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Singapore celebrated its fiftieth birthday on Saturday. tiny nation became independent country on August 8th, 1965. climax of celebrations was largest fireworks display ever seen in Singapore. Tens of thousands of people gathered in streets to celebrate. country has been counting down to this anniversary since New Year's Eve. There have been hundreds of events to mark fifty years since independence. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave special National Day message to nation. He said that Singapore could look forward to "new peaks" ahead. He added that: " journey ahead is uncharted. But we must press on, because we aspire to do better for ourselves and our children."

Singapore has come long way in past fifty years. It became independent from Britain when it was thrown out of Federation of Malaysia after social unrest. The country was very poor back then but leadership of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made Singapore wealthy. He died earlier this year but there was empty seat for him at parade. He made Singapore into one of world's wealthiest countries. It is fourth most important global financial centre and is home to world's second busiest port. A woman said she felt sad that Mr Lee could not live long enough to be at anniversary. She said: "We definitely feel that something is missing this year, and I still feel the pain in my heart."