On February 4, 2019 the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation organized a ceremony in commemoration of the 71st Independence Day of Sri Lanka.
The official ceremony began with hoisting of the National Flag and singing of the National Anthem in Sinhala and Tamil. Multi-faith religious observances were conducted by the religious clergy, representing Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.

Following the observances at which those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of independence, peace, and prosperity of Sri Lanka were remembered, H. E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to Russia, 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 Group Captain Channa Dissanayake, Defence Attaché of the Embassy, and Mr. Dulmith Waruna, First Secretary of the Embassy, in Sinhala. The messages were also read out in Tamil, English, and Russian languages.
After the official part of the event had been concluded, traditional Sri Lankan refreshments were served to the gathering.
In the main message of the President of Sri Lanka read out by H. E. the Ambassador, it was emphasized that 'to entrust the future of the nation to minds enslaved by imperialism for more than a century is more dangerous than being under the colonial rule itself'. Further, it was underscored in the message of Hon. Prime Minister that all Sri Lankans, living in the country and overseas, should unite 'in building a robust economy, stable government and a prosperous nation, so that all our citizens can enjoy the true freedom of living in a socially and politically developed society'.