence in the evening. The Reception, attended by over eight hundred guests, included Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Ranjan Mathai, members of the Indian Parliament, diplomats, senior government officials, and media personnel. The Indian and Sri Lankan National Anthems were sung on the occasion by Sri Lankan students of music at the Benaras Hindu University.

High Commission of Sri Lanka in India
New Delhi
5 February 2012

Our nation is fortunate to celebrate the 64th Independence Day with a genuine sense of dignity about freedom.

Today the national flag flutters pointing to a new country in the making.  The way is open for an independent economy.  It daily reinforces the nation’s aspiration for a prosperous future.  It has given us freedom to decide upon issues concerning the country and the nation without bowing down before external powers.  I strongly believe that is the immense responsibility the nation entrusted to us.  It is a great pleasure to see the steady consolidation of supreme independence.

The country’s achievements would be secured when opportunities for peace,     co-existence as well as harmonious living are widened.  Sacrifices made so far to reach that objective have to be secured in future too.  We would no longer hesitate to take decisions towards fostering national unity through an indigenous programme of action.  We overcame diverse challenges the country faced with extreme patience.  We have built productive economic, political ,defence, trade and cultural links with the international community through friendly contacts.  We must preserve all this by working more rationally, intelligently and patriotically than even before.
Similarly the country should be brought forward developing its value systems.  It is only then that a prosperous life would emerge in a peaceful environment.

The nation’s respect and felicitations should go to all patriots who paid the supreme sacrifice, laying down their lives to overcome the nations challenges for the sake of supreme independence.

I wish you all a bright future!

It is with great expectations that we look forward to celebrate the 64th Anniversary of Independence on 4th February 2012.

19th of May 2009 marked the historic day that the country succeeded in eradicating LTTE terrorism and debilitated economic, social and cultural fabric of the country for thirty years.  It was the far-sighted visions, guidance and leadership of H. E. Mahinda Rajapakse that contributed to the achievement of this historic feat.  With the defeat of LTTE terrorism our Tamil brethren in the North and East as well as the general public of the rest of the country could heave a sigh of relief.  They are now enjoying peaceful lives devoid of fear and anxiety.

The government had successfully completed reconstruction of government buildings, roadways, houses, places of religious worship and other infrastructure facilities in the North and the East that were destroyed or damaged during the war.  Many a new infrastructure project that had been completed had changed the landscape of the North and the East.  The resettlement of displaced persons in their usual habitat had brought contentment to these long suffering people.  A series of development projects that are in progress had resuscitated the economy of the North and the East which was badly battered by the 30 year war.

Side by side the development activities in the North and the East the government had undertaken a number of mega projects that will usher in unprecedented economic development through out the country.  Several prodigious projects such as Norochcholai Power Plant, Upper Kothmale Hydro Power Project and Hambantota Harbour which the previous governments never dared to undertake were started and successfully completed by the Rajapakse Government.  Meaningful steps have been taken to promote Tourist Industry attracting foreign investments for construction of tourist hotels and resorts under a well drawn out tourism plan.  Major part of the Southern Express Highway has already been completed and opened for the use of the public.   The construction work of Mattala Airport is in progress and foundations have been laid for the Colombo South Harbour and Colombo-Katunayake Express Highway.  In this manner the development projects that had been launched already and those that are in the pipeline would bring accelerated economic development in the areas of agriculture, industry, fisheries and tourism etc.  it is a matter of pride and delight that the current economic growth rate of the country has exceeded 8%.  The pragmatic economic policies of the government had led to a balanced economic growth both in the rural and the urban sectors in the country.  With the rapid socio-economic development of the country that is being experienced at present we are optimistic that Sri Lanka will emerges before long, as the Wonder of Asia.

To sustain and consolidate the successes that the country has achieved in various sectors and to march towards continued progress, the co-operation commitment, right attitudes and sacrifice by the people of this country are essential.  The unity among all ethnic groups in the country is vital towards achieving this laudable objective.

On this 64th Anniversary of Independence of our country, we all must make a firm resolution and commitment to work with unity, peace and harmony to make this beautiful country a happy and a prosperous nation.

We, Sri Lankans celebrate the Sri Lanka’s 64th Anniversary of Independence with realization of peace, social harmony and economic prosperity of the motherland.

Since, May 2009, Sri Lanka has significantly moved towards building a peaceful society with economic prosperity in the South Asian Region.  During the period, Sri Lanka was able to record a growth rate over 08% for two consecutive years in the history and is expected to sustain a further higher rate of growth in the coming years.  The peace and political stability are being identified as core contributors for expansion of economic activities including inward movement of foreign direct investment, increasing inbound tourists, booming of construction industry in infrastructure and hotels and leisure sectors in the country.

In the economic front, the “Mahinda Chintana: The Vision for Future”, which is the policy framework of the Government, has envisaged transformation of Sri Lanka into an economic hub of the South Asia focusing on Aviation, Commerce, Maritime, Energy and Knowledge and also doubling the Per Capita Income to US$ 4,000 by 2016.  In this context, the Government has already initiated a number of infrastructure development programmes along with various multifaceted social and economic development activities such as ‘Gamaneguma’, ‘Divi Neguma’, ‘Maganeguma’, ‘Gamidiriya’ etc in the rural areas for the upliftment of standards of living of the people.

In keeping with the ‘Mahinda Chintana: Vision for the Future’, the Ministry of External Affairs with the assistance of Sri Lanka Missions abroad has been vigorously pursuing a ‘Non Aligned Foreign Policy’ aimed at promoting and nurturing friendship and cooperation with members of the international community including the United Nations and members of the international organizations.  In this regard, the active role played by our Missions abroad, Sri Lanka Agencies, Sri Lankan Associations and Sri Lankan Community for the promotion and protection of our interests abroad and for the well-being of our people, is much appreciated.

The Government of Sri Lanka under the leadership of His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa has adopted the Parliamentary Select Committee as a platform to reach national consensus for a durable solution acceptable to all segments of the society while focusing on the benefits of the people in the Northern and Eastern regions of the country.  The Government has also declared a Ten Year National Plan for Trilingual Sri Lanka aiming at durable peace and harmony among all Sri Lankan communities.

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your invaluable contribution to Sri Lanka’s success in rebuilding the country over the years.  I, on this memorable occasion, appeal to all Sri Lankans to join hands with the Government in its efforts for the nation building endeavour.

As we embark upon a journey towards lasting peace, unity and prosperity of our motherland, let us work together to make Sri Lanka “Wonder of Asia”.