<span style="color: #222222;">In Sri Lanka, programmes for 150 years of celebrating Mahatma Gandhi commenced today with several functions organised on the occasion of his 149th birth anniversary. The Indian High Commission in Colombo organised a book release function on Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Sri Lanka while special ceremonies were organized at his statues, located mainly in Northern Province. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Northern Provincial Council had ordered the celebration of Gandhiji's birthday at all its 1000-odd schools covering over 2 lakh students.  Special programmes are scheduled later in the day where Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe will pay tributes to Bapu by garlanding his photographs.</span><br />