The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “India and Sri Lanka have close links”

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Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

“India and Sri Lanka have close links”

Special Correspondent

Island nation’s Independence Day fete

— Photo: R. Ragu

Colourful occasion: P.M. Amza, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence, in Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI: The 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence was celebrated in Chennai on Monday.

“It is also appropriate at this momentous moment to remember and record our appreciation and gratitude to the contributions and sacrifices made by our forefathers and many of our leaders during the pre-Independence era, who have made possible what we enjoy today,” said P. M. Amza, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa was confident that the recently unveiled interim proposals by the All Party Parliamentary Committee would be the first step in the right direction in heralding permanent peace to the Island home, Mr Amza said. “I am also pleased to record our gratitude to the Government of India, which was among the first to welcome the interim proposals.”

With the interim proposals by the committee already paving the way for a permanent solution in the near future, we would now have the responsibility of building a better tomorrow, which would justify the sacrifices made by leaders, Mr Amza pointed out. It was our duty to ensure that the country (Sri Lanka) marched forward on all fronts. It was the bounden duty of everyone to make this possible.

“We have to work hard together, to make our hopes and expectations a reality.

While peace is said to be indivisible, so is freedom and prosperity, so let us come together and make Sri Lanka’s future a better and a brighter one,” Mr Amza said.

Sri Lanka and India have close links. These included cultural, linguistic religious and food habits. Students of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo recited Jayamangala Gatha.

Earlier the Deputy High Commissioner hoisted the Sri Lankan national flag.

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