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For nearly 500 years Sri Lanka had been under the foreign rule of Portuguese, Dutch and British. It was only 55 years ago that the country regained independence. Yet our independence is not meaningful enough owing to the shattered economy and peace in the country. Therefore to make it more meaningful, restoring peace and achieving economic advancement is very essential, said the Minister of Fisheries, Ocean Resources and Deputy Minister for Southern Region Development, Mahinda Wijesekara.

He was addressing the Independence Day rally held at Sanath Jayasuriya stadium in Matara district recently. Minister Wijesekara further said that our forefathers carried out an incessant struggle for a long time to regain independence at the expense of their lives and properties. All those heroes who fought for freedom should be given due respect and gratitude.

To save the country all people irrespective of race, religion and other differences must get together and co-operate. Equal rights must be enjoyed by every people in the country. Co-operation and active participation of state officers are needed to execute development programmes within a district, he said.

Welcome speech was delivered by District Secretary G.S. Ediriweera.

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