Whatever stance the joint opposition has, Nanayakkara says he wholeheartedly approves of the move.

His comments came after the national anthem was sung in Tamil too, at yesterday (04) 68th Independence Day celebrations.

The national anthem had been sung in Tamil at state functions previously too, journalist Victor Ivan has told BBC Sandeshaya, noting one instance when that happened during a visit by Sirimavo Bandaranaike in Jaffna.

What could not be realized in 1948

This is a question of dignity, and at least now we should build the national unity that could not be realized in 1948, he said.

When asked as to why Sri Lanka wants the national anthem sung in two languages, whereas India, with hundreds of languages, has only one language version, Ivan said had we tried in 1948, we could have made a national anthem that could be sung in both languages.

He went onto say that bloodshed in post-independence Sri Lanka was due to the rulers’ failure to set aside communal, religious and caste differences to build the nation.

Unlike Indian leaders who had a very good vision for the future, Sri Lanka’s Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim leaders gave priority to their own communities, he said.

Government affiliate JHU had asked the government in a statement not to have a Tamil version of the national anthem at the state ceremony to mark independence.