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'We are determined to awaken the hope of peace' - PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in an Independence Day message notes that the unity forged by our first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake was unfortunately weakened by divisive influences in the subsequent years.

He further says that: "We are dedicated to restore this fractured unity and awaken the hope of a peace".

The message:

"Over fifty-four-years ago, the main obstacle to independence was the disunity amongst the different ethnic communities in the country. Our first Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake through his strenuous efforts brought together these communities and steered us to a free and independent Sri Lanka on the 4th of February 1948.

Unfortunately, through the succeeding years, divisive influences of various social, economic and political forces have weakened the unity of spirit amongst these communities and eroded our strength of a common purpose. Once again, an environment of suspicion mars relations between Sri Lanka's people. This is at the core of the North East problem that we are grappling with today.

We are dedicated to restore this fractured unity and awaken the hope of peace. It is no easy task. Let us all determine on this Day of Independence to surmount the most arduous of challenges, and usher in an era of long-lasting peace, where all segments of our society can live in harmony."

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