Make Independence meaningful

Mahinda P. Liyanage Galle central special corr.

Self-governance, self-discipline and self-accountability of all citizens are needed to make the country's Independence a genuine achievement, said Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasooriya.

She made these observations as chief guest delivering the keynote address at the Southern Provincial Independence Day ceremony at the Galle Samanala grounds yesterday. The celebration was organized by the Southern Province Chief Secretariat.

"Many countries which with Sri Lanka received independence in 1948 are economically far ahead of us. We have to rethink over the fact as to why we could not achieve such economic progress even after over 50 years since Independence," she said.

"India got Independence following a long, patriotic and anti-imperialist struggle against the foreign rulers.

But as advocated by many scholars we got freedom through a constitutional change as an interim result of India's Independence. The anti-imperialist movement launched by Leftist parties lacked the leadership of national, religious and patriotic forces.

As such, during the post independence era nationalism and patriotism were weakened thereby adversely affecting all spheres of economy, society, culture and religion, Balasooriya said.

"However today we have been able to hail the 62nd Independence Day with greater enthusiasm as it is held in a genuinely and entirely free and single country after wiping out the ignoble separatism associated with merciless terrorism under the resolute leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Amidst all difficulties and hardships Sri Lanka has been able to sustain an economic progress of 7.6 percent to the wise and foresighted vision of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government," she said.

Galle Mayor Methsiri de Silva, Social Services and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lionel Premasiri, provincial ministers and councillors, members of the Galle Municipal Council, higher officials of the Provincial Council, principals, teachers and students and the public participated.

Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal de Silva did not participate due to ill-health. His Independence Day message was read by Southern Province Chief Secretary M. B. Disanayake.

Western bands and drill displays of a number of schools in Galle added colour to the celebration. Among the schools participated were Richmond, Mahinda, All Saints', Southlands, Sangamitta, Muslim Ladies', Siri Dhamma, Olcott, Vidyaloka and St. Aloysius colleges.

The first battalion of the National Cadet Corp accorded a special guard of honour to the chief guest.