Watching the poignant celebrations of Feb.4 and listening to President Rajapaksa one could not help but be moved with patriotism and love towards Sri Lanka.

It was an awesome presentation carried out with military precision which moved every Sri Lankan heart and soul. However impressive it was there was a significant glaring void in the whole celebrations. It was the people itself, quite understandably under the current security situation, of course. But independence is when people can take part and have the freedom to roam the green. When people can be the big colourful part of the independence day celebration. When children wave flags while perched on fathers’ shoulders and stare in awe at the air display. Where families can come in and join the big party on the Galle face green.

In fact when the Galle face green is not the military zone it is now. When any Sri Lankan can go walk in it without having to produce IDs and being quizzed about his or her business there. When the security barriers which strangle the city are off and the public can actually begin to use the public amenities of the city like the Galle face green and all the closed off roads. Then we can boast we have achieved freedom from terrorism. I hope this freedom will dawn on Sri Lanka very soon. May be for the next independence day?