Debt-stricken Sri Lanka has marked its 77th independence anniversary with a military parade, while the country’s newly elected president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, pledged to heal Sri Lanka's economic woes by the end of his five-year term.

It marked the Council’s first celebration of the South Asian island nation’s Independence Day, and was led by Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens), Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore), Councilwoman Rita Joseph (D-Brooklyn), Councilman Shekar Krishnan (D-Queens), and Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Queens).

The country’s newly elected president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, pledged to heal Sri Lanka’s economic woes by the end of his five-year term.

As Sri Lanka marks its 77th Independence Day, world leaders and foreign nations have extended their congratulations, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties and cooperation with the island nation.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has on the Independence Day of Sri Lanka extended his felicitations to Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening its "multi-faceted partnership" with the neighbouring country.

Sri Lankan military personnel took part in a parade on Tuesday to mark the country's 77th Independence Day. Sri Lanka commemorated the 77th anniversary of its independence from British colonial rule on Feb 4.

Colombo: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday said that Sri Lanka must work in unison to achieve economic freedom rather than yield to vulnerabilities within the global economic system.Addressing the 77th Independence Day celebrations of the island nation,