All Sri Lankans are preparing to celebrate the 64th Independence Day on a grand scale. The national flag is has already been hoisted in all the government institutions, vehicles and houses throughout the island. The national ceremony to celebrate 64th Independence Day will be held at Anuradhapura.

 The theme of this year’s ceremony is ‘let’s build a miraculous nation’. Anuradhapura town which is getting ready to hold the national ceremony of Independence Day celebrations has already been decorated with national flag and other decorations. Religious observances of the 64th Independence Day commenced with an all night Pirith Chanting ceremony held at Independence Square in Colombo yesterday. 

An alms giving will take place at Maradana Sri Lanka Piriven Temple at 7.00 am today. Buddhist religious ceremonies of the 64th Independence Day will be held near Anuradhapura Jayasri Maha Bodhi at 6.30 am tomorrow. The Hindu religious ceremonies will be conducted at Anuradhapura Kadiresan Kovil at the same time. The Muslim religious services are to be held at the Anuradhapura Mohideen Jummah Mosque. Catholic prayer services will be held at the Anuradhapura St. Josephs Church and the Christian services will take place at Anuradhapura Maithree Christ church.

Paying floral tributes to statue of the Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake at Colombo-07 will take place at 7.30 am tomorrow. The main ceremony of 64th Independence Day celebrations will commence from Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Mawatha at Anuradhapura at 8.30 am tomorrow. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the chief guest of the occasion. The President and the first lady will arrive at the premises where the ceremony is being held at 8.45 am tomorrow. 

Holding a two minute silence remembering the fallen heroes who dedicated themselves for the independency of the country will commence at 9.07 am. Subsequently 21 gun salutes will be conducted in honour of the President. President Rajapaksa will address the nation at 9.15 am tomorrow. The Independence Day march that will be conducted with the participation of tri forces, Police and the Civil Security Force will commence thereafter. 

The public has been given the opportunity to witness the ceremony from Walisinghe Harishchanra Grounds at Anuradhapura. Special bus and train services will be implemented from various areas of the country for the benefit of the public who are keen to travel to Anuradhapura to witness the Independence Day celebrations.