64th Independence Day celebrated in Washington

A celebration to mark the 64th anniversary of independence of Sri Lanka was held at the University of the District of Columbia on 4 February, an event that featured traditional Sri Lanka dances and speeches and appearances by notable diplomats and US Government officials.

Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake and a number of other diplomatic dignitaries took part in the celebration, which highlighted the economic and social progress that Sri Lanka has achieved since its conflict against terrorism end in May 2009.

“The President, Parliament and the Government of Sri Lanka have begun a range of programs to help heal the wounds of the conflict, return those who fought in it to civil society, and reconcile the differences the conflict has left,” Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya told a capacity audience at the University of the District of Columbia auditorium.

“There is strong evidence that this plan is working. Life is the North is improving quickly. Sri Lanka’s economy is strong, and post-conflict development policies continue. Sri Lanka’s democracy remains free and fair. We now have lasting peace and no deaths due to terrorism. Therefore, we are confident that our nation will remain prosperous and friendly for years to come.”

Ambassador Blake stated that Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission had laid the groundwork for continued reconciliation following Sri Lanka’s 26-year-long conflict with the terrorist group LTTE.

“The LLRC offers a very promising way forward to help Sri Lanka become again the Island of peace and prosperity,” Blake said. “The U.S. will support reaching those goals.”

US Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), who travelled to Sri Lanka soon after the conflict ended and then again recently, said in a video aired during the Independence Day Ceremony that the changes that have taken place in Sri Lanka since then are, “truly remarkable”.

The program highlighted performances by the world renowned dance troupe, Channa Upuli Performing Arts Foundation, as well as the talents of local dancers from the Washington, DC area. Anjalika Silva, a Washington area Sri Lankan soprano, sang the US National Anthem, while a group of Sri Lankan-American children sang the Sri Lankan anthem.

The dancers provided more than two hours of traditional and modern renditions. During the cultural program, children representing different ethnicities and religious traditions raised the Sri Lankan and American flags and lit the traditional oil lamp with Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States.

A reception before the celebration featured Sri Lankan food and Ceylon Tea. The audience included Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian religious dignitaries, who each offered blessings for Sri Lanka.

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Wickramasuriya recognised the strong relations between the US and Sri Lanka as well as the positive results of the re-development policies of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for Sri Lanka.

 “Sri Lankans know that the best solutions will be home-grown,” the Ambassador said. “We know our country, we know our people and we know the expectations of our people. We know what works, and, because we are a democracy, we know that the solutions we seek will be adopted by a representative Government. That is, after all, how the great democracies of the world have settled their internal issues, including the United States. As we look to the United States as an example of self-determination, I am happy to report that our relationship with the U.S. remains strong and is growing stronger.”

The Ambassador called upon Sri Lankan-Americans to “tell the correct story of Sri Lanka’s progress,” and on Sri Lankan youth to “remember your roots”.