We Republic issues Republic Day message

Sri Lanka was granted the Status of Dominion on 4 February 1948 by the British Monarchy. But Sri Lanka became a free, sovereign and independent Republic only on 22 May 1972 after the enactment of its first autochthonous constitution.

In 1948, although Sri Lanka was granted a Status of Dominion; the judicial and constitutional ties still remained with the British monarchy. Thus Ceylon could not function as a free sovereign and independent state.

In this background the ‘Mahajana Eksath Peramuna’ Government led by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was elected in 1956. They wanted to change the dominion status by drafting a new constitution. But it was interrupted because of Bandaranaike’s sudden death. 

In 1970 the ‘Samagi Peramuna’ Government led by Sirima Bandaranaike came to power and they started to draft a new constitution on people’s mandate that they received at the General Election. Sirima Bandaranaike’s brave leadership and then constitutional compiler Minister Colvin R. de Silva’s and all members of the Constitutional Assembly’s active contribution to this constitutional process will be remembered forever.

The drafted first Republican Constitution includes 16 Chapters and 134 Sections and was presented to the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Dominion Ceylon by Sirima Bandaranaike on 22 May 1972 and on the same day it was enacted. Since then Dominion Ceylon became a free, sovereign and independent Republic. On this day the Republic of Sri Lanka celebrates its 48th Republic Day. Because of the SARS Cov-2 epidemic we cannot commemorate this historical event ceremonially but as the citizens of the Republic it’s our duty to celebrate this annually. We wish the mother nation and all the citizens of the Republic of Sri Lanka a pride Republic Day!

Long live the Republic!