Sri Lanka India Society commemorates 77th Independence Day of India

The President of the Sri Lanka India Society Kishore Reddy and the executive committee of the society organized a commemorative dinner for the 77th Independence Day of India with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as the Chief Guest, Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India as the guest of Honour and Renuka Ekanayake, Director SAARC Cultural Centre as the keynote speaker. 

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Minister Manusha Nanayakara, MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Eastern province Governor Senthil Thondaman, Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC, as well as diplomats, members of the society, officials and many other dignitaries joined to celebrate a night of friendship at Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said India is progressing as an economic power and playing a crucial role in promoting development and humanitarian goals around the world and added that India has been able to develop economic development during this Asia’s centenary era.
Guest of honor, High Commissioner Gopal Bagley, emphasized the diversity of centuries-old bonds, deeply rooted among India and Sri Lanka. The initiatives taken by the society strengthens ties between the people of the two countries were also appreciated. As Sri Lanka and India are children of the same ancient culture and both countries have common cultural ties, India will always help when Sri Lanka needs India’s help, the High Commissioner said.
SLIS President Kishore Reddy insisted that the relationship and cultural ties between people are one of the key towers of the relationship between India and Sri Lanka. The journey of this forward, thoughts and ideas bring together, and he demonstrated that sharing knowledge, nurtures diversity and common prosperity.
Reddy, while speaking about the relationship between the nations said, “Trade and investment have grown and there is cooperation in the fields of development, education, culture, and defense. 

Both countries share a broad understanding of major issues of international interest. As a friendship society, we are very happy and equally proud of India’s assistance to Sri Lanka when needed and ended with a toast, saying: “We wish Sri Lanka and India peace and prosperity, today and in the future, and to the enduring friendship and partnership between both countries.”
Renuka Ekanayake, the keynote speaker said that the relationship between India and Sri Lanka was age old and the cultural bonding keeps strengthening through time while speaking on the topic “Historical bonding between India and Sri Lanka.”