NEW YORK: The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York celebrated the 74th Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka, in a virtual setting due to the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic in the New York Tri-State area.
The celebration began with the hoisting of the national flag by the Permanent Representative Ambassador Mohan Pieris followed by the singing of the National Anthem and Jayamangala Gatha.
Chief Incumbent of the New York Buddhist Vihara Venerable Alutgama Dhammajothi Thero, invoked blessings of the Buddhist faith followed by blessings from Director of Religious Affairs of the Hindu Temple Society of North America in New York Sri Ravi Vaidyanaat Sivachariar, former Imam of the Sri Lankan Muslim Community in North America Mufthi Hisham Nawaz, and the order of the St. Benedict of the Monastery in New Jersey Reverend Father Silvester Jayakodi.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Independence Day speech was telecast followed by readings of the messages of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Professor G.L. Pieris.
Permanent Representative Mohan Pieris, in his address at the ceremony, stated that, we are peoples of a free nation to pursue our own dreams and that the independence that has been nourished over the years has created our own choices free from authoritarian control and social convention. He further added that the hallowed principles of independence have been embedded in the foundation of our Constitution and embodies the commitment to enforce the quality of opportunity. Highlighting that the pandemic has created new opportunities to build back better leaving no one behind, he requested the citizens of Sri Lanka to meet whatever the challenges we have to face as a nation, with heads held high and arms wide open.
Messages were also delivered by the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Kingdom of Bhutan, Republic of India, Republic of Maldives, Nepal and Islamic Republic of Pakistan extending the wishes on behalf of the respective Governments and their people.
The ceremony also included messages from the Sri Lankan expatriates living in the New York Tri-State area. Representing the Sinhala Community in New York, Dr. Wije Kottahachchi addressed the event, which was followed by the addresses by Dr. Kadirawel Ishwara representing the Tamil community in New York, Mr. Abdul Shahulhameed, representing the Muslim community and Ms. Shamistra Nadarajah, President of the Sri Lanka Association of New York (SLANY).
The event ended with the partaking of Kiribath and other traditional Sri Lankan sweetmeats.
