Sri Lanka, Feb. 4 -- All citizens must unite to safeguard territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political freedom as the nation marks its 78th Independence Day, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated today (4).

Speaking at a ceremony at Polwatta Sri Dharmakirthyarama in Kollupitiya, he noted that while traditional empires were defeated to create a unified country, modern imperialism operates through different lenses.

The Opposition Leader pointed out that direct colonialism has been replaced by indirect forms of influence affecting the economic and social spheres, not only in Sri Lanka but across the Global South.

For the nation to achieve complete independence, these external forces must be overcome by securing civil, political, ...