COLOMBO (NewsRadio); The main ceremony of the 75th Independence Day Celebrations has got underway at the Galle Face Green.
A large number of foreign dignitaries have already arrived to attend the ceremony.
The main ceremony is being held under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The President instructed officials to celebrate the 75th Independence Day in a dignified manner that reflects national and religious unity.
This year’s historic celebration is being held under the theme, “Let’s Stand Together”.
It is also of significance that many cultural and religious programs have been organised throughout the country in conjunction with the 75th Independence Day.
Accordingly, the Buddhist religious rites were performed on the 2nd at the Temple of the Tooth Relic while a Dhamma sermon was held at the Victoria Dam.
The Catholic religious services were held at the Maradana Fatima Church at 6.30am today, while Christian religious services were held at the same time at the Galle Face Christ Church.
Hindu religious rituals were held yesterday at the Trincomalee Dakshina Kailash or Koneswaram Temple.
Arrangements have been made to hold Muslim religious services today at 10am at the Colombo Grand Mosque.
Meanwhile, Buddhist and Hindu religious programs have also been organized in Colombo, and accordingly, today at 6.30am, a Buddhist religious program has been organised at Dharmakirtyarama Temple, Polwatta, Colombo 03, and Hindu religious programs have also been organised at New Kadireshan Temple, Colombo 04.
A Sri Dalada exhibition is to be held at the historic Temple of the Tooth Relic premises in March, exhibition of Kapila Vastu Buddhist Relics to be held in Colombo in May, the sacred Buddhist relics from China exposition and exhibition to be held in Anuradhapura in June, exhibition of the sacred Buddhist relics from Pakistan is scheduled to be held in the Southern Province in July.
Sri Lanka marks the 75th Independence Day, or Diamond Jubilee, today in much pomp and pride.
Sri Lanka gained independence on the 4th of February, 1948 after 443 years of Portuguese, Dutch and British rule.
