Sri Lanka celebrates 70th anniversary of Independence Day

Sri Lanka celebrated its 70th anniversary of Independence Day here on Sunday with grand military parades and attendance of political celebrities.

Sri Lanka tri forces held a colorful grand parade along the Galle Road, close to the Colombo Harbour to celebrate its 70th anniversary of independence from the British colonial rule in 1948.

In his speech, President Maithripala Sirisena said Sri Lanka would gain complete independence only after achieving complete economic and cultural freedom.

The year of 2018 will be a crucial year for Sri Lanka in achieving economic freedom, and the government must ensure the country to achieve its long term goals, said the president.

"We must remember that true freedom does not comprise only of political freedom. As a country, our future successes lie in our commitment to achieving long term goals with firm determination, as we have done in the past," Sirisena said.

He further paid tribute to the patriots who had sacrificed their lives in achieving the country's freedom over the years.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that since being elected to power, the government had been consistently focusing on creating the right social and political climate needed to build a society that is indeed free and stable.

Over 500 prisoners were released under a Presidential Pardon from prisons across Sri Lanka on Sunday to mark the 70th anniversary celebrations of the country's Independence Day.

Prison Department Commissioner H.M.T.N. Upuldeniya said that 544 prisoners serving jail terms for minor offences were released under the pardon based on their behavior during the detention period.

He said prisoners held in several prisons including Anuradhapura in the North Central Province, Kandy in the Central Hills and Colombo were released under the pardon.

Sri Lanka Sunday celebrated its 70th Independence Day anniversary from British colonial rule by holding a grand parade in the capital.