Presidential directive to celebrate 75th Independence Day at low cost

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed his officers to make arrangements to celebrate the 75th Independence Day with pride and grandeur despite the current economic situation, in a cost effective manner.

President Wickremesinghe said this during the first meeting of the 75th Independence Day Commemoration Committee held at the President’s Office yesterday (07) under his patronage.

The 75th National Independence Day will be celebrated in the evening at Galle Face, with the inclusion of various cultural elements, and apart from the parades and ceremonies of the armed forces and the police, the President also informed that cultural elements that showcase Sri Lankan pride and youth-friendly elements should be included.

The President also emphasised on the need to organize each of these events meaningfully so that the public can participate and enjoy them.

It was also decided to invite the foreign ministers of the SAARC countries as special guests in a bid to strengthen international ties.

President Wickremesinghe advised to prepare the necessary background to provide the main state auditoriums, theatres and Colombo Nelum Pokuna Theater, Tower Hall, Elphinstone and John de Silva theatres in the respective provinces at a very special price for a specified period.

It is also planned to build 1996 houses for low income families in conjunction with Independence Day and these houses are to be built in Peliyagoda, Dematagoda, Moratuwa, Maharagama and Kottawa areas. The housing complex to be built in Kottawa will be allocated for artistes. The President also informed officials to immediately prepare the necessary system to provide all these houses based on priority and actual need and not on political basis or affiliations.