The Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom sent a congratulatory message to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on the occasion of the country's 68th National Independence Day.

"It gives me great pleasure to send Your Excellency Maithripala Sirisena my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, together with my best wishes for the good fortune and happiness of the people of Sri Lanka in the coming year," the Queen said in her message.

Sri Lanka was a colonial subject of Great Britain until attaining Dominion status in 1948. The queen was the official head of state from 1952 till 1972, when Sri Lanka was declared a republic.