India celebrates 70th Independence Day

The High Commission of India and the Indian expatriate community in Sri Lanka celebrated the 70th Independence Day of India yesterday at India House in Colombo. 

At an impressive flag hoisting ceremony, High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha, unfurled the National Flag and inspected a Guard of Honour presented by the BSF contingent. He read out excerpts from the Address to the Nation on the eve of Independence Day by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee.

The High Commissioner noted that the President of India had highlighted the strong edifice of democracy built by Indian founding fathers on the four pillars of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity that has withstood several threats from both within and without and had grown from strength to strength. The President reiterated that there will be no stepping back on our “neighbourhood first policy”. 

High Commissioner of India Y.K Sinha delivering speech during 70th Independence day Celebration at India House on Monday 15th August 2016 in Colombo.Pix by Gitika Talukdar

Close bonds of history, culture, civilisation and geography provide the people of South Asia with an extraordinary opportunity to carve out a common destiny and to march together towards prosperity. India’s focus in foreign policy will remain on peaceful co-existence and harnessing technology and resources for its economic development. Recent initiatives have enhanced energy security, promoted food security, and created international partnerships to take Indian flagship development programmes forward.  

The High Commissioner said that while India may be a modern Nation State yet it is not a new country; it is an ancient land. India is known since millennia not just as a geographical entity but as ‘Bharatvarsh’. India has existed since the times of Vedas and Upanishads denoting oneness and unity. The great Greek traveller, Megasthenes, had visited the court of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in 4th Century BCE and had penned a work titled “Indica” extolling the glory of India. 

The High Commissioner further said that the concept of India is well understood in Sri Lanka, as both countries share civilisational bonds. In fact, Arahat Mahinda had come to Sri Lanka from Jambudvipa, which is India. These common links form the strong underpinnings of modern bilateral relations, which have significantly expanded and progressively evolved to cover all areas of mutual and contemporary relevance.

The High Commissioner noted that the past year has been particularly transformative and has witnessed many dynamic developments in the strong, friendly and time-tested bilateral relations. In May 2016, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena, visited New Delhi, Ujjain and Sanchi. On 18 June President Sirisena, and Prime Minister Modi through video conferencing from New Delhi, jointly inaugurated the newly renovated Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna, and celebrated the International Day of Yoga 2016. Both leaders also dedicated the Stadium, renovated by India, to the people of Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner noted that economic ties are at the core of India’s renewed engagement with the world. With a strong demographic dividend, a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and a large domestic market, the time is right for India’s economy to soar. As the Indian nation moves forward, it invites its neighbours to be part of a collective growth story, especially its close neighbour Sri Lanka. India hopes that Sri Lankan businesses will take advantage of their proximity to India. 

The High Commissioner said that in consonance with the vision of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, India looks forward to taking its economic engagement with Sri Lanka to the next level by elevating our FTA to include areas such as investment, services and technology cooperation. He also stated that the motivated and mischievous campaign of disinformation against this agreement needs to be countered by genuine debate and discussion among stakeholders in Sri Lanka.

On development cooperation with Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner highlighted that India has committed over $ 2.6 billion in development assistance to Sri Lanka, with over $ 435 million in outright grants. The flagship housing project being funded by India is progressing at an impressive speed with over 45,000 houses constructed till date. The third phase, to construct 4,000 houses in the Central and Uva Provinces through an innovative community-driven approach, was launched in the last week of April 2016.

The High Commissioner also referred to the innovative Emergency Ambulance Service, funded by Government of India, which was flagged off by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last month. Being launched, in the first instance, in Southern and Western provinces of Sri Lanka, under an Indian grant assistance of $ 7.55 million, this service is being provided to patients free of charge.

The High Commissioner referred to the International Buddhist Conference in October 2016 being hosted by Government of India at the holy sites of Sarnath and Bodh Gaya, which will highlight the deep and abiding cultural and spiritual ties that bind people in both countries. The High Commissioner also spoke about the close people-to-people contact between India and Sri Lanka, which is epitomised by huge tourist exchanges. Connectivity between both countries is already exceptional and discussions are under way to develop Palaly airport as a regional hub.

The High Commissioner, in conclusion stated that, for years India has been facing the scourge of terrorism. The threat has only grown dramatically in the recent past. He reiterated that no belief, justification, political cause or argument can be used to justify acts of terrorism. The perpetrators of terrorist attacks, as well as the States that support and sponsor or provide safe havens to terrorists or terrorist groups, must be held accountable. He expressed his satisfaction that Sri Lanka fully subscribed to this view.

The High Commissioner’s speech was followed by a brief cultural programme. Thereafter, the High Commissioner, in the presence of other officials of the High Commission laid a wreath to honour the memory of fallen soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in a solemn ceremony at the IPKF memorial in Colombo.

As part of the series of events organised on the occasion of the Independence Day of India, a Kathak recital titled ‘Sahanaratna’ was held on 13 August by ICCR sponsored artistes, Pragati Sood Anand and her ensemble. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Prominent guests included Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Austin Fernando, Governor of Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Other invitees included senior officials from Government Ministries, a cross section of businessmen, cultural and media personalities, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Indian community and students. The performance was extremely well received.

Consulates General of India in Jaffna and Hambantota and the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy also celebrated the 70th Independence Day by organising flag hoisting ceremonies.