The 70th Independence Day commemoration was held at the Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation on February 4, 2018, according to the agenda received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the participation of the Embassy staff and Sri Lankan nationals currently residing in the Russian Federation and representing Sri Lankan business and student communities from Moscow, Kursk, Tver and other regions of Russia. Around 120 Sri Lankan nationals participated in the event.

The official ceremony was commenced at 1100 hrs at the Official Residence of the Ambassador by hoisting the National Flag and singing the Sri Lankan National Anthem in Sinhala and Tamil.
This was followed by observing two minutes silence in remembrance of all who have sacrificed their lives for the nation.
Multi-faith religious observances were conducted by the priests representing Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian.
Subsequent to the religious observances, H.E. the Ambassador read out the Independence Day Message of His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, the President of Sri Lanka, in Sinhala. The Independence Day Messages of Hon. Prime Minister and Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs were read out by the Defence Attache of the Embassy Group Captain Channa Dissanayake and the Second Secretary (Commercial) of the Embassy Ms. Chathurika Perera respectively in Sinhala. All three messages were read out in Tamil also.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Saman Weerasinghe stated that "we shall uphold the policies set by the Government of Sri Lanka to overcome all forms of challenges and dedicate our efforts towards the boost in the economic prosperity of Sri Lanka and enhancement of the life of its multi-religious and multi-cultural society" and briefed the Government policy on development on Sri Lanka as well as the importance of National Unity.
At the end of the event, traditional Sri Lankan refreshments were served to the gathering.