After gaining independence from foreign rule the people of Sri Lanka were kindled with patriotic feeling. On the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Gandharva Sabha a competition to select a national anthem was conducted in January 1948.
At this competition Mr. Ananda Samarakoon's composition "Namo Namo Matha" was chosen as the National Anthem on 22nd November 1951.The main theme of the Anthem is designed to install honor and respect to the Motherland and create national development through unity.
During the early 1950s there was a controversy about the national anthem. A defect was found in the lyrics and the opening words were changed as "Sri Lanka Matha - Apa Sri Lanka". The first rendering of the National Anthem was made on Independence Day February 04th, 1952 by a group of 500 students from Musaeus College, Colombo and it was broadcast over the radio. The National Anthem is incorporated in Section 7 third schedule of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Lyrics and English Meaning of Anthem