Troops of 54 Division, FMA - North, VIR & SLNG Headquarters Enjoy in Their Separate New Year Festivals

Members of the Security Forces in the 54 Division of the Security Force Headquarters - Wanni (SFHQ-W), Forward Maintenance Area (FMA) of the North under the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), Boyagane-based Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) Regimental Headquarters and Kurunegala-based Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) Regimental Headquarters, intending to promote gestures of reconciliation and harmony across the country, added their contribution also to the Sinhala and Tamil New Year spirits by holding separate New Year festivals in their areas of responsibility during April 28 - 30.

Traditional and merry-making games such as pot cracking, bicycle races, cross country marathons, grease-pole climbing, pillow-fights, tug-of-war, fancy dress parades, tracing of hidden guest, selection of New Year princesses and princes, recital of folklore, etc were among the highlights that dominated all those New Year festivals mentioned-above.

District Secretary for Mannar, Mr M.Y.S Deshapriya was the Chief Guest at the 54 Division-organized event in Mannar at the invitation of Brigadier Jayantha Senevirathne, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 54 Division. ‘Nestle Lanka (Pvt) Ltd’ sponsored the conduct of the festival by awarding valuable gifts to the winners.

Meanwhile, the ‘Polsewana’ playground in Jaffna on Friday (28) wore New Year festive garbs by organizing a special fun-filled New Year event, in which traditional New Year games too dominated. It was largely meant for Army personnel who could not visit their houses during the New Year season due to service requirements. Organized on the instructions of Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna and attended by Major General Aruna Wanniarachchi, GOC, 52 Division, Brigadier Sanath Perera, Commander, FMA North, the lively event culminated with a musical show at the ‘Thalsewana’ ground.

In the meantime, Major General Ajith Kariyakarawana, Colonel of the Regiment, VIR as the Chief Guest took part in the ‘Bakmaha Ulela’ of the VIR Regimental Headquarters at Boyagane on Saturday (29).

The New Year festival, comprised of typical features of traditional and merry-making nature, had crafted a special ‘rural house’ with other accompanying ‘Arachchi Gedara’ (village headman’s home), Karatta Gedara (home of bullock carts), etc.

In the meantime, the New Year festival of the SLNG at Wehera, Kurunegala gave pride of place to traditional features and put up a model ‘Gemi Gedara’ which was a spectacle to the attendees.

Major General A.P De Z Wickramarathne, Colonel of the Regiment, SLNG attending the day’s event as the Chief Guest, together with Mrs Ruvini Sujeewa Wickramarathne, Chairperson, SLNG Seva Vanitha Unit, encouraged All Ranks who were participating in the arrangement.

Major General Wickramarathne and Mrs Wickramarathne joined the distribution of gifts to the winners and participants towards end of the event.