DOHA: Sri Lankans turned out in large numbers to a packed house at the Doha Cinema on Friday to witness a spectacular evening of culture and pageantry to celebrate the country’s 62nd Independence Day which fell on February 4.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar Vijayasiri Padukkage was the chief guest. Popular artists, actors and actresses in Sri Lanka such as Damitha Abeyratne, Himali Sayurangi, Umayangana Wickramasinghe, Sanath Wimalasiri, Mahendra Perera, Asela Jayakody and Giriraj Kaushalya together with the band Ridma and students of Seraphs and Dinu Rangayathanaya performed a variety of traditional dances.

Proceedings began with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by Ambassador Vijayasiri Padukkage, Minister-Counselor A Tharmakulasingham, sponsors and office bearers of the Sri Lanka Coordinating Committee (SLCC) and the Sri Lankan Community Benevolent Fund (SLCBF).

Addressing the community, Ambassador Padukkage lauded the SLCC for their efforts in organising Independence Day celebrations for the fourth successive year.

The ambassador also thanked the artists for their presence at these celebrations and said that this Independence is more meaningful for all Sri Lankans due to the end of the 26 year conflict and praised the security forces and all those who were instrumental in bringing peace to the country.

To mark the occasion Ambassador Padukkage unveiled a colourful souvenir titled "Nidahas Udanaya 2010" (Dawn of Independence 2010). The SLCBF handed over three air tickets to the Ambassador to repatriate three Sri Lankans who were detained at the deportation centre.