Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM  Spokesperson USLA

Sri Lanka’s independence commemoration often kindles nostalgic memories of it’s first Prime Minister, Rt Hon DS Senanayake hoisting Sri Lanka’s national flag on the 4^th of Feb 1948, following the Duke of Gloucester’s lowering the Union Jack on behalf of the British Crown, at the Independence Ceremony at the specially bult Independence hall at the Torrington Square in Colombo.

The day still kindles nostalgic memories of music that was frequently played in those days around independence day, songs such as  Namo Namo Matha, that in Sinhala urges its citizens to march forth  like children of one mother and others like Lanka, Lanka Pembara Lanka whose description of Lanka’s many virtues still inspires immense patriotic fervor.  

As a beneficiary of many of these virtues, not the least of which was it’s free education till the end of Tertiary, I often reflect on this with gratitude and ponder on how I could pay back these receipts. I remain acutely aware that having professionally served it’s citizens for seven years, the remainder of my over fifty years of professional service as a Medical Specialist has been to citizens of three other countries in three other continents. I have endeavored to make up for this shortfall by contributing to the training of Sri Lanka’s specialists in this field, by providing them opportunities in NZ and frequently contributing to their on  going education programs back in Sri Lanka.

In our frequent travels to Sri Lanka , we have endeavored to contribute to the lives and lively hoods of its citizens especially in the hospitality service by spending generously be it in five star hotels or in road side kiosks  enjoying a  Thambili or a delicious mango or a pot of curd and honey from the south.

We have also invested in Sri Lanka’s real estate and share market, not too faced by any losses , considering it a pay back to a country and people I owed.

As USLA’s spokesperson for nearly three decades, I have persistently and relentlessly defended Sri Lanka from  baseless and  vicious misinformation and denigration in the international and national media, and among politicians in NZ and internationally, during its thirty year war that successfully rescued Sri Lanka from  Tiger terror. This is the pay back that gives me the greatest satisfaction.

It was during this war that I realized the real significance of our independence , when a few weeks before this war victory the foreign ministers of UK and France, having travelled thousands of miles , pressured the then President to withdraw his offensive. His response was, please remember we ceased to be your colony sixty years ago. My people voted me in, to successfully end this war.  I have no intention of doing anything else” . A few days later he gave a similar response to a similar pressure  from New Delhi. One can only ponder what SL ‘s destiny would have been but for that steely resolve of its leader on that golden day in its history!

Today, Sri Lanka is in throes of another war , that against Covid. However, following an admirably successful vaccination drive , and the return of Tourism income and foreign remittances, we have every reason to be confident of a successful out come in this war too, similar to that in the terrorist war, especially with the same  drivers at the wheel.

Some glimpses of what this successful outcome, might mean was on display, with the opening of the Magnificent Golden Gate Kalyani, A bridge spanning the Kelani River in Colombo  featuring  a cable support system for the first time in Sri Lanka, where the water flow in the river was not disturbed by the bridge at all.

A similar glimpse was provided with the opening of the equally magnificent walkway and promenade of the brand new Port city Colombo with its Yatch marina with locally built Yatchs including double hulls on proud display. This promenade that is now the venue for many water front events provides vistas like in Hawaii , the likes of which was never before available to Sri Lankans who are now lapping them up in droves.

Finally, the opening of the Mirigama Kurunegalle section of Sri Lanka’s  central expressway provided scenes and arial views of a picturesque highway through Sri Lanka’s beautiful central hills that also provided new and pleasurable experiences to Sri Lankans who are eagerly lapping them up  as well.

With these dreams of the future , gradually becoming reality, I can only urge all Sri Lankans to respond to the call of it’s national anthem and march forward to prosperity, in unity  like the children of one mother.

Thank You

Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM  Spokesperson USLA. 4.2.22