Members of the Sri Lanka Army across the country joined hands together with civilians for the celebration of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival, including the North and East.
A ceremony, coloured with traditional games such as swinging, pot-cracking, Raban playing, Pancha playing, etc at Kilinochchi Commander’s residential premises, saw Major General (Retd) H.C.P Goonethilake, the first Commander for Kilinochchi, attending the event on April 15 as the Chief Guest.
Towards the end of the day’s event, Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, Security Force Headquarters, Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) distributed gift parcels among members of the civil staff. On the same day, he attended another New Year Kovil Pooja at Iranamadu, Kanagambigai Hindu Kovil where New Year rites and rituals were performed. As the final event of the day’s programme, a musical evening got underway with the participation of the all ranks.
Meanwhile, Major General Ranasinghe on account of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year entertained the orphaned children at Kilinochchi to a sumptuous lunch on Tuesday (15). Security Force Headquarters, Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) gave away gift parcels to those children after the treat, coordinated by 7 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI).
Another New Year festival jointly organized by Mankulam Vidyalayam and 574 Brigade Headquarters on Saturday (April 12) at Mankulam Vidyalayam grounds, drew a number of civilians living in the area. Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe as the Chief Guest with the Police authorities and Divisional public officers attended the festival.
In the meantime, Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna (SFHQ-J), together with about 200 of its soldiers and members of the civil staff, gave true meaning to the rites and rituals of the New Year festival by sticking to milk pot boiling, lighting of the hearth and partaking of traditional milk rice.
Major General Udaya Perera, Commander, SFHQ-J, together with Mrs Thelma Perera, the spouse of Major General Perera, performed those traditions in front of the soldiers who were present at the SFHQ-J premises.
The traditional New Year table laden with New Year delicacies and sweetmeats at the Commander’s chalet, provided the opportunity to all the ranks to share views and interact with their Commander. The brief New Year address of the Jaffna Commander, extended best wishes and greetings on account of Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Meanwhile, Major General Udaya Perera, Commander, SFHQ-J on the New Year day (April 14) itself, took part in a New Year festival at Konapulam grounds in the area, served by 14 Gemunu Watch soldiers of the 513 Brigade under the SFHQ-J.
Villagers in Konapulam, together with members of the Army organized this event, filled with lots of fun and merry-making. Gifts parcels were given to the children who participated in the occasion.
Rev. Fr. Wasantha Kumara of Inuvil Church, Divisional Secretary Thelippalai Mr, Sri Mohanan and District Secretary Santhilippay Mr. S. Muralitharan, Brigadier Chula Abeynayaka, General Officer Commanding, 51 Division, senior officers and a large gathering enjoyed the day’s event.
Meanwhile, the New Year festival spirits in the salubrious hill area of Gampola and Monaragala, served by Security Force Headquarters, Central (SFHQ-C), reverberated with the participation of a large gathering of both Army and civil personnel.
The event organized under the directions of Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, Security Force Headquarters, Central, had a number of traditional and fun-making games and features, bringing happiness to everyone present.
Bicycle races, cross country races, grease pole climbing, pillow fighting, bun-eating, pot cracking, etc dominated the day’s programme, followed by a musical entertainment.
Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, SFHQ-C as the Chief Guest attended the occasion together with General Officer Commanding, 11 Division, 111 Brigade Commander, Divisional Secretaries of the areas, invitees and a large gathering witnessed the day’s event.
5 Gemunu Watch, 12 Gemunu Watch and 11 (v) Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment troops of 121 Brigade of the 12 Division under the SFHQ-C meanwhile joined hands together with civilians in order to organize a Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival in Kongahawewa area of the Badalkumbura Divisional Secretariat.
The event saw traditional and other fun-making games and features get underway as similar to any other New Year event during this season.
Moneragala Police, businessmen and all civilians supported to the success of the event that culminated with a mega musical evening, backed by ‘Bravo’ music band of Seeduwa.
In the meantime, Major General Boniface Perera, Commander, Security Force Headquarters - Wanni (SFHQ-W) as the Chief Guest participated in the New Year festival, ‘Bakmaha Asiriya’ organized by the 62 Division Headquarters with the coordination of all troops serving the area and members of the public.
It took place at Parakramapura Vijaya playgrounds on Thursday (17), giving prominence to folk games and other New Year fun-making items. Singer Sri Lanka, David Peiris Company Ltd, Hydramani Company Ltd, 26 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Mrs Pavithra Prematilake of Ratnapura, Mrs Fashana and Mr Sufaz of Ratnapura, Peoples’ Bank and several other people offered financial assistance for gifts and conduct of the event as a move towards reconciliation.
Meanwhile, another New Year festival, rich with typical rural village home New Year traditions at SFHQ-W premises got underway on Friday (18).
The ceremony, coloured with traditional games and fun-making events was graced by Major General Boniface Perera as the Chief Guest. Symbolic performance of traditional New Year rites and rituals in a model house, built for the same purpose, attracted hundreds of visitors to the event.
In the meantime, a joint effort of the civilians and the Sri Lanka Army resulted in the successful conduct of a Sinhala Tamil New Year festival plus a musical entertainment at Oddusudan School premises at Mullaittivu.
Supported by Security Force Headquarters - Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT) and its 64 Division Headquarters, the event brought fun and amusement to nearly 2000 civilians who took part in the ceremony that continued into late night on the instructions of Major General Jagath Dias, Commander, SFHQ-MLT.
General Officer Commanding, 64 Division, senior officers, civil invitees and several leading citizens participated in the event.
Likewise, another New Year festival organized at Vellamullivaikkal East by troops of the 681 Brigade of the 68 Division attracted a huge crowd of about 3000 villagers and 500 Army personnel. It was held on April 6 and backed by Saranga musical group, and Tamil FM Radio.
Brigadier T.J Nanayakkara, General Officer Commanding, 68 Division attended the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Similarly, the New Year festival jointly organized by Mulliyaweli Businessmen’s Association and 592 Brigade troops got underway for the second time at Mulliyaweli Vidyananda Vidyalaya premises on Sunday (20).
Boat riding competition at Nanthikadal Lagoon, bicycle races for men and women and cross country runs took centre stage in the festival. Mr K. Shivalingam, Principal, Vidyananda Vidyalayam and Brigadier W.A.S Weerawardane of SFHQ-MLT attended the festival as chief guests.
In the meantime, 11 Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) and 8 Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) troops of 232 Brigade of 23 Division under the Security Force Headquarters-East, had a colourful New Year festival in the premises, ahead of 232 Brigade Headquarters in Tharavikulam on 12 April.
A mega musical show after traditional games and New Year sports and fun making events thrilled the audience.
Similarly, the same Brigade to coincide with the New Year, distributed dry ration packets for 195 families of low income groups living in Akrana, Miniminicholai and Muruthana areas. Sponsorship for those gift parcels has been given by People’s Church Organization.
Meanwhile, the SFHQ-E commanded by Major General Lal Perera began the first day in office on the New Year day itself after participating in a traditional New Year festival. He spoke to the gathering and extended New Year greeting to everyone presence.
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