New Year strengthens reconciliation among communities - President

13 April 2016 08:55 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Maithripala Sirisena said that the New Year is the foremost national and cultural festival of the Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka. The importance of the New Year is that they celebrate it upholding their rich cultural traditions and values.

Issuing a message, the President said;
One of the great and significant moments of the New Year customs and traditions is preparing and partaking meals by all of us in all solemnity at the same auspicious time. New Year is a combination of customs and traditions like sharing and appreciating, respecting elders and giving gifts to each other. Let’s determine to celebrate this New Year with due consideration to the core values of this festival and sustaining our distinctive cultural heritage.

The New Year is a colourful spring festival, which symbolises the movement of the sun from MeenaRashiya (the house of Pisces) to MeshaRashiya (the house of Aries) and it also rekindles our relationship with the beauty of nature. This is a time when houses are filled with the joy and sweet words of hospitality, ‘come, sit and eat’. I see the New Year festival as a link that promotes and strengthens reconciliation among the communities.

I call upon every Sri Lankan to celebrate this year’s New Year in a way to actively contribute to building a country free of intoxicants, adhering to the national programme initiated by us.

I extend my heartiest wishes to everybody to have an auspicious New Year. May milk-rice be cooked even in the poorest of the household; a smile be blossomed on the lips where there was no laughter; tenderness and kindness replace violence and hatred; amity and goodwill supercede rivalry and antagonism.

Let’s determine to rise as One Country - One Nation unhindered by divisions or disparities but genuine peace and equality, and to build a drug-free, alcohol-free country in the New Year commencing today.

I wish you all a very happy New Year!"

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Comments - 12

jeune Wednesday, 13 April 2016 08:20 AM

bars are closed for two days but the bookies are running throughout the days no voice from maha sanga and the government via DM Android App

Sharon Wednesday, 13 April 2016 09:49 AM

I thought of blocking your message in the evening thinking it will come after New Year dawns. Sadly it came today 13th morning. ( via DM iOS App

SL Wallah Wednesday, 13 April 2016 11:05 AM

Like hell! Which of the Tamils told you that? Maybe a ghost of a dead Tamil Hope told you so, You will not last in power to see another Sinhala New Year. People everywhere are perplexed about yahapalanaya's governance - that is if you people are really governing the country which majority Sri Lankans doubt.

BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 13 April 2016 01:12 PM

The origin of this New Year Festival is from Hinduism and rituals and culture of Dravidian Origin. This New Year Festival has no connection with the true precepts of Buddhism. The Sinhalese follow this festival either due to the traditional influence of Hindu Tamils or that the origin of Sinhalese are Dravidian.

Amaran Wednesday, 13 April 2016 01:17 PM

Hon President, I wish you SUCCESS, GOOD HEALTH and JOY in this New Year. Sir, please ensure our national carrier SriLankan Airlines is turnaround to become one of the leading Airlines in the World. We are proud of our Airline.

lalith de silva Wednesday, 13 April 2016 08:36 PM

unlike prime we do not see you and your family playing during the new year times .. thank you so much and enjoy your holiday sir

raj Thursday, 14 April 2016 01:39 AM

a real reconciliations cannot happen when Tamils are being suppressed under military rule. Makes the Tamils live with dignity with equal rights and power in Sri Lanka, it will will happen automatically.

Hahapala Thursday, 14 April 2016 12:22 PM

HE,Some thing missing in your message this time!You should have blamed Mahinda for allowing all Sri Lankan's to celebrate this New Year freely without any fear on terrorism.

Premalal Thursday, 14 April 2016 08:06 PM

The President looks to be laughingly at the hapless masses how believed that he would stop corruption and punish the crooks. Now he has most of them in his government. Happy new year to him and a hapless new year to us.

sri lankan Friday, 15 April 2016 09:21 PM

In his messge he only mention about " Drug free, alcohol free Country....what a about "MEAT" free...this is realy important to a "Buddhist philosophy"... Country like SL.

Martin Milton Saturday, 16 April 2016 05:57 AM

Instead of grinning the President must look into what now appears to be an extremely serious threat to Sri Lanka's territorial integrity and India's surreptitious 'invasion' of Sri Lanka sovereign territory. Kneeling down in appeasement NEVER will work for Sri Lanka in any way. MM

Sangaralingham Saturday, 16 April 2016 08:31 AM

It is that we are not evil people but we hate each other but no body whT they are doing it. Intellectual analysis is in our head. That is why being feeling of distance now with all cell phone face time communities can set up a model like pen pals across the country to discuss or problem adult in north one in douth. Reconciliation is an attitude to helpful to each other. Share.based on our wisdom all is related to sociology psychology and snthroplology

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New Year strengthens reconciliation among communities - President

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