In Srilanka, the main ceremony to celebrate 69th independence day was held at the India House in Colombo Saturday morning.<br/><br/>It was attended by hundreds of Indian citizens living in the city. The celebrations began with an impressive march past by a BSF contingent serving in Sri Lanka.<br/><br/>Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Y K Sinha unfurled the Indian tricolor amidst loud cheering. <br/><br/>He then read out excerpts of the speech of the President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.<br/><br/>Addressing the gathering, Indian High Commissioner recalled the landmark visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka earlier this year and said that Prime Minister's policy of neighbourhood first has already started paying rich dividends.<br/><br/>He asked the members of the Indian community in the country to act as ambassadors between India in Sri Lanka.<br/><br/>The ceremony concluded with rendering of patriotic songs and classical music performance by tabla maestro Pandit Subhen Chatterjee and his group from India.<br/><br/>Later, the High Commissioner and officials of the Indian High Commission paid floral tributes to the martyrs at the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial at Battaramula in Colombo.