From ‘Ceylon’ to ‘Sri Lanka’: 37 years on...

On May 22, Sri Lanka celebrates a special anniversary in the history of her nationhood. In 1972, during the tenure of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s second term, with the adoption of a new Constitution that ended ‘Dominion Status’, the country became a Republic, simultaneously replacing the colonial name of Ceylon with Sri Lanka. With the change, the Anglicised post of Governor General was also abolished, and a ceremonial post of President instituted in its place. It was seen as the final step in Sri Lanka’s long journey towards sovereign statehood and the official severing of ties with her colonial masters.
May 22 has also been traditionally commemorated as National Heroes Day, which was once observed as a national holiday. It was a day to remember all those great Sri Lankans from Madduma Bandara to D.S. Senanayake, who fought against the invading forces and ensured that, this tiny island in the Indian Ocean would be free once more.
This year, the date will be celebrated in a grand manner. The battle against separatism has been won under the direction of Sri Lanka’s Commander in Chief, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his able lieutenants. History will be written on these deeds: future generations will reminisce the heroic tales of our valiant soldiers, who marched from Mavil Aru to Mullaiyavaikkal in these three short years. Just as the world still commemorates the defeat of the Nazis in World War II 60-years-ago, by the unified forces of good, for decades to come, students of history, academics, military strategists and all freedom loving people of this world will speak of and praise the journey of the Sri Lankan forces and its leaders, in their fight against terrorism and their eventual triumph over the separatists.
Such moments in history as we are witnessing today, are both few and far between. The day we gained independence from the British Empire 60-years-ago, the day the silent revolution of the working class, through the ballot box in 1956, and the watershed moment of the eruption of ethnic violence in 1983, are such monumental events in recent Sri Lankan history, which changed the course of our destiny; some for the better, while most for the worse. Sri Lanka, as a nation, stands once more at history’s crossroads. The actions of our leaders at this juncture will not only determine our destiny, but that of many generations yet to be born in this beautiful island. Today, our political leadership has delivered us from the clutches of separatism, into the waiting arms of liberation and democracy. It is now up to us to ensure that terrorism and separatism will never again raise its ugly head in this country. We, the average citizen, should be ever more vigilant to ensure that, dubious and mischievous elements would never have the opportunity to destroy this hard-won freedom. It is our patriotic responsibility, to cherish and protect the peace. In the aftermath of so much bloodshed and the humanitarian mission to save our citizens from the grasp of a ruthless terrorist organisation, it is hoped that Sri Lanka would become an upstanding global citizen beyond reproach, proving her critics wrong, and her leaders will usher in an era of peace, prosperity and security for all her people.