24 September 2022 12:11 am Views - 161
Parliament paid tribute to late British Monarch Queen Elizabeth II yesterday with all parties joining in.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka was transformed from Ceylon to the Republic of Sri Lanka during her reign. “Transformation of Ceylon to the Republic of Sri Lanka, the 1956 election victory, coups against governments, uprising in 1971, ethnic issue had taken place during her reign. The transformation of Sri Lanka into a republic also resulted in the ethnic conflict,” the President said.
The President also recalled that there was a debate on why Sri Lanka needs a figurehead President. “The then Leader of Opposition J. R. Jayewardene and the Opposition whip late R. Premadasa argued saying Sri Lanka should have an executive President similar to France,” he said in this regard. “Queen Elizabath was a staunch Anglican but she upheld Buddhism while she was the queen of Sri Lanka. It is a lesser known fact that she participated in the 2500 Buddha Jayanthi celebration in the 1950s,” he recalled. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said the late queen had shown kindness and sympathy towards Sri Lanka whenever the nation was hit by a disaster or a tragedy.
“Today Sri Lanka pays its tribute to the queen as the head of the Commonwealth. May she attain supreme bliss of Nibana,” he said.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said there will be more emphasis on making Britain a republic after the passing away of the queen. “Queen Elizabeth holds a record of being politically neutral for more than 70 years,” he said.
Also the Opposition Leader said Sri Lanka still has a colonial hangover though it is not a British colony anymore. Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said late Queen Elizabeth is a person who sacrificed many things which a normal person does because of the royalty. “ Royalty is being interpreted in many ways but one has to give up much when one is crowned king or queen.,” he said.
“Queen Elizabeth is a person who upheld the tradition of her nation and respected the traditions of others. She also taught the lesson on loving one’s nation,” he added.