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Reluctance to celebrate republic day: Outcome of a strange Sri Lankan malady

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/22

by Prof. Tissa vitarana

After suffering the ignominy and pain of having been colonized by three imperialist powers for 450 years, the last as a part of the British Empire for nearly 150 years, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) became a completely independent and sovereign Republic only on May 22, 1972. This was the day when Parliament passed the Republican Constitution prepared by Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, at a special Constitutional Assembly.

But for some strange reason, when Sri Lanka should be proud of this fact and, like other such republics, it should celebrate that day every year, it does not do so. For example this is in complete contrast with our vast neighbor India, which celebrates its Republic Day on February 26 each year with even greater pomp and pageantry than it does for Independence Day which falls on August 15. In Sri Lanka We only celebrate Independence Day, which is only a formal mockery of independence, which falls on February 4, but not Republic Day which should fall today on May 22.

In fact Sri Lanka became a Republic only in 1972, as many as 24 long years of continuing shame, after we got Independence in 1948. In contrast India became a Republic in 1950, just three years after it got Independence in 1947. It was quick to cut the umbilical cord and become completely free, unlike in the case of Sri Lanka, which persisted in groveling at the feet of Britain, paying homage to its “Royal Family”.

As we all know, formal Independence from Britain was only partial, a mere mockery, but it appears to have satisfied the UNP rulers of that time. The British Queen remained the head of state, the British Army retained its military bases in Sri Lanka and power remained in their hands, and in the system of legal justice established in Sri Lanka, the final Court of Appeal was the British Privy Council, in London.

The UNP and other capitalist leaders of Sri Lanka were content to retain this colonial subservience for 24 years, while India rushed to sever it. The architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar, a leader of the small Buddhist minority in India, was given full support by the Congress Party of India, led by Nehru and Gandhi, being true patriots, and he completed the task by 1950, in just three years.

The fact is that the UNP and other rulers of Sri Lanka were in no hurry to achieve true and full independence, and it was left to one of the leaders of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, to accomplish this task in two years by drafting the Republican Constitution in 1972. In Sri Lanka it was the socialist Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) that made the achievement of complete independence its principle objective and continuously fought for its implementation.

In fact it was the LSSP, formed in 1935, that had as its main task the achievement of complete independence from rule by British imperialism. It continued the fight even through the period of the Second World War from 1939 to 1945, specially as the country was not directly involved in the war. The British rulers proscribed the LSSP and imprisoned its leaders, Dr.Colvin R de Silva, Dr.N.M.Perera, Philip Gunewardena, Leslie Goonewardena and Edmund Samarakkody.

They escaped from jail in Kandy and continued the fight against British imperialism as part of the Congress Socialist Party of India, and were jailed there as well. On their return the LSSP leaders were treated as heroes by the people. Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, all along a leader of the UNP, in its Sinhala Maha Sabha wing, finally left the UNP and formed the SLFP in 1951, with Sinhala Buddhist revivalism as his main political plank. The LSSP that was the main opposition to the UNP came under racialist attack for its stand to make both Sinhala and Tamil as official languages in place of English, spoken mainly by the ruling elite.

A majority of the Sinhala supporters of the LSSP left to join the SLFP, and many of its Tamil leaders and supporters, such as MP Anandasangaree, left to join the Federal Party and the TULF. The LSSP was decimated further, when Philip Gunewardena together with the bulk of the Sinhala Buddhist supporters joined Bandaranaike to form the MEP.

In the 1970 General Election an SLFP, LSSP, CP Coalition Government came to power, with the LSSP getting 19 MPs and the CP six. Colvin was made the Minister of Plantation and Constitutional Affairs, and this gave him the opportunity to formulate the Republican Constitution. It was a difficult job well done, but unfortunately the large SLFP majority overcame Colvin’s plea for Tamil to be made an official language, along with Sinhala. Had that been done the nearly 30 years of disastrous internal war with the LTTE could have been averted, and the tragic deaths of our people and the damage prevented. Our economy would not be in such a bad state.

Another shortcoming in retrospect is the electoral system and big swings for the winning party. The Electoral Reform Committee set up in Parliament headed by Dinesh Gunewardena, of which I was a member, has offered a solution, the mixed system that has been a success in Germany and other countries. This along with further devolution to village level would rectify the short comings in Colvin’s Constitution.

