(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe has advised the relevant officials to take steps to celebrate the 75th independence with pride.
In view of the current economic situation, the President has given instructions to take steps to carry out those activities minimizing the cost, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe chaired the first meeting of the 75th Independence Day Commemoration Committee at the President’s Office Wednesday.
Arrangements have been made to hold the Independence Day Festival in Galle Face on February 4, 2023 in the evening in a very colorful manner, consisting of various cultural elements.
The President pointed out the need to add cultural elements that show Sri Lankan pride and artistic elements suitable for the youth to the ceremony in addition to the parades and salutes by the armed forces and the police.
It was decided to hold cultural and artistic as well as religious programs to represent the nine provinces in coordination with the political authority and government officials of those provinces and to organize several competitions for school children at the provincial and national level as well as to hold art and music programs at the provincial level for the enjoyment of the youth.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe also explained the need to organize every program meaningfully in a way that the people can participate and enjoy.
It was also decided to invite the foreign ministers of the SAARC countries as special guests in the Independence Festival in the hope of improving international cooperation.
In conjunction with Independence Day, it is also planned to build 1996 houses for low-income families. It has been decided to allocate the housing complex to be built in Kottawa for artists.
The President also informed the officials to prepare the necessary systems to provide all houses based on priority and proper need only, not on political basis or affiliations.
President Wickremesinghe also proposed to hold exhibitions under various themes with the province as the primary focus in each province and to organize a demonstrative bicycle ride from Dondra Point in the South to Point Pedro in the North.
Also, the President gave further instructions to issue a special commemorative stamp with a limited number of copies based on the Independence Day and to implement programs in a way that would make the people proud of the Independence Day.
The PMD said that the President also advised that the relevant sub-committees be appointed under the chairmanship of the President’s Secretary under the supervision of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Ministers Douglas Devananda, Susil Premajayantha, Vidura Wickramanayaka, Kanchana Wijesekera, Member of Parliament Vajira Abeygunawardena, Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake, Public Administration Secretary M.M. PK Mayadunne, Defense Ministry Secretary retired General Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious and Cultural Affairs Somaratne Vidanapathirana, Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, Army Commander Lieutenant General H.L.V. Liyanage, Air Force Commander Air Marshal S.K. Pathirana, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugethanna, Inspector General of Police C. D. Wickramaratne, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Dharmathilaka, and Chief Alliance Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs Senarath Dissanayake were present on the occasion.