The Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan will be visiting Colombo to participate in the celebrations connected with the 75th Independence Day of Sri Lanka on 4 February 2023.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that his visit will take place at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka.
During the visit, the Minister of State will also have separate bilateral interactions with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Mr. M.U.M. Ali Sabry on matters of mutual interest.
He will also have an interactive session with prominent members of the Indian Diaspora.
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is India’s close neighbhour and friend and occupies a central place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. India, as always is committed to stand with the people of Sri Lanka for their economic recovery, growth and prosperity, said the Indian External Affairs Ministry.
The Sri Lankan government has decided to celebrate the 75th National Independence Day with pride together with the new reformist program for the next 25 years.
During this celebration held with pride under the theme “Namo Namo Matha – A Step towards a Century”, the government will announce its new reformist course for the next 25 years for the implementation of a stable government policy right until the 100th Independence Day celebrations in 2048.
The main ceremony of the National Independence Day Celebrations will be held on the 04th of February at 8.30 am at Galle Face Green under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
The festivities are scheduled to begin after the offering of floral tributes at the statue of Mahamanya D.S. Senanayake at Independence Square and the statue of the war heroes at the Presidential Secretariat.
A Sri Dalada exhibition is to be held at the historic Temple of the Tooth Relic premises in March, an exhibition of Kapila Vastu Buddhist Relics to be held in Colombo in May, the sacred Buddhist relics from China exposition and exhibition to be held in Anuradhapura in June, exhibition of the sacred Buddhist relics from Pakistan is scheduled to be held in the Southern Province in July.
In addition, the special cultural arts festival “LankaraLanka” organized in conjunction with the 75th Independence Day will be held on February 03 at 7.30 pm at Independence Square in Colombo with the participation of 750 artists from the public and private sectors.
The Jaffna Cultural Center will be opened on February 11th morning under the patronage of the President, and the cultural procession will commence opposite the Jaffna Cultural Center and will travel through the streets of Jaffna culminating near the Jaffna Fort (the old bus station site).
On the 19th of February, the Republican Rally is scheduled to parade the streets of Kandy under the full sponsorship of the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) representing all dance traditions of the country.
The Independence Day activities also include a project of 75 urban forests and a project of 1996 houses for low-income families in Colombo and many projects and programs on the National Youth Platform.
In addition, the ‘75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal’ was introduced to the Sri Lankan Tri-Forces recently.