May 22 Republic Day needs more importance - Prof Vitarana

Disna MUDALIGE

More importance should be placed to celebrate the Republic Day which falls on May 22 since it was the day that the country achieved real independence from imperialists, said Scientific Affairs Senior Minister and Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) Secretary General Prof Tissa Vitarana.

The independence of the country achieved on February 4, 1948 only became meaningful through the Republic Constitution in 1972. Dr Colvin R De Silva played a prominent role in the compilation of this Constitution.

Addressing a press conference at the Senior Ministers' Office, Prof Vitanage said that the 22nd Commemoration ceremony of Dr Colvin R De Silva will be held on May 22 to appreciate his contribution to national independence.

Dr de Silva was the first president of the LSSP when it was formed in 1935.

The ceremony will be held at the Agalawatta Auditorium. The memorial lecture will be delivered by Peradeniya University Political Science Department Senior Lecturer Prof Sumanasiri Liyanage on 'Novel Chances for Socialism Amidst the Global Crisis of Capitalism'. Human Resources Senior Minister D E W Gunasekera observed that Dr Colvin R De Silva in 1956 foresaw the danger of Sinhala only language policy and the possibility to erupt a civil war if this danger was ignored. "The three decade war could have been prevented if we had listened to him then," he said. National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara proposed to organise a community procession made of all ethnicities and occupations.