Celebration of 67th anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka in Pretoria

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pretoria celebrated the 67th anniversary of Independence on 4 February. The event commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by the High Commissioner Sarath Kongahage, followed by the singing of the National Anthem. Two minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to all those who made sacrifices to make the celebration of yet another anniversary of the Day of Independence of Sri Lanka, possible. Multi-religious observances were conducted, marking the spirit of unity in diversity, by religious leaders, representing the four major religions of Sri Lanka. The National Day messages of the President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were read thereafter.
At the conclusion of the official program, the audience was kept entertained with a Sri Lankan cultural performance by South African dancers. The National Day celebrations were held in the presence of a large number of members of the Sri Lankan expatriate community and distinguished invitees from South Africa.