73rd Anniversary Of Independence
As a sovereign nation, Sri Lanka celebrates its 73rd Independence Day today, February 4. The main ceremony to mark the historic occasion will be held at Independence Square in Colombo under the patronage of President of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, Members of Parliament, foreign diplomats and senior government officials.
The President will hoist the national flag and later deliver a televised speech to the nation.
In addition, a series of commemorative programs and religious events have also been organized across the country as part of the celebrations.
All those who paid the supreme sacrifice on behalf of their motherland will be remembered and honored during the Independence Day commemoration.
This is the first time since independence from British rule in 1948 that public participation in related ceremonies will be on a low key due to the surging Covid-19 pandemic. However, people can, in their own way, keep the spirit of independence alive by hoisting national flags outside their homes, as is customarily done not only by individuals but by the private and public sector institutions as well. After the devastating war ended in 2009 under then leadership of the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lankans from Dondra Head in the South to Point Pedro in the North were able to stand united as one nation. It was after 450 years of colonial rule under three of Europe’s maritime and military powers that Ceylon gained her independence from Great Britain in 1948.
One week after winning independence, the Independence Hall in Colombo 7, was transformed into a Kandyan audience hall of yore as a setting for the crowning ceremony, the State opening of the first Parliament of Independent Ceylon by the Duke of Gloucester, brother and representative of King George VI.
The ceremonially uniformed Duke and the bejewelled Duchess were more than a symbol of British monarchy at the celebration. Sir Henry Monk Mason was sworn in as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of Ceylon during that historic colourful ceremony. The oath was administered by the Chief Justice, Sir John Howard. For the first time, the Lion Flag flew alongside the Union Jack on Parliament, and over Temple Trees, a huge Lion Flag, was unfurled.
Independence celebrations were held across the country. An exhibition of historical seals and maps was also organized to signify the aspect of cultural independence. The day’s events culminated with a glittering reception and a fireworks display later in the evening. Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake in his speech to the nation observed: “We believe in life and brotherhood and justice for all. Freedom of speech and freedom of religious worship are integral features of our way of life. Without them, we cannot be a true democracy”.
D. S. Senanayake, D. B. Jayatilleke, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Sir Arunachalam and W. A. de Silva were the pioneers who paved the way for Sri Lanka’s independence. In addition to these giants who have gone down in history, there were a host of others who worked silently, behind the scenes, to free the country from colonial shackles. D. R. Wijewardene, the founder of Lake House, played a pivotal role in bringing some of the independence fighters to the forefront. This gave birth to the struggle for independence At the dawn of independence, Sri Lanka inherited from British a well defined currency system. The system as at 1948 had evolved over a period of 150 years, with predominating British interest, but with a local bias. The latter was seen in the decimalization of currency in 1872; a clear acknowledgment of a system familiar to the people of the country and better understood by them. That decimal division of the Rupee was inherited by independent Sri Lanka in 1948, according to Archivist G. P. S. H. de Silva.
At independence, the country had realized the need to replace the existing colonial economy with a national economy. For its realization and the full employment of economic resources of the country a new mechanism was needed. That mechanism came in the form of the Central Bank, which was established in terms of the Monetary Law Act, No. 58 of 1949.
Nineteen days before the dawn of the Independence Day, Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake’s cabinet had not taken a decision in regard to the hosting of the National Flag on February 4, 1948. Member of Parliament for Batticaloa, Mudaliyar A. L. Sinne Lebbe moved a motion in parliament. It read: “That this house is of the opinion that the Royal Standard of King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha depicting a yellow lion passant holding a sword in its right paw on a red background, which was removed to England after the convention of 1815, should once again be as the official flag of free Lanka.”
According to author H. M. Mervyn Herath, this motion was seconded by the ‘Father of the Labour Movement’ and Member of Parliament for Colombo Central A. E. Gunasinghe. At this debate many proposals were made. Winding up the debate Premier D. S. Senanayake said that England is transferring sovereignty to the people of this island. “I want England also to replace the Lion Flag along with the sovereignty that they were giving back. It is for this main reason that we intend hoisting this flag on Independence Day.”
