·        “Please continue to enrich us with your culture and your wisdom” – Mayor Phillip Kramer

·        “We are celebrating the 68th Anniversary of our Independence at a very important juncture of the contemporary political history of Sri Lanka” –   Amb. Perera

 The Mission together with the community, held an event at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in New Jersey, to mark the 68th anniversary of Independence for the wider Sri Lankan community, on Sunday 7th February.

Over eight hundred guests attended.  Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian religious ceremonies blessing the nation and people of Sri Lanka, and a cultural show reflecting Sri Lanka’s diversity and showcasing the talents of the children of the community were some of the highlights of the event.

The National Anthem was sung in both Sinhala and Tamil marking a break with past practice.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Rohan Perera in his welcome address, noted that the celebrations were particularly meaningful because of the current positive changes in Sri Lanka.

"We are celebrating the 68th Anniversary of our Independence at a very important juncture of the contemporary political history of Sri Lanka: It is a time when the government has embarked upon far-reaching democratic reforms that would usher in a new Sri Lanka in which all Sri Lankans, belonging to different ethnic groups and religions, rise as one nation in a collective endeavour to heal the wounds of a troubled past.

‘I am particularly happy that we are also celebrating, on this occasion, the 60th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s admission to the United Nations, having joined the Organization in December 1955,’ he said. 

Noting that Sri Lanka has been an active member state within the UN, Ambassador Perera said that it was Sri Lanka that pioneered the 1999 resolution on the recognition of Vesak, a day of special significance to Buddhists all over the world, as a UN day of observance.

“Sri Lanka takes pride in the fact that the Day of Vesak has now been recognized as an official UN holiday,” he further said.  

Ambassador Perera noted that ‘Sri Lanka and the United States of America enjoy very cordial bilateral relations that are built on mutual respect, friendship, people to people contact, enhanced trade and investment relations, etc.”

He added that while the USA had maintained a consular presence in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) since 1850, that since then, the mutual   relationship   has   evolved and was  at   its   best   at   present.

Franklin Township Mayor Phillip Kramer, in addressing the gathering said that Sri Lankans enrich American society. “Please continue to enrich us with your culture and your wisdom,” he said. 

 See below for Ambassador Rohan Perera’s full remarks 

 68th Anniversary of Independence, 07th February 2016, New Jersey

Speech by H.E. Dr. A. Rohan Perera, Ambassador and

Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations

Members of the most venerable Maha Sangha, and religious dignitaries,

Distinguished elected officials from the State of New Jersey and Franklin Township,

Dear Fellow Countrymen,

 First of all, let me convey my warm greetings and sincere best wishes to the Sri Lankan expatriate community in the Tri-State area on this auspicious occasion of the 68th Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka.

We are celebrating the 68th Anniversary of our Independence at a very important juncture of the contemporary political history of Sri Lanka: It is a time when the government has embarked upon far-reaching democratic reforms that would usher in a new Sri Lanka in which all Sri Lankans, belonging to different ethnic groups and religions, rise as one nation in a collective endeavour to heal the wounds of a troubled past.

I am particularly happy that we are also celebrating, on this occasion, the 60th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s admission to the United Nations, having joined the Organization in December 1955.

During these 60 years, Sri Lanka has been a responsible and active Member State of the United Nations. It is noteworthy that Sri Lanka was a non-permanent member of the Security Council during 1960-1961 and chaired the session on the Congo crisis, the critical issue confronting the Organization at the time.  Many Sri Lankan Diplomats have held responsible positions in the United Nations system, including the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly, the historic Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and the Conference on the Review/Extension of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, among many others.

We are proud to have successfully proposed in the United Nations General Assembly the Indian Ocean Peace Zone Concept in 1971, and in 1987, the Declaration on the International Year of Shelter for the homeless. Sri Lanka pioneered the 1999 resolution on the recognition of Vesak, a day of special significance to Buddhists all over the world, as a UN day of observance. Sri Lanka takes pride in the fact that the Day of Vesak has now been recognized as an official UN holiday. 

Distinguished invitees,

Sri Lanka and the United States of America enjoy very cordial bilateral relations that are built on mutual respect, friendship, people to people contact, enhanced trade and investment relations, etc.

The USA maintained a consular presence in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) since 1850.  Since then our mutual relationship has evolved and is at its best at present. From the economic perspective, the United States continues to be the single largest export destination for Sri Lankan products. Both sides have engaged in intensive bilateral discussions in the recent past to further enhance and to enable the economic relationship reach new heights.

It is particularly a matter of pride that the Sri Lankan expatriate community in the Tri-State area has made a tremendous contribution to the strengthening of the relations between Sri Lanka and the United States. I take this opportunity to recognize their invaluable contribution during difficult times in our recent history.

I also thank the Sri Lankan expatriate in the Tri-State area for their contribution to the betterment of Sri Lanka, and take this opportunity to request them to continue to share their experience, expertise, and resources in the nation-building process that is being undertaken in Sri Lanka at present.

I wish to place on record my sincere gratitude to the Sri Lanka expatriate community in the Tri-State area, in particular those who are from the host state New Jersey, and the members of the Organizing Committee for their dedication, commitment, and the untiring efforts to make this event a success.

I wish you all a very happy Independence Day celebration.