Happy Independence Day!

Sri Lanka will celebrate its 68th Independence on February 4.

Prior to 1972, Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon. For more than a century Sri Lanka was a British crown colony and on February 4, 1948 the country achieved Independence without any bloodshed. Many patriotic leaders worked towards this end.

Don Stephen Senanayake was Sri Lanka's first Prime Minister.

Since attaining freedom from British rule, Sri Lanka has enjoyed a stable democracy and steady economic growth in spite of the conflict with the LTTE for over three decades.

Independence Day is of special significance to people of this country and there will be many celebrations islandwide this year to commemorate the occasion.

It will be celebrated with parades and pageants in a spirit of patriotism and national pride.

The celebrations will begin with the hoisting of the national flag and the singing of the national anthem, followed by the lighting of the traditional oil lamp.

It will be followed by various cultural programs. The cultural dances will be identified with each area, such as Kandyan dancing, Pahathata Rata Netum and Uda Rata Netum. Many Tamil cultural events will take centre-stage, with emphasis on reconciliation and unity.

The national day is of much significance for Sri Lankans as it reflects the history of the great sacrifices by many people.

It will be also the day to pay tribute to the members of the Tri Forces, many of whom sacrificed their lives in the three-decade-old war. - Internet