India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with leaders from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as guests of honour.

The Indian High Commission marked the important day in Colombo.

A flag hoisting ceremony, to celebrate the 69th Republic Day in Sri Lanka, was held at the residence of the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, this morning.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, paid tribute to the fallen soldiers at a memorial in New Delhi before welcoming the ten ASEAN leaders at the annual parade.

For the first time in history, leaders of all member nations of ASEAN are attending India’s Republic Day parade – a flamboyant display of the nation’s military might and cultural heritage.

The ten-nation ASEAN is important to India since it is part of the country’s ‘Look East’ policy and Modi’s ‘Act East’ policy to develop political and economic ties with Southeast Asia.

India achieved independence from the British on August 15, 1947.

Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect, replacing the Government of India Act as the governing document of India.

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