The 69th Independence Day celebration held this morning on grand manner under the theme of the “National Peace”.

The main function held at the Galle Face Green under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.

The President in his Independence Day message said that "It is at a challenging and decisive moment, that we celebrate the 69th Independence anniversary this year. The responsibility of strengthening the recently secured democratic freedom as well as ensuring that, enriched by indigenous wisdom, all communities could live with dignity, lies on our shoulders. We have been able to overcome a dark era and reillumine our unsurmountable aspirations for democracy, freedom, and human dignity. However, the realization of the true meaning of freedom and independence lies in our potential to free ourselves from the shackles of all kinds and forms of poverty, ill-health, and confines of divisive identities of race, religion and caste, and enrich ourselves, as a society that values equity and rights of all".

The Prime Minister stated that "During the last two years, we have been able to achieve many steps in the right direction; restore democratic values, rebuild relationships with friendly nations and affirm mutual trust while focusing on revitalizing the economy towards laying the foundation for a nation that has overcome various differences and is firmly anchored on principles of freedom and human values." in his Independence Day message.

Many cultural events and marches by tri forces, police and the civil defence forces colored the event.