Sunday Times 2
66 years ago…
The pealing of temple and church bells, and the sound of joyful drums awakened the people of Ceylon in the first hours of February 4, 1948 from their ‘slumber of servitude’ into the unfamiliar consciousness of a free people.
The “Appointed Day” had arrived and the Ceylon Independence Act passed unanimously by the British Parliament had come into force. By it King George VI surrendered to the people of Ceylon, subject only to the provision of two mutually beneficial agreements, complete sovereignty over the Island which His Majesty and his royal predecessors had exercised for 133 years.
It was a day of great rejoicing throughout the country and the keynote of the celebrations was thanksgiving. Being a public holiday, large crowds took advantage of increased railway and bus facilities to visit Colombo.
The capital was in festive garb and at night the illuminations were superb. The first official act under the new dispensation was the assumption of office as Governor General by Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore at an early morning ceremony at Queen’s House in the presence of the Chief Justice and members of the Cabinet.
It was long after midnight when the people brought their twenty-four -hour holiday to a close.
(Extracts and pictures courtesy-’Free Ceylon Rejoices- Souvenir of the Independence Celebrations February 4-16, 1948 published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd and Ceylon Independence Celebrations- February 4-16, 1948, souvenir issued by the Times of Ceylon)
| In the long history of our Island, the attainment of political freedom is perhaps only second in importance to the message of spiritual freedom which Lord Buddha delivered 2,500 years ago. -Prime Minister |
 Colombo becomes a fairyland: Freedom day celebrations culminated after dusk on February 10 when Colombo was transformed into a city of glittering lights |
 At 7 30 a.m. on Independence Day, His Excellency Sir Henry Moore who had just vacated the office of Governor of the Colony of Ceylon, took his oaths as Governor-General of the Dominion of Ceylon. The Chief Justice Sir John Howard, on the right, administered the oath |
 Faces wreathed in smiles: Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake and Mrs. Senanayake |
 A proud Nation: Unfurling of the Lion flag on February 10 |