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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Bicycle Races &;amp; Joint New Year Festival in Jaffna Draw Crowds


Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), District Secretariat for Jaffna and Sri Lanka Police in the peninsula joined hands together to mark the forthcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year through a series of traditional, entertaining and sports events.

A cycle tour with the participation of 51, 52, 55 Divisions of the SFHQ-J and Forward Maintenance Area (FMA), Kankesanthurai riders, began from different places in Iyyakachchi, Point Pedro, Vasavilan and Thelippalai on Sunday (30) early morning to wend their way across the whole peninsula.

Upon their return to the Duraiappa Stadium around 10.00 in the morning, Major General Udaya Perera, Commander, SFHQ-J received them for distribution of prizes to the winners and all participants.

Meanwhile, the same Jaffna Security Force Headquarters on Saturday (5), with the backing of the District Secretariat for Jaffna, organized a Sinhala and Hindu New Year festival, giving prominence to various folk games and entertaining features at Duraiappa Stadium.

A rural model village at the festival site entertained everyone arriving there to traditional sweetmeats and milk rice that symbolize age-old Sinhala and Hindu New Year customs, rites and rituals.

Major General Udaya Perera, taking part in the occasion as the Chief Guest, enjoyed the flow of the events in the programme together with several religious leaders, Mr S Arumainayagam, District Secretary for Jaffna, Mr G Krishnamoorthy, Secretary, Northern Provincial Council, Mr I Illangovan, Secretary to the Northern Governor and Mr W Wimalasena, Senior Superintendent of the Police.

The mega musical show that went into late night on the same day drew a massive crowd to the stadium where colourful firework displays took place to the amusement of everyone present.

Among many hundreds of fans and youngsters during the musical show were Major General (Retd) G.A Chandrasiri, Governor for Northern Province, Sarath Ekanayake, Chief Minister for Central Province and Pujitha Jayasundara, Deputy Inspector General of the Police.