Freedom day celebrations in Anuradhapura next year

Ridma Dissanayake

The 64th Independence Day commemoration ceremony will be held in Anuradhapura next year.

This decision was arrived at a meeting chaired by Public Administration and Home affairs Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat. The Independence commemoration ceremony will be held at Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Mawatha, Anuradhapura. The last time the Independence Day was commemorated in Anuradhapura was in 1980.

A large crowd is expected to view the celebrations this year, sources said. The discussions centered on the provision of facilities for the crowd to view the celebrations and also extending facilities for guests. The Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Mawatha is due to be widened up to about 15 metres. A group including Minister Seneviratne inspected the location where the celebrations are to be held.

Meanwhile, the sixth Deyata Kirula National Development Exhibition will be held in Oya Maduwa in the Anuradhapura district on February 4, 2012, parallel to the Independence Day celebrations. The exhibition will be held in a land spanning across 2,600 acres, out of which 500 acres will be used to setup exhibition stalls.