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National anthem will be sung only in Sinhala

24 December 2019 08:24 am - 16     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The 72nd Independence Day celebrations will be held on February 4 at Independence Square in Colombo on a grand scale, the Public Administration Ministry said, adding that the national anthem would be sung only in Sinhala.

These decisions were taken at a meeting held yesterday at the Disaster Management, Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry.

Minister Janaka Bandara Thennakoon who chaired the meeting said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa intended holding this year’s celebrations under full police and military honours and with the participation of all State Ministries and the Colombo Municipal Council.

He had instructed relevant officials to ensure the general public was not inconvenienced when police, armed forces and other participants rehearsed for the celebration parade.

President Rajapaksa wishes to launch a tree-planting campaign covering the entire country.

Sri Lanka sang the national anthem for the first time in Tamil at the 68th Independence Day celebrations at Galle Face in 2016. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)


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  Comments - 16

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  • Kumara Tuesday, 24 December 2019 10:17 AM

    Let’s watch what happing..

    Upali HSW Wednesday, 25 December 2019 08:29 AM

    In 1949 sang both in Tamil

    Rajapaksha Tuesday, 24 December 2019 10:21 AM

    Another silly decision

    yashy Tuesday, 24 December 2019 11:11 AM

    hayyo salli, most burning issue in the country

    suresh Tuesday, 24 December 2019 11:56 AM

    these are testers before big decisions to be taken in the future

    Being human Tuesday, 24 December 2019 11:57 AM

    Ain't this island for minorities too..?? Another move to crush Muslim

    Adam Jiffry Tuesday, 24 December 2019 12:02 PM

    National Anthem is usually sung in the language of the Majority. What a big fuss about it.

    Raveendranathan Arun Tuesday, 24 December 2019 12:23 PM

    Dear All, I’m Sri lankan, But i can’t understand Sinhala. I lived in north part of Sri Lanka for last 25 Years. i didn’t get any Chance to Learn Sinhala or Interact with Sinhala People. if The national Anthem is sung only in Sinhala most of Tamil people can’t understand. Sri Lanka National Anthem is not just some sort of music , its meaning full anthem we sing with emotion, emotion comes only when we understand the meaning. Hope I’m Correct

    Rasie Nayagam Tuesday, 24 December 2019 01:06 PM

    Hello Adam Jeffry, Tamil speaking people are in the majority in the North and East. Thus let them sing the anthem there in Tamil.Agree?

    prabath uduwella Tuesday, 24 December 2019 01:56 PM

    Singithi athal to please general public

    sunil vijaya Wednesday, 25 December 2019 02:58 AM

    Good move by current govt and president. ONE NATION ONE ANTHEM ONE LANGUAGE. we all are sri lankans. GET OVER this majority/minority crap!

    Independent Observer Wednesday, 25 December 2019 03:38 AM

    Let there be a shorter version of the National anthem so that all could learn

    L. Perera Thursday, 26 December 2019 04:25 AM

    Agree. A shorter version is a good suggestion. Lanka's current version is the longest.

    M.HASHIM NEHAR Wednesday, 25 December 2019 06:59 AM

    I have no problem Jathika Gee being sung in Sinhala,it sounds good when sung in sinhala continue doing do not change policy at any cost.

    jayantha Wednesday, 25 December 2019 11:08 PM

    Another stupid decision to satisfied stupid base.

    VJ Wednesday, 25 December 2019 11:18 PM

    Tamil is the first language of he world. Sri Lanka will be honored by singing the national in Tamil as well.


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