The 72nd Independence Day celebrations will be held on February 4 at Independence Square in Colombo on a grand scale, the Public Administration Ministry said, adding that the national anthem would be sung only in Sinhala.

These decisions were taken at a meeting held yesterday at the Disaster Management, Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry.

Minister Janaka Bandara Thennakoon who chaired the meeting said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa intended holding this year’s celebrations under full police and military honours and with the participation of all State Ministries and the Colombo Municipal Council.

He had instructed relevant officials to ensure the general public was not inconvenienced when police, armed forces and other participants rehearsed for the celebration parade.

President Rajapaksa wishes to launch a tree-planting campaign covering the entire country.

Sri Lanka sang the national anthem for the first time in Tamil at the 68th Independence Day celebrations at Galle Face in 2016. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)