Many Sri Lankans regret that on 22 May republic day (ජනරජ දිනය), is no longer a public holiday, as this day in 1972 was for them the anniversary of their country’s true independence. They reject February 4th, which serves as a national holiday, a fraud they regret.

The British colony of Ceylon gained independence on February 4, 1948, but the newly independent nation remained the domination within the British Empire. The King of England continues to be head of state, military power remains in the hands of England, as well as judicial power because the British Privy Council is the highest court of appeal. In 1972, Ceylon renounced its dominion status and changed its name. Thus, on May 22, 1972, the Republic of Sri Lanka was proclaimed. The political emancipation of the Commonwealth is the work of Prime Minister Sirimavo Airportnaike was, in 1960, the world’s first woman to be democratically elected to lead a government. Great Britain had done everything to ensure a split didn’t happen, it took its former colony 24 years to fully break free from its grip. India has been operating the same revolution since 1950 which is celebrated every January 26 with Republic Day.

Apart from changing the head of state, the new regime also allowed the nationalization of the large tea and rubber plantations that had been taken over by the British. Until 1972, this property remained under their control despite independence. Hence, the country’s economic independence is also celebrated every May 22nd, even if then, Sri Lanka was under the influence of India and more recently under the control of China which the country is currently dramatically in debt to.

It should be noted, however, that the 1972 regime ignored article 29 of the 1948 constitution, which provided for the protection of minorities. Buddhism became the state religion and the constitutional texts were written only in Sinhala… so many seeds of civil war would tear the country apart. In addition, a new constitution, in 1978, would have seen Sri Lanka move from a parliamentary to a presidential regime, with all possible authoritarian excesses that the country would have been unable to avoid.

Until the May 18, 2009 military victory that overshadowed him, on May 22 every year, all ministries, government, public institutions and other state institutions commemorated Republic Day. Heads of departments with the participation of staff raise the national flag and give a short speech about the significance of this Day.

An article from the BiblioMonde edition of the International Almanac