Sri Lanka-India Society strengthens bonds of friendship

The President of the Sri Lanka-India Society (SLIS) Kishore Reddy and the executive committee of the society organised a commemorative dinner for the 77th Independence day of India with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as the Chief Guest, Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay as the Guest of Honour and SAARC Cultural Centre Director Renuka Ekanayake as the keynote speaker. 

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakara, MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman, Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC, as well as diplomats, members of the society, officials and many other dignitaries joined to celebrate a night of friendship at Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said India is progressing as an economic power and playing a crucial role in promoting development and humanitarian goals around the world and added that India has been able to develop economies during this Asia’s centenary era. The Prime Minister who remembered that Independence Day also recounted his connection with India as the son of the parents who participated in India’s freedom struggle and said it was an opportunity to reconnect with history and an opportunity to assess our present and plan for the journey ahead. Looking at the present, it shows that India has not only regained its rightful position in the world class but also raised its stance in the international program. The Prime Minister said that India is playing a crucial role in promoting development and humanitarian goals around the world.

Guest of Honour, High Commissioner Gopal Bagley, emphasised the diversity of centuries-old bonds, deeply rooted among India and Sri Lanka. The initiatives taken by the society to strengthen ties between the people of the two countries were also appreciated. As Sri Lanka and India are children of the same ancient culture and both countries have common cultural ties, India will always help when Sri Lanka needs India’s help, the High Commissioner said.

SLIS President Kishore Reddy insisted that the relationship and cultural ties between people are one of the key towers of the relationship between India and Sri Lanka. The journey of this forward, thoughts and ideas bring together, and he demonstrated that sharing knowledge nurtures diversity and common prosperity.

Reddy, while speaking about the relationship between the nations, said: “Trade and investment have grown and there is cooperation in the fields of development, education, culture, and defence. Both countries share a broad understanding of major issues of international interest. As a friendship society, we are very happy and equally proud of India’s assistance to Sri Lanka when needed and ended with a toast,” saying: “We wish Sri Lanka and India peace and prosperity, today and in the future, and to the enduring friendship and partnership between both countries.”

Renuka Ekanayake, the keynote speaker said that the relationship between India and Sri Lanka was age old and the cultural bonding keeps strengthening through time while speaking on the topic “Historical bonding between India and Sri Lanka.”

Established in 1949, the SLIS is one of the oldest and largest friendship societies in Sri Lanka where two culturally rich nations continue their deep-rooted, centuries-old ties. From sharing similar sentiments on religion and cultural norms, Indo-Lanka relations have been multi-faceted, unwavering, and time-tested. The society which has more than 800 life members consisting of both Sri Lankan and Indian nationals have strengthened people to people relationship between the two countries whilst the benefits of its synergies have touched the lives of many.