Troops serving the Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni (SFHQ-W) in combination with civilians in Kanagarayankulam and Omanthai areas and Welikandal, Kilinochchi held three separate Sinhala and Hindu New Year festivals during the weekend.
Giving priority to folk games, fun-making features and collective activities, the festival at 561 Brigade area under 56 Division at Kanagarayankulam school grounds got off the ground after raising the national flag.
The 563 Brigade organized New Year festival in the meantime, took place in the ground close to Omanthai Police Station on Saturday (21) with the participation of a large gathering of Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese living in those areas.
The festival, an attempt to further promote harmony and peaceful co-existence among all communities, was comprised of a variety of games and fun-making events such as bun eating, the best laugh, fancy dress competition, musical chairs, cross country races, slow movement cycling, tug of war, pillow-fighting, marathon races, balancing games, hurdle runs, eye spotting, pot smashing, cadjan-weaving, etc.
A large number of Tamil civilians and youngsters showing enormous interest in the programme, took part in the day’s event.
Brigadier N.A.P.C Napagoda, General Officer Commanding 56 Division, together with Brigadier D.A.R Ranawaka, 561 Brigade Commander and Lieutenant Colonel C. Ranaweera, 563 Brigade Commander attended both events and enjoyed with civilians in the area.
Meanwhile, a similar New Year festival organized in the 573 Brigade area under the 57 Division in Dharmapuram school grounds in Welikandal, Kilinochchi on Friday (20) drew a mammoth crowd.
The event consisted of many varieties of New Year games and fun-making features continued late into the evening. Brigadier K.R.P. Rowel, General Officer Commanding 57 Division attended the event as the Chief Guest at the invitation of Colonel D.M.H.D Bandara, 573 Brigade Commander.
The event culminated with the distribution of prizes to the winners and a musical evening the same evening.
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