By Dr. M. Haris Deen
At this sombre moment when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s body is kept in waiting and the British public is in mourning, let us recall her association with the Commonwealth in general and her association particularly with Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
To start with Her Majesty’s late husband, Prince Philip, then known as the Duke of Edinburgh was the viceroy of India and the colonies at the time Sri Lanka was given independence in the year 1948, the year after they were married. Up to the time “Ceylon” became the “Independent Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka” in May 22nd. 1972, for 24 years after independence, the late Queen Elizabeth II was called the “Queen of Ceylon”.
The daughter of King George the VI and Elizabeth (the late Queen Mother) was born on 21st April 1926, therefore lived up to the age of 96, and has been hailed as the longest serving monarch of all times.
The late Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne happened on 6th February 1952, when her father died as she was taking a holiday in Australia, having briefly visited Ceylon on her way. Incidentally, this was again two days after Ceylon’s fourth year’s independence. She visited Sri Lanka two years later, in 1954 on her way to Australia. Sir Oliver Goonatilka was her Governor General and Sir John Kotelawela was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka at the time. She was hosted in the Queen’s House in Fort, Colombo and she stayed in a specially prepared room in the Pollonnaruwa Rest House during her trip around Sri Lanka.
At the time of her death, the late Her Majesty was head of the Commonwealth of which Sri Lanka retained its membership despite becoming a republic and changing her name to Sri Lanka from Ceylon. Therefore, for intents and purposes the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was the head of the fifty – four countries in the Commonwealth and by extension she is also the “Queen of Sri Lanka”. The picture shows Sri Lanka’s participation in a Commonwealth conference in London.
We as Sri Lankan’s also join the British mourners the loss of this well liked, most charming, most virtuous Queen who headed the Commonwealth for seventy years as Queen of Great Britain. While welcoming her successor King Charles III and praying that God Save our gracious King, may the late Queens soul rest in eternal peace.
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