MELBOURNE: Every year, on the 4th of February, Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day.
It was the day, 74 years ago, when Sri Lanka regained its independence after almost 4 and a half centuries of colonial rule.
The island nation, which is often referred to as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, was first colonized by the Portuguese who ruled over parts of the island for over 150 years. The Dutch took over control from the Portuguese and held power for a little less than 150 years. Up until this time, the Portuguese and Dutch were only able to wrest control of the coastal regions. The British were the first colonial power to take over the entire island, starting with the coastal regions and then gaining control over the central kingdoms, with the fall of the last King of Kandy.
The British held power until 1948 at which time Sri Lanka was granted independence. It is noteworthy that the struggle for independence in Sri Lanka was by and large a peaceful one that followed established norms of dialogue, persuasion and convincing rather than resorting to violence, strife and bloodshed.
Since independence, the country has worked hard to progress in different ways, despite a 3-decade struggle against terrorists who waged a separatist war. This impeded the country’s growth and stability, something the country has still not recovered from.
The country is a melting pot of numerous cultures and traditions, The people of Sri Lanka, for the most part, have been largely united and peaceful. The co-existence of people of different faiths, races and cultures is a factor that makes Sri Lanka what it is – a land like no other.
The nation is blessed with abundant natural beauty, and owing to its geography, offers a variety of settings and climates. Pristine beaches, tropical forests, jungles teeming with wildlife and towering mountains are all within a few hours of each other. The nation boasts over 5,000 years of recorded history – a factor that is clearly visible in the remains of ancient civilisations all over the country. And no write up about Sri Lanka is complete without mentioning the world-famous Ceylon Tea, with lush tea plantations along many mountainous roads.
The country has a highly literate workforce and has diversified its sources of revenue from tea to tourism, garments and services. It’s the location in the Indian Ocean that has also made it a leading shipping post.
Wish all Sri Lankans the very best as the nation celebrates the 74th anniversary of its independence.
