India’s focus in foreign policy will remain on peaceful co-existence

India celebrates 70th Independence Day at India House

The High Commission of India and the Indian expatriate community in Sri Lanka celebrated the 70th Independence Day of India on Monday August 15, 2016 at India House in Colombo.

At an impressive flag hoisting ceremony, High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha unfurled the National Flag and inspected a Guard of Honour presented by the BSF contingent. He read out excerpts from the Address to the Nation on the eve of Independence Day by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

The HC noted that the President of India had highlighted the strong edifice of democracy built by Indian founding fathers on the four pillars of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity that has withstood several threats from both within and without and had grown from strength to strength.

He said the President reiterated that there would be no stepping back on our “neighbourhood first policy”. Close bonds of history, culture, civilization and geography provide the people of South Asia with an extraordinary opportunity to carve out a common destiny and to march together towards prosperity. India’s focus in foreign policy will remain on peaceful co-existence and harnessing technology and resources for its economic development. Recent initiatives have enhanced energy security, promoted food security, and created international partnerships to take Indian flagship development programmes forward. The HC said that while India may be a modern Nation State yet it is not a new country; it is an ancient land.