Toronto: The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto commemorated the 77th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence at the Toronto Pavilion. The event witnessed the participation of over a thousand invitees, including members from the Sri Lankan-Canadian community, business professionals, academics, and the Consular Corps in Toronto.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Sri Lanka, messages from Sri Lanka’s President, Prime Minister, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism were read during the ceremony. A moment of silence was observed to honor Sri Lankan national heroes, and the national anthem was performed in both Sinhala and Tamil. A congratulatory message from the Mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow, was also shared.

Consul General Thushara Rodrigo addressed the gathering, emphasizing the pre-colonial value system of Sri Lanka, which unified all ethnicities into one nation and propelled the independence struggle to victory. He stressed that true independence lies in the nation’s ability to unite and overcome divisive forces. Rodrigo also highlighted the significance of reinforcing democracy and democratic values to ensure Sri Lanka’s respected integration on both regional and global stages in the 21st century.

The formal proceedings were succeeded by multicultural performances from 250 performers representing various communities including Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, and Malay. These performances were showcased by leading Sri Lankan-Canadian dance schools and were widely covered by the media.