COLOMBO : Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day was commemorated in New Delhi on 04 February with solemn religious observances, a ceremonial flag hoisting, and a well-attended National Day Reception that reflected the renewed vitality of India – Sri Lanka ties.
The day commenced with an alms-giving ceremony for members of the Maha Sangha at the Residence of the High Commissioner, invoking blessings for the leaders and people of Sri Lanka, and peace, prosperity, and strengthened friendship between Sri Lanka and India.
This was followed by the official flag-hoisting ceremony attended by members of the Sri Lankan community, invited guests, and religious dignitaries. The National Anthem was rendered in both Sinhala and Tamil, symbolising Sri Lanka’s pluralistic identity.
Messages from President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath were read at the ceremony. In her remarks, High Commissioner Mahishini Colonne underscored Sri Lanka’s resilience in the face of challenges, and the steady expansion of Sri Lanka-India relations across multiple sectors.
Later that evening, the National Day Reception was hosted at the Residence of the High Commissioner, bringing together over 700 distinguished guests including senior officials of the Government of India, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, academics, media representatives, and friends of Sri Lanka.
Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
Welcoming the Chief Guest and other invitees, the High Commissioner reflected on the enduring civilisational character of India – Sri Lanka ties. She recalled the recent high-level exchanges between the two countries, including the visit of President Anura Kumara Disanayaka to India in December 2024, and the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in April 2025, which laid a strong foundation for expanding cooperation across multiple fields of contemporary relevance including people-to-people engagement.
The High Commissioner also acknowledged India’s steadfast support during times of challenge, including its swift response to Cyclone Ditwah and the announcement of a USD 450 million reconstruction package, reaffirming India’s role as a trusted and reliable partner.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to Sri Lanka’s prosperity and stability under India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and MAHASAGAR vision. He noted that bilateral relations are on an upward trajectory, marked by renewed political engagement, growing trade and investment, expanding development cooperation, and deepening mutual trust. Highlighting India’s overall development assistance exceeding USD 7.5 billion, including significant grant support, the Minister underscored India’s continued partnership in key sectors such as housing, transport, renewable energy, healthcare, agriculture, railways, and digital transformation.
The Minister also emphasised the centrality of strong people-to-people ties, noting that India remained the largest source of tourists to Sri Lanka in 2025, and that educational, cultural, and religious exchanges continue to deepen the bonds between the two nations.
The reception celebrated the cultural richness of Sri Lanka, with guests enjoying a curated selection of Sri Lankan cuisine prepared by visiting chefs from Hotel Cinnamon Grand Colombo.
The commemorative events in New Delhi reflected not only Sri Lanka’s national journey, but also the strength and forward-looking momentum of the Sri Lanka – India partnership anchored in history and oriented firmly toward the future.
The National Day reception was supported by sponsors including CEAT, Lanka IOC PLC, Varun Beverages, Brandix, Mahendra and Mahindra Ltd., Godrej Industries Group, Ashok Leyland, RITES Ltd., IRCON International Ltd., Damro, ITC Hotels, Dart Global Logistics (Pvt.) Ltd., STIC Travel Group of Companies, Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, Cinnamon Life, Aitken Spence, Jetwing Travels, George Steuart Travels, Esna Holidays, and Royal Holidays.
