COLOMBO – The Indian High Commission celebrated the country’s 75th Republic Day in Colombo on Friday (26) with High Commissioner Santosh Jha unfurling his country’s national flag at India House and inspecting the Guard of Honour. The High Commissioner also read out excerpts the Republic Day address of the President of India.
The Day’s celebratory events included songs by the Sri Lanka Navy band and a cultural program organized by the High Commission’s cultural arm, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre.
The cultural program showcased India’s rich diversity with performances of several folk dances including the Garba of Gujarat which is India’s most recent inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity.
The ceremony was attended by the Indian community in Sri Lanka, and local and foreign dignitaries
Earlier in the day, High Commissioner paid tributes to the fallen heroes of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) at the IPKF memorial, and a ceremonial reception was scheduled for the evening at India House. Several dignitaries from all walks of life in Sri Lanka are expected to attend this event.
Consulates General of India in Hambantota and Jaffna and the Assistant High Commission in Kandy also observed the 75th Republic Day of India by organizing special events
India’s Republic Day marks the birth of the country as a Republic with the Constitution – the world’s largest written constitution – entering into force on January 26, 1950. The Preamble to the Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic.
A statement from the Indian High Commission noted that the 75th Republic Day also marks over six months to the adoption of the India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the latter’s visit to India in July 2023. “Both sides continue to work towards enhancing connectivity in all its dimensions, identified as the key enabler for shared and sustainable economic prosperity,” it added.
-ENCL
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