Independence day was achieved without much effort while republic day was achieved with much effort

Today is the Republic Day of Sri Lanka

May 21, 2014, 8:01 pm 
Independence day  was achieved  without much effort while republic day was achieved with much effort

by Walter Wijenayake

Today, May 22, is the Republic Day of Sri Lanka, which is as important a day as February 4, which is Independence Day.

It was on May 22, 1972, exactly 42 years ago today, that the Republic of Sri Lanka was born. It was the day that our country became truly free and independent.

The British, who got hold of the Kandyan provinces on March 2, 1815, helped by dissension among the Kandyan chieftains who were divided in their loyalty to the King, simultaneously sold off the whole country.

The Governor who represented the British Monarch was all powerful. even when the Legislative Council had unofficial members, he had a dominant voice.

When Sri Lanka gained independence on February 4, 1948, the State Council had been replaced by a Parliament consisting of a Upper House (Senate) and a Lower House (House of Representatives). At the time, our Monarch was King George VI. After he expired, his daughter, Elizabeth II succeeded him on February 6,1952. Since then, until May 22, 1972, British Monarchs were our Heads of State.

As soon as the Coalition Government headed by Mrs. Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike which came into power at the 1970 General Election, decided to set up a Constituent Assembly in order to draft a new Constitution that accorded with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the country at the election.

Dr. Colvin R. de Silva – the Minister in charge of Constitutional Affairs and Plantation Industry was the architect of this new Constitution. Stanley Thilekaratne was the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the existing President of Sri Lanka was a member of this Assembly, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva – constitutional expert, made a significant contribution to the drafting process.

This new constitution came into force on May 22, 1972. The umbilical cord that tied us to the British Government was severed once and for all, and Sri Lanka became a fully independent country, free of British rule.

With the adoption of the new Republican Constitution, the connection with the Privy Council was severed. The Supreme Court was now supreme - the highest judicial body, in the country. The official name of the country - Ceylon since 1815 - was dropped and the old name Sri Lanka was adopted.

William Gopallawa, the outgoing Governor General took his oaths of allegiance to the Republic of Sri Lanka as her first President. All the members of the new assembly and ministers took their oath of allegiance. Mrs. Bandaranaike was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Sri Lanka and she was also the the world’s first woman Prime Minister.

When J. R. Jayewardene, leading the United National Party came into power at the 1977 General Election with a five – sixth majority in Parliament, he needed to change the constitution, creating the Executive Presidency.

He, as the new Prime Minister, promulgated the new constitution, providing for the incumbent Prime Minister to become the first Executive President. Accordingly, he took his oaths at Galle Face Green before the Chief Justice on February 4, 1978.

With the taking of oaths, he became the Head of the State, Head of the Executive and of the Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Now, our Head of State – the President is Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, since the Presidential Election held on November 17, 2005. He engages in his second term.