66, 52, 51 & 24 Divisions & Kalaoya VTC Hold Their New Year Festivals on Grand Scale

New Year festivals organized at Poonakery-based 66 Division of the Security Force Headquarters - Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN), the Jaffna - based 52 Division Headquarters and the 51 Division Headquarters of the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), got underway in the past few days at respective locations under the guidance of their General Officers Commanding (GOCs).

66 Division on Friday (07) had their New Year festival at the Old Dutch Port, Poonakary, attended by Major General Ajith Kariyakarawana, Commander, Security Forces - Kilinochchi, Police personnel of the Poonakary Police station and civilians in the area.

All of them enjoyed a variety of traditional features, fun-making events and other New Year games, such as Pillow Fighting, Climbing Grease Pole, Tug of War, Fancy Dress Parade, etc where Tamil youths and civilians also joined. At the end of the festival, the Chief Guest gave away gifts to the winners in different events and competitions.

Similarly, 52 Division troops of the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) on Friday (07) held their Sinhala and Hindu New Year festival at its Headquarters premises on a grand scale. On an initiative of Major General Aruna Wanniarachchi, General Officer Commanding, 52 Division Headquarters had programmed a string of traditional games, sports and fun-making events. In addition, a Western Music Band of the Sri Lanka Military Police entertained the participants throughout the ceremony.

During the event, traditional and merry-making games and collective competitions, such as Raban playing, gunny bag races, eye-placing on the elephant, grease-pole climbing, finding of hidden guest, hurdle runs, cadjan weaving, lime balancing, tug-of-war, selection of New Year prince and princess were among prominent features. Civilians of different age groups enthusiastically took part in many events jointly with soldiers. Valuable prizes were also given away to winners and participants towards the end of the event.

All Brigades and Battalions serving under the 52 Division joined together and extended their support to organize the event.

In the meantime, the Sinhala and Tamil New year festival was held at Jaffna’s 51 Division Headquarters premises on Saturday (08) on the instructions of Brigadier Mervyn Perera, General Officer Commanding, 51 Division.

Civilians of different age groups enthusiastically took part in many events, together with soldiers serving the 51 Division during the event. Traditional and merry-making games and collective competitions, received prominence and carried valuable prizes.

Meanwhile, one more ceremony organized to celebrate the Sinhala and Hindu New Year kicked off at Ampara, Malwatta-based 24 Division Headquarters of the Security Force Headquarters - East (SFHQ-E) on Sunday (09).

The New Year festival was organized on the instructions of Brigadier L.M Mudalige, General Officer Commanding, 24 Division.

Army personnel of the 24 Division and their family members enjoyed the arrangement by participating in various traditional and fun-making games. Pillow fighting, eye-placing on the elephant, climbing of the grease pole, finding of hidden guest, tug of war, fancy dress parade and so on donated the event. Music band of the Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps coloured the day’s event and added musicality to the occasion.

General Officer Commanding, 24 Division as the Chief Guest gave away certificates to the competitors participating in different events.

Meanwhile, the Vocational Training Center (VTC) at Saliyawewa, Kalaoya had its New Year festival on Friday (7) with the participation of about 1500 civilians in the area. The festival was filled with New Year games and fun-making events of different nature, giving pride of place to traditions.

Arrangements to this effect were made by Brigadier H.E.M.R.B.T Hathnagoda, Commandant, VTC, Kalaoya who attended the event as the Chief Guest. He distributed gifts to the winners at the end of the day’s event.