Sri Lanka, Feb. 4 -- Today we celebrate the 77th Independence Day. Independence for the Dominion of Ceylon came on February 4, 1948. Since then, Sri Lanka celebrates every 4th February annually to mark the country's political independence from British rule in 1948.

Although many describe the Sri Lankan Independence movement as a peaceful political movement which was aimed at achieving self-rule for the country, we must not forget the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our freedom in various battles with the Colonial powers. The modern Independence Movement, in which the founder of this newspaper group D.R Wijewardene played an active role, was a peaceful struggle.

Their efforts succeeded when, on 4 February 1948, Ceylon w...