Photos: Sri Lanka marks 77th anniversary of independence from Britain

Usual elaborate military pageantry is absent during celebration of 1948 handover of power

Last updated: February 04, 2025 | 14:10

2 MIN READ

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Sri Lanka's president marked the anniversary of independence from Britain on Tuesday with a pledge to change the impoverished island nation's image as a "corrupt" country.

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Anura Kumara Dissanayake dispensed with the usual elaborate military pageantry of jet flyovers and horse parades to mark the 1948 handover of power.

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His government instead staged a scaled-down military march in keeping with his pledge to pare lavish spending on government officialdom.

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Sri Lankan dancers perform during Sri Lanka's 77th independence day celebrations at the Independence square in Colombo on February 4, 2025.

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Dissanayake, who defeated Wickremesinghe in elections last September, is maintaining the tough austerity measures introduced under his predecessor's administration and has vowed to continue the four-year IMF bailout programme.

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Sri Lankan soldiers march during Sri Lanka's 77th independence day celebrations at the Independence square in Colombo on February 4, 2025.

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Sri Lankan army cultural troupe march carrying national flags during Sri Lanka's 77th Independence Day celebrations at the Independence square in Colombo on February 4, 2025.

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"As the new government, over the past four months, we have laid the foundation for a stable economy and introduced a new political culture," Dissanayake said.

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