On the occasion of 62nd Republic Day of India, the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, hosted a reception at India House in the evening of 26th January, 2011. Senior Minister of Good Governance & Infrastructure of the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Hon’ble Mr. Ratnasiri Wickremenayake was the Chief Guest. The reception was attended by a number of Ministers, Members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, members of Provincial Councils, eminent personalities from the field of business, defence, security, culture, cinema, theatre, etc.

The official ceremony started with the playing of the National Anthems of Sri Lanka and India. It was followed by remarks by the High Commissioner who also raised a toast to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, the health, happiness and prosperity of the people of Sri Lanka and the continued development of strong fraternal ties between India and Sri Lanka. In his remarks at the reception, High Commissioner Kantha emphasized that the bilateral cooperation with Sri Lanka was expanding in an all-round manner in the areas of trade and investment, culture and science, education, security and defence and, above all, people-to-people exchanges.  The High Commissioner also underlined that India has always been committed to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and to the restoration of lasting peace through national reconciliation and that it would continue to support initiatives to heal the wounds of the past and to build a caring society, which ensures a life of equality and dignity to all its citizens. The full text of the remarks made by the High Commissioner is attached.

The Chief Guest, Hon’ble Senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake also addressed the gathering and raised a toast to the friendship between India and Sri Lanka. The visiting Kathakali troupe from India then presented a brief performance for the gathering.