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Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 10.45 GMT |
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62nd
Independence Day has special significance -
President |
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The 62nd
anniversary
of
independence
we mark
today
has
special
significance
being
the
first
such
celebration
of our
freedom
since
the
defeat
of
terrorism
in our
country
last
year,
and also
as it
takes
place
soon
after
our
people
have
expressed
their
firm and
resounding
commitment
to
democracy,
stated
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
in his
Independence
Day
message.
The
freedom
from
colonial
rule
that we
gained
62 years
ago is
now more
meaningful,
the
President
added.
As we
move
into the
new era
of peace
in our
country,
we are
ready to
face the
challenges
of the
future.
It is
necessary
that we
give
equal
priority
to the
tasks of
national
reconciliation
and the
building
of trust
among
all
sections
of our
people,
as well
as to
development
that
will
take us
to our
rightful
place in
the
community
of
nations,
he
continued.
On this
historic
and
significant
anniversary
of
freedom,
let us
re-dedicate
our
nation
to the
ideals
of
peace,
tolerance,
mutual
trust
and
progress,
in the
democratic
tradition
our
people
have
cherished
and
protected
as the
oldest
democracy
in Asia,
President
Rajapaksa
further
stated.
Following
is the
full
text of
the
message
:
The 62nd
anniversary
of
independence
we mark
today
has
special
significance
being
the
first
such
celebration
of our
freedom
since
the
defeat
of
terrorism
in our
country
last
year,
and also
as it
takes
place
soon
after
our
people
have
expressed
their
firm and
resounding
commitment
to
democracy.
The
freedom
from
colonial
rule
that we
gained
62 years
ago is
now more
meaningful,
because
we have
been
liberated
from the
forces
of
separatist
terror
that
marred
our
freedom
for
nearly
half the
period
since
independence,
and also
gravely
threatened
the
sovereignty
and
territorial
integrity
of our
country.
As much
as we
recall
with
gratitude
the
great
contributions
made by
our
patriots
of the
past in
the
struggle
for
independence,
it is
also
fitting
that we
pay a
tribute
in full
measure
to all
our
heroic
troops
and
their
families
for the
sacrifices
made in
the
battle
against
terrorism,
as well
as all
sections
of our
people
for the
patriotism
they
showed
in
putting
up with
the
hardships
during
this
battle
to
restore
freedom
and
democracy
to our
entire
country.
We are
particularly
grateful
for the
courage
shown by
the
people
as we
were
confronted
with the
armed
might of
the
forces
of
terror
from
within,
as well
as
forces
from
outside
who
sought
to
pressure
us into
conceding
to the
aims of
those
who used
terror
as a
political
weapon.
We are
also
grateful
to all
friendly
nations,
from
East and
West,
those
near and
afar,
who
understood
the true
nature
of the
struggle
we were
engaged
in, and
extended
to us
all
support
to
achieve
our
objective
of true
freedom
for our
country
and
people.
As we
move
into the
new era
of peace
in our
country,
we are
ready to
face the
challenges
of the
future.
It is
necessary
that we
give
equal
priority
to the
tasks of
national
reconciliation
and the
building
of trust
among
all
sections
of our
people,
as well
as to
development
that
will
take us
to our
rightful
place in
the
community
of
nations.
The
fruits
of peace
and the
aspects
of
development
that
were not
neglected
despite
our
major
occupation
with the
battle
against
terror,
are
already
seen in
the many
projects
initiated
and
completed
in the
power
and
energy
sectors
and in
infrastructure
development.
As our
forefathers
did in
the
glorious
days of
our
past,
and the
more
recent
leaders
in the
struggle
for
freedom
showed
us, we
remain
committed
to a
single,
unitary
Sri
Lanka,
where
all our
people,
irrespective
of
differences
of
ethnicity,
religion
or
political
persuasion,
can
enjoy
the full
benefits
of
freedom,
development,
and
equal
rights
in a
democratic
society.
The new
and even
stronger
mandate
you have
given
us,
gives
greater
confidence
to move
ahead in
building
the New
Sri
Lanka,
which we
envisage
as the
hub of
economic
activity
and a
beacon
of
progress
in our
region;
together
with a
full
commitment
to the
Rights
of Man
which
are
integral
to the
heritage
bestowed
on us
from the
past.
On this
historic
and
significant
anniversary
of
freedom,
let us
re-dedicate
our
nation
to the
ideals
of
peace,
tolerance,
mutual
trust
and
progress,
in the
democratic
tradition
our
people
have
cherished
and
protected
as the
oldest
democracy
in Asia.
I wish
you a
Prosperous
Future.
May our
nation
be
blessed
by the
Noble
Triple
Gem.
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