Independence Day (Sri Lanka)
National holiday in Sri Lanka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Independence Day,[1] is a Sri Lankan national holiday celebrated annually on 4 February to commemorate the country’s political independence from British rule in 1948. It is celebrated all over the country through a flag-hoisting ceremony, dances, parades, and performances. Usually, the main celebration takes place in Colombo, where the President of Sri Lanka raises the national flag and delivers a nationally televised speech.
Official nameIndependence Day of Sri Lanka
ශ්රී ලංකා ජාතික දිනය
இலங்கையின் தேசிய தினம்
ශ්රී ලංකා ජාතික දිනය
இலங்கையின் தேசிய தினம்
ObservedbySri Lanka
TypeNational
SignificanceCommemorates Sri Lanka's independence from Britain in 1948
| Independence Day | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Independence Day of Sri Lanka ශ්රී ලංකා ජාතික දිනය இலங்கையின் தேசிய தினம் |
| Observed by | Sri Lanka |
| Type | National |
| Significance | Commemorates Sri Lanka's independence from Britain in 1948 |
| Celebrations | Independence Day Parade and an address by the President of Sri Lanka |
| Date | 4 February |
| Next time | 4 February 2027 |
| Frequency | Annually |
Traditionally the Sri Lanka Navy accords a 21 gun salute to the nation from the ceremonial naval gun battery at the Colombo Lighthouse. A Google Doodle reaching only Sri Lanka celebrated the occasion in 2013 and from 2017 continuously onwards.[2]
Locations of main celebrations
- 1991 - Independence Square
- 1992- Independence Square
- 1993 - Independence Square
- 1994 - Independence Square
- 1995 - Independence Square
- 1996 - Independence Square
- 1997 - Independence Square
- 1998 - Parliament Complex - Sri Jayawardana Pura Kotte
- 2008 - Galle Face Green
- 2009 - Galle Face Green
- 2010 - Dalada Maligawa - Kandy[3]
- 2011 - Katharagama
- 2012 - Anuradhapura - Jayanthi St
- 2013 - Trincomalee [4]
- 2014 - Kegalle[3]
- 2015 - Galle Face Green
- 2016 - Galle Face Green
- 2017 - Galle Face Green [5]
- 2018 - Galle Face Green [6]
- 2019 - Galle Face Green [7]
- 2020 - Independence Square
- 2021 - Independence Square [8]
- 2022 - Independence Square[9]
- 2023 - Galle Face Green[9]
- 2024 - Galle Face Green[10]
- 2025 - Independence Square [11]