But instead of being grateful to Colvin for his work, and to Dr. N.M.Perera for his overcoming a more severe economic crisis than what we face today, Mrs.Bandaranaike fell for the promise of USA led investment, now that economic stability had been restored, but she implemented their condition and got rid of the LSSP from the Coalition Government. The CP too was forced to leave the next year. I suspect that the desire not to celebrate Republic Day in Sri Lanka is due to the fear that the SLFP has that the credit of becoming a Republic would flow to the LSSP.

As the present General Secretary of the LSSP I too have been subject to this type of behavior from the SLFP. I give two instances to support my claim. One is the fact that though I possess a PhD from London University in the field of Virology, I have not been made a member of any committee set up to control the Covid-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. The Health Consultative Committee met in Parliament only on one occasion since the outbreak of Covid-19. As a member I suggested that the control strategy based on cluster system required to be strengthened to defeat the community spreading of the infection which had just begun.

If quick action is taken by the Health Ministry the further spread of the pandemic could be prevented and or even eliminated. The Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, who was presiding refuse to accept my proposal which, if implemented may have prevented the spread of the epidemic and the more deaths that occurred in the country. The other example is that while I was the Governor in the North Central Province I was asked to resign immediately and come to the office of Basil Rajapaksa in Colombo to sign the National List as they had decided to make me a Cabinet Minister.

But when the new Government was formed I was not even a Minister, but only an ordinary member of Parliament. Consider my record as the Minister of Science and Technology when I set up 163 Vidatha Centres, one in each administrative division, and provided the technology for 12,637 entrepreneurs (SMEs) to arise. I also initiated action to set up Hi-tech Centers to promote Sri Lanka’s export industry. I set up the World’s 18th Nanotechnology Centre (SLINTEC) in Homagama and prepared plans for a Biotechnology Centre (SLIBTEC) which is now on going. It would appear that the good work done for the country and for the people by the LSSP is not appreciated, but even sabotaged.

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Government’s objective is to ensure the continuous functioning of the country’s economic activities and essential services through effective energy management – President

Published

21 hours ago

2026/03/17

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that, in light of the challenges that have arisen due to the prevailing conflict situation in the Middle East, plans are being implemented to manage energy resources effectively while ensuring the uninterrupted continuation of the country’s economic activities and essential services.

The President made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Monday (16) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat to review the immediate measures required to ensure the country’s energy conservation and maintain the uninterrupted functioning of economic activities and essential services, in view of the current disruptions affecting energy supply.

During the discussion, which was attended by the relevant Ministers and Ministry Secretaries, special attention was focused on the measures required to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of public services in light of the prevailing situation.

Extensive discussions were also held on alternative methods that could be adopted in maintaining the operations of government offices. In this context, attention was drawn to the possibility of limiting energy consumption while continuing essential services by granting a one-day holiday for the public service.

Particular attention was also given to examining alternative measures that could be adopted to ensure the continued provision of services with minimal energy consumption, taking into account the specific nature and practical requirements of sectors such as education, health, tourism, fisheries, industry, agriculture, ports and shipping, airport services and digital services.

The President instructed a committee, comprising Ministry Secretaries and sectoral experts, to submit a report by the end of today to determine the fuel allocation required to maintain services in the key sectors.

In addition, the discussion highlighted the importance of making ministerial-level decisions regarding the practical feasibility of performing official duties from home under such circumstances. It was proposed that decisions on summoning officers to their workplaces be delegated to the heads of institutions and that appropriate methods be adopted to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of services.

In view of the prevailing situation, the President paid special attention to the challenges faced by farmers in the agricultural sector and by small and medium-sized industrialists in the industrial sector.

The President further emphasised that, in the current circumstances, the contribution and commitment of all are essential to minimise the potential impact on the country’s economy, while noting that certain groups may be provided with assistance through relief measures.

