Latvia National Day celebrated in Sri Lanka

The National Day of the Republic of Latvia was celebrated on 18 November by the Honorary Consul Thomas F Daetwyler with Minister for National Languages and Social Integration Vasudeva Nanayakkara representing the Government.

In his speech Daetwyler said that it was the most significant day for Latvia, because it was on 18 November 1918 that the newly-independent state was born on the coast of the Baltic Sea in the very heart of Europe.

“Latvia marks today 93 years of independence, which was interrupted from 1940 for 50 years during occupation,” he said.

“We are facing today a radically new and unprecedented situation which demands political wisdom and a responsible approach towards work.

We are living in an age of confusion in the global economy, and there are increasing convincing signs of a new wave of the crisis.

 We must learn from past mistakes that the crisis does not reoccur.

“By acceding to international declarations such as the Millennium Development Declaration and the Cairo Declaration, Latvia has demonstrated its readiness to become actively involved in the resolution of global problems, eliminating poverty, strengthening democracy, limiting the spread of disease, ensuring sustainable environmental development and promoting gender equality and the universal availability of education,” Daetwyler said.

Commenting on bilateral ties, the Honorary Consul said: “The relationship and trade between Sri Lanka and our country has significantly developed over the last years and we are further aiming to strengthen the ties between our two countries.”

At the celebrations Daetwyler and invitees proposed a toast to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and wished both Sri Lanka and Latvia a bright, peaceful, prosperous and happy future.