(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Following is the message from Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Sri Lanka’s 77th Independence Day:
“As we mark the 77th Independence Day, it is crucial to reflect on the journey our nation has taken since gaining independence. At the time of independence, we stood as a nation free from poverty, disease, and ignorance, striving to establish ourselves as a truly independent country. Numerous post-independence initiatives were undertaken to achieve this vision.
“Free education transformed our school and university systems, raising the literacy rate from 35 percent in 1948 to 95 percent today. Similarly, life expectancy, which was 45 years in 1948, has now surpassed 75 years – an outstanding achievement in the health sector. Agricultural development programmes, including the establishment of farming colonies and the accelerated Mahaweli project, have significantly increased rice yields from 350 kilos per hectare to 3,500 kilos per hectare. Furthermore, granting land rights to the landless and the establishment of hydroelectric power stations have revolutionised the energy sector, paving the way for modernisation. These advancements expanded both domestic and international job markets, and by 1994, Sri Lanka held the top position in the Human Development Index in South Asia.
“By the mid-1990s, Sri Lanka was on par with nations such as South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. However, it is imperative to critically examine the political ideologies that disrupted this progress. Short-sighted political ambitions and misleading narratives have overshadowed these achievements, leading to the serious challenges we face today. Understanding these challenges is key to upholding the true spirit of independence.
“At this moment in history, our responsibility is to strengthen the democracy we inherited by seeking new solutions to persistent issues, rather than recycling outdated approaches. On this Independence Day, let us commit to accurately understanding our present, rejecting divisive communal and religious ideologies, and uniting as one nation to forge a stronger, more democratic future.”
