The High Commission of India and the Indian expatriate community in Sri Lanka celebrated the 64th Independence Day of India on Sunday, 15th August at India House in Colombo. High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha unfurled the National Flag, which was followed by a rendering of the National Anthem by the lady officials of the High Commission and the Indian community. The High Commissioner inspected the Guard of Honour presented by the BSF contingent and read out excerpts from the Address to the Nation on the eve of Independence Day by the President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

On the occasion, the High Commissioner also conveyed his greetings to the citizens of Sri Lanka and noted the significant bilateral initiatives that had been agreed for implementation following the state visit to India in June 2010 of H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

A brief cultural programme organized by the Indian Cultural Centre followed. Its highlight was a small demo by an Odissi dance troupethat is currently visiting Sri Lanka under the aegis of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The troupe is led by renownedOdissi dancer, Ms. Sharmila Biswas. It will perform in Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya during its visit. Students of the Indian Cultural Centre also presented colourful and patriotic dance performances.

Subsequently, the High Commissioner of India and other officials of the High Commission paid their respects to the memory of fallensoldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in a solemn ceremony at the IPKF memorial in Colombo