<h1>President Dissanayake Calls for Unity and Economic Freedom at Sri Lanka's 77th Independence Day Celebrations</h1> President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the need for unity in Sri Lanka to achieve economic freedom, addressing the 77th Independence Day celebrations. He highlighted the importance of resisting vulnerabilities in the global economic system. The celebrations were modest, reflecting the government's policy to minimize state expenditures amid recovery from the 2022 economic crisis. Dissanayake, who narrowly won the presidency in September, led his party to a historic two-thirds majority in parliament, gaining significant support from Tamil regions. He inherited an economy struggling from a 2022 crisis and has progressed in restructuring the island's external debt.