( Sri Lanka Independence day 2015)
1. Acknowledging a recommendation made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission that the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka requires a full acknowledgement of the tragedy of the conflict and a collective act of contrition, the Government of Sri Lanka, at the official national ceremony held yesterday, 4 February, to mark the 67th Independence Day, made a “Declaration of Peace”.
2. The Declaration included:
(a) paying respects to all the citizens of Sri Lanka, of all ethnicities and religions, who lost their lives due to the tragic conflict that afflicted the country for over three decades and to all the victims of violence since Independence; and
(b) a commitment to ensure that never again will the country be allowed to be traumatised by the shedding of blood of her citizens.
3. The Declaration was read out in Sinhala, Tamil and English in the presence of the President, Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and all invitees including the diplomatic corps.
4. Click on Sinhala, Tamil and English for the text of the Declaration.