India’s 64th Republic Day celebrated in Sri Lanka

The High Commission of India and the Indian expatriate community in Sri Lanka on Saturday celebrated the 64th Republic Day of India at India House in Colombo.

The High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha unfurled the National Flag and inspected a Guard of Honour presented by the BSF contingent. He read out significant excerpts from the Address to the Nation on the eve of the Republic Day by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee.

A brief cultural program organised by the Indian Cultural Centre was held as well. Its highlights were singing of patriotic songs and dance performances by the students of the Indian Cultural Centre.  Subsequently, the High Commissioner of India and other officials of the High Commission paid their respects to the memory of fallen soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in a solemn ceremony at the IPKF memorial in Colombo.

To commemorate India’s 64th Republic Day, reputed R. Ramachandra Nair and Madhava Madam C.V.N. Kalari Sangam presented ‘Kalarippayattu’, a martial art form from Kerala at the Lionel Wendt Auditorium on 25 January. The troupe, sponsored by Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), will be performing in Jaffna and Kandy on 28 January and 31 January respectively.

Consulates General of India in Jaffna and Hambantota and the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy also celebrated the 64th Republic Day by organising flag hoisting ceremonies.