Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Qatar H E Mohamed Mafaz Mohideen hoisting the national flag to mark the country’s Independence Day yesterday.
Doha: Sri Lankan community in Qatar yesterday celebrated the country’s 75th Independence Day with fervour and patriotism.
Despite the cold weather, many Sri Lankans turned up at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Doha for a flag-hoisting ceremony in the morning. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the State of Qatar, H E Mohamed Mafaz Mohideen hoisted the national flag as the national anthem was sung and traditional oil lamp was lit.
Sri Lanka's Independence Day is celebrated annually on February 4 to commemorate the country’s political independence from British rule in 1948. At yesterday's event two-minutes of silence was observed in remembrance and honour of freedom fighters of Sri Lanka. Also, religious rituals were performed. Independence Day messages by the President, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka were read during the event.
Ambassador Mohideen addressing the gathering emphasised on the relations between Qatar and Sri Lanka. He said that a special focus will be made this year to further enhance the existing ties between the two countries. The Ambassador also said that a special portal will be created by the embassy for the Sri Lankans in Qatar to obtain right information on all required areas. The diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Qatar were established at the Ambassadorial level on June 12, 1976.
The Sri Lankan Mission in Doha was established in June 1997 while the Embassy of Qatar in Sri Lanka was established in 2004.
Exchange of high-level visits in the past has helped strengthen the bilateral relations as well as consolidate ties between the two countries.
