(Lanka-e-News - 23.Sep.2025, 10.00 PM) Sri Lankans of Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim heritage gathered in their thousands in London on 21 September to mark the first anniversary of the National People’s Power (NPP) government.
The commemoration was held at the Crystal Grand Hall in Slough, just outside London — a venue of symbolic resonance, as it was the very stage where Anura Kumara Dissanayake, then a presidential candidate, addressed the Sri Lankan diaspora one year earlier.
Organisers described the event as the largest political anniversary celebration ever staged by Sri Lankans in Britain. For many, it evoked memories of September 2024, when Dissanayake’s London appearance galvanised Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim expatriates into a rare show of unity.
The gathering combined cultural performance — traditional Sinhala and Tamil music and dance — with political reflection. Dr. Indunil Wijenayake, representing the NPP’s U.K. branch, hailed the turnout as historic, declaring it proof that Sri Lankans abroad stand shoulder to shoulder in sustaining the political revolution at home. He predicted that in years to come, progressive voices worldwide — not only Sri Lankans — would join in marking September 21st as the day of Sri Lanka’s democratic upheaval.
Addressing the audience in Tamil, Sudarshani Gunalan praised the government’s progressive path, while also noting that Tamil and Muslim citizens must feel their rightful place as equal citizens in the motherland.
Tributes followed from Tushara Dissanayake and executive committee member Mohamed Marsook on behalf of the U.K. branch. Darshana Hettiarachchi, a JVP organiser in Britain, reminded the assembly that one year ago, Sri Lankans overseas stood with their compatriots to deliver political change. However fiercely the defeated, corrupt cliques may try to roll it back, he said, the unity of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim Sri Lankans across the world will ensure its survival.
The meeting also received greetings via video link from Colombo. Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Saroja Paulraj, spoke in both Sinhala and Tamil, outlining the government’s people-centred reforms over the past year and extending her gratitude to the diaspora for their support.
The celebration drew Sri Lankans from across Britain — from Wales, Liverpool, Manchester, Leicester, York, and Nottingham — a testament to the breadth of diaspora engagement. Participants spoke warmly of the government’s first year in office, while a commemorative booklet and a short video documentary were released to showcase the administration’s achievements.
For many in attendance, it was not only an anniversary but also a reaffirmation: that the spirit of September 2024, born in Colombo and echoed in London, still holds power among Sri Lankans everywhere.
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by (2025-09-23 16:26:55)
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