It was noted that the introduction of the QR system is intended to manage daily fuel consumption in response to the ongoing challenges. This system will allow for the daily analysis of fuel allocations, emphasising the importance of releasing fuel in a manner that safeguards the country’s energy conservation while supporting economic and service activities.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of using the QR system in an orderly manner during fuel distribution and the need for each Ministry to promptly provide all necessary data to the Ministry of Digital Economy. Accordingly, it was proposed that the relevant Ministries, together with the legally recognised petroleum institutions, work to further streamline the QR system.

In addition, it was proposed to temporarily suspend state celebrations in light of the prevailing situation and to establish a procedure for informing the private sector of any further measures the Government intends to take in this regard.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Professor A.H.M.H. Abeyratne, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Senior Advisor to the President on the Digital Economy Hans Wijesuriya, Senior Economic Advisor to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa and a group of officials, including the Secretaries of the relevant Ministries, participated in the discussion.

News

UN resolution on Iran ‘unbalanced’: FM Herath

Published

21 hours ago

2026/03/17

Sahan Weerasooriya

Vijitha / Zuhair

Zuhair castigates sponsors who failed to condemn aggressors

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said that the recently adopted United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that strongly condemned Iran for, what it called, “egregious attacks” on its regional neighbours, was not fair as it did not make reference to Israeli-US initiating the latest conflict.

Herath said so in response to The Island query. He said that the government wouldn’t support country specific resolutions. Minister Herath described the resolution, adopted by a vote of 13 in favour, none against, and two abstentions (China, Russian Federation), as unbalanced. Sri Lanka refrained from co-sponsoring the resolution that had the backing of nearly 140 countries. Both India and Pakistan co-sponsored the resolution.

The JVPer reiterated that both sides should cease attacks and deal with the developing situation in terms of the UN Charter.

The Council condemned, “in the strongest terms,” Iran’s attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan and reiterated its strong support for those countries’ sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.

Former Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Iran, M.M. Zuhair, PC, said that those who co-sponsored the controversial resolution, and the UNSC that adopted it, conveniently failed to take into account unprovoked Israeli-US attack on Iran and the killing of over 1,400 civilians, including nearly 160 children and staff at a girls’ school. The former lawmaker said that the UN Security Council had failed in its fundamental duty to prevent or end the Israeli-US joint aggression on Iran or, at least, to condemn the unprovoked military action.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Japan provides grant for reinforcement of Cyclone Ditwah damaged bridge

Published

21 hours ago

2026/03/17

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ambassador Isomata and Ven. Nagolle Nandaratana, Chairman of DIMUTHU Community Development Society signed the agreement (pic courtesy Japanese embassy)

Japanese ambassador in Colombo Akio Isomata on 16 March signed a grant contract for reinforcing a bridge in Buttala under the scheme of “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)”. The contract was signed with Ven. Nagolle Nandaratana, Chairman of DIMUTHU Community Development Society.

The text of the Japanese embassy press release: “The Government of Japan has provided USD 25,432 (approx. LKR 7.8 million) for a project implemented by the DIMUTHU Community Development Society. This grant will fund urgent reinforcement of the bridge abutments which were damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, and construction of retaining walls to safeguard the bridge, which ensures safe access of 3,200 residents to education and healthcare services.

Emphasising Japan’s focus on strengthening institutional frameworks to address natural disasters in Sri Lanka, Ambassador ISOMATA remarked: “As Sri Lanka moves on to the phase of recovery and reconstruction, Japan remains steadfast in its resolve to stand by the people of Sri Lanka”. Ambassador also said: “The project for which we signed today will not only contribute to the recovery and reconstruction of areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah and socio-economic development of the country, but will also stand as an enduring symbol of the unwavering friendship between the peoples of Japan and Sri Lanka.”

Commenting on the receiving of this grant assistance, Ven. Nagolle Nandaratana, Chairman of DIMUTHU community Development Society, stated, “Japan and Sri Lanka share a beautiful, long-standing friendship. Beyond just development, we’ve always admired the Japanese way of doing things—with precision, discipline, and kindness. This approach has truly been our guide in making our past collaborations, like our water projects and community buildings, such a lasting success.

Special thanks to the Ambassador, the hardworking Embassy team, and our coordinator for making this happen. “

Since 1989, Japan has been providing a total of USD 62 million in assistance for Sri Lanka through the GGP (Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects) scheme.”