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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

"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.