Sri Lanka’s Independence Celebrated in Bangkok

Given the importance of this year’s Independence Day, some Sri Lankan professionals took time off from official work to be part of the celebration which began in the morning with the hoisting of the national flag by Ambassador Disanayaka.

The flag hoisting was followed by the playing of the National Anthem with the Sri Lankan community joining in.

The lighting of the traditional oil lamp by the ambassador, persons of Sri Lankan origin and the longest-serving Thai employee at the Sri Lanka Embassy followed.

Two minutes silence was then observed for those who sacrificed their lives to defend the sovereignty, independence and integrity of Sri Lanka.

(...) Religious observances in all four major religions of Sri Lanka- Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity- were held.

Thereafter the Independence Day Messages of His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa (in Sinhala), Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka (in Tamil) and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama (in English) were read out.

The Guest-of-Honour at this year’s celebration Prof N.L.A Karunaratne, Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardhanapura University addressed the Sri Lankans and asked them help restore the country to the pristine position it held at independence as perhaps the richest country in Asia.

Then Ambassador Disanayaka and the staff of the Embassy entertained the guests to lunch.

Later that evening Ambassador Disanayaka and Mrs Disanayaka hosted a reception for Thai dignitaries and the diplomatic corps at the Hotel Grand Hyatt Erawan.