MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN
COLOMBO- Sri Lanka’s 74th Independence Day was flagged off with a glamorous ceremony at the country’s Independence Square on Friday morning Feb.in Colombo with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the chief guest, who received a 21-gun salute to mark the ceremony.
As a mark of respect, a two-minute silence was observed in memory of the soldiers who laid down their arms to the country.
The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, former President Maithripal Sirisena, Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksa, parliamentarian, members of the armed services and distinguished guests.
In his speech, President Rajapaksa pointed out that the greatest benefit from freedom is when everyone fulfils his of her duty to the country. It is not appropriate to speak of rights only, whilst forgetting responsibilities.
“ Today Sri Lanka is a free, sovereign, democratic country. We are its proud citizens.I take this opportunity to pay tribute to all patriots who dedicated themselves to gaining full freedom for our country facing various obstacles throughout history and continuing to secure the freedom so gained,” President added.
“ Every Sri Lankan citizen, irrespective of any community or religion, has the right to live freely and safely anywhere in the country today. There is freedom to practice the religion of their choice. There is the freedom to hold independent opinions and express ideas. There is full media freedom in the country. Sri Lankan citizens have the freedom to elect their representatives through a fully democratic mechanism, and for those interested, to engage in the political process and governance.
This is a cause for joy and pride for all of us.
As people of a free and democratic country, all of us have rights as well as responsibilities.
The freedom of a country is most meaningful when it is strong in social, political and economic spheres. As much as a government, the people too have the right to actively contribute towards this.
When steering the country in the right direction, we know that the support of each and every person in the country cannot be expected. We are not ready to abandon our plans for the country’s future prosperity by looking upon those who will not change. Our objective is to do what is right by the country, and not to please everyone.”
“ We can make our way forward successful only with a positive attitude that looks optimistically towards the future. We can surmount the challenges we meet only if we dedicate ourselves to a victorious journey.
Pessimists do not change the world. They do not even have the capacity for it. Those who habitually criticize without proposing a solution to a problem do not have a vision for the future.
A nation’s leader has to constantly face many difficulties, calamities, problems and challenges. Leading a team towards a vision is not easy. Changing the existing ways, no matter how good the intention is not easy either. On certain matters, both local and foreign forces organise against us. Sometimes it may seem that everything that happens around you is conspiring against you.
What the people expect from leaders is to manage all these crises and take the country forward, but not to escape from problems. We have the positive mindset needed for that. I am always ready to provide the necessary leadership to overcome any challenge facing the country.
The world has been changed, and will be changed by those people with positive ideas, who dream of a future with optimism and strive to make it a reality. We see this throughout the history.
Social progress in all developed nations has been possible due to the positive thoughts of their leaders and the people.
Our own kings in the past built vast stupas such as Ruwanweliseya, Jethavanaramaya and Abhayagiriya in this same positive attitude. We had an excellent irrigation technology that created Minneriya Tank, Kala Wewa, Parakrama Samudraya and Yoda Ela. Cities such as Sigiriya still mesmerize the world. Sri Lanka was a famed naval hub in the ancient world. If we were able to accomplish such feats then, we ought to be able to compete with the world in the future as well,” he stressed.
