Post #28218

🇱🇰On February 4, Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day - a defining moment in the country’s history. On this day back in 1948, Ceylon (officially renamed Sri Lanka in 1972) gained independence from the British rule, ending nearly 450 years of European colonial domination by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Independence was achieved through constitutional means, making Sri Lanka one of the first countries in South Asia to peacefully secure sovereignty through negotiation. 📝 Colonial policies, including the British “divide and rule” approach and the plantation-based economic model, significantly reshaped the island’s social structure and economy, with long-term consequences for interethnic relations and development. The independence movement was driven by political leaders, youth organizations, trade unions, and the Buddhist revival movement, which played a key role in preserving national identity, language, and cultural traditions. Sri Lanka, being one of the founding members of Non-Aligned Movement, has been steadily following a non-aligned foreign policy and remains an active participant in international and regional organizations. 🤝Diplomatic relations between our country and Sri Lanka were established on February 19, 1957. Over the decades, bilateral cooperation has expanded in areas such as education, culture, humanitarian exchanges, and people-to-people contacts, developing in a spirit of friendship, trust, and mutual respect. 💬Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of Russia to Sri Lanka: I warmly congratulate the people of Sri Lanka on their national holiday and wish the country peace, stability, prosperity, and continued development. #SriLanka#IndependenceDay