The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh will host a breakfast for all Sri Lankans in Riyadh following a flag-hoisting ceremony.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Ahmed A. Jawad will unfurl the national flag amid the beating of drums (Magul Bera) at 9 a.m. at the embassy.
Community members will then join a choir from the Sri Lankan International School in Riyadh to recite the national anthem. This will be followed by the recital of Jayamangala Gatha and an observance of a two-minute silence by the audience in memory of fallen heroes.
“This will be done as a mark of respect to all those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the nation and for all those died in the tsunami disaster,” Jawad said.
Traditional oil lamps will be lit by the ambassador, diplomats and prominent community members to mark the day. Jawad is to make his Independence Day speech at the end of the morning program.
The ambassador will read out a message from the country's President Mahinda Rajapaksa to expatriates living in the Kingdom, followed by brief speeches by religious dignitaries from all faiths.
Guests will be served with typical Sri Lankan dishes such as kiribath (milk rice), katta sambol (a mixture of chilies, onions, Maldives fish and lime crusted together) and kevum (oil cakes), among others.
In Jeddah, Consul General Sabarullah Khan will hoist the national flag at 8 a.m. at the consulate. The consulate has sent out an open invitation to all its community members to participate in this program. The event will end with refreshments served with Sri Lankan delicacies to all guests who attend the morning function.
Khan said the mission had canceled the cultural program scheduled that same evening since students of the Sri Lankan International School in Jeddah could not find enough time to prepare for the event because of recent rains that ravaged the city.