D. S. Senanayake (1884 – 1952) was an independence activist who served as the first Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1947 to 1952. He played an active role in the independence movement, first supporting his brother F. R. Senanayake. After his brother’s death in 1926, D. S. took his place in the Legislative Council and led the independence movement. His most distinctive contribution to the nation was his agricultural policy. He is known as the ‘Father of the Nation.’
F. R. Senanayake (1882 – 1926) was a Sri Lankan politician and independence activist. A Barrister-at-Law at Lincoln’s Inn, London, he was a leading member of the Sri Lankan independence movement in the early parts of the 20th century and was an active member of the Legislative Council.
Sir James Peiris JP (1856 – 1930) was a prominent figure in the Sri Lankan independence movement and a Vice President of the Legislative Council. Peiris led the campaign for a Royal Commission of Inquiry and the vindication of the reputations of those who had been falsely accused during the riots of 1915.
He initiated a memorandum to be drawn in great secrecy along with other prominent members of society in order to bring it to the attention of the King and his majesty’s government. It was taken to England hidden in the sole of a shoe by E. W. Perera. As a result of this, the governor Sir Robert Chalmers was recalled.
D. R. Wijewardena (1886 – 1950), was a Sri Lankan press baron who was a leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement. A successful entrepreneur, he established the Lake House newspapers and played a major role in the independence movement. He organized the first deputation to the Secretary of State for the Colonies with H. J. C. Perera along with E. W. Perera, as a result of which the Ceylonese were given a concession of a seat in the British dominated Legislative Council.
Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, KCMG, KC (1851 – 1930) was a Solicitor-General and a Tamil political leader, who was nominated as an unofficial Member of the Legislative Council from 1879 to 1892.
Ramanathan was elected representing the educated Ceylonese to the Legislative Council of Ceylon by a sweeping majority in 1911. In 1915, when the British Governor had several Sinhalese leaders imprisoned, Ramanathan came to their rescue and fought against the tyranny of the British Governor.
E. W. Perera (1875 – 1953) was a Sri Lankan barrister, politician and freedom fighter. He was known as the ‘Lion of Kotte’ and was a senator and a prominent figure in the Sri Lankan independence movement.
Abandoning a promising career at the Bar, E. W. Perera undertook the task of travelling to England to present a memorandum to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, pleading for the repeal of Martial Law and the release of the leaders who were in detention. Sir D. B. Jayatilaka and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, joined him in this successful mission.
It was also E. W. Perera, who with the help of D. R. Wijewardena, the press baron, traced the location of the banner of the last King of Kandy, Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe, to Royal Hospital Chelsea. The recovered banner became the flag of the Dominion of Ceylon on its independence in 1948.
Anagarika Dharmapala (1864 – 1933) was a leading figure of Buddhism in the 20th century. Dharmapala was one of the primary contributors to the Buddhist revival of the 19th century that led to the creation of Buddhist institutions to match those of the missionaries (schools, the YMBA, etc.), and to the independence movement of the 20th century.
C. W. W. Kannangara (1884 – 1969) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. Rising up the ranks of Sri Lanka’s movement for independence in the early part of the 20th century, he became the first Minister of Education in the State Council of Ceylon. Known as the ‘Father of Free Education’ in the country, his introduction of free education in 1944 opened up education to children of all levels of society.
Dr. Tuan Burhanuddin Jayah (1890 – 1960) was a Sri Lankan educationalist, politician, diplomat and freedom fighter. He entered politics in 1924 and was elected to the Legislative Council to represent the minority communities. He worked in unison with members who represented other communities. He served in the State Council from 1936 to 1947.
Captain Henry Pedris CTG (1888 – 1915) was a militia officer and a prominent socialite in colonial Ceylon who was executed by British officials for alleged incitement of racial riots in 1915, which were proven false.
His execution at a young age was viewed as extremely unjust by most Sri Lankans. It hastened the movement towards independence for Sri Lanka and he became a martyr providing motivation to those who pioneered the movement.
Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam CCS (1853 – 1924) was a Tamil political leader in Ceylon and a member of the Executive Council.
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