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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

11th April 2016 21:44:37 Hours

Wanni Holds Its New Year Celebration Strengthening Reconciliation Practices

Security Force Headquarters - Wanni (SFHQ-W) adorned Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive garbs on Friday (8) depicting multiple features, associated with the conduct of the New Year rites and rituals as well as the revival of age-old traditions.   

Two replicas, one reflecting a traditional Sinhala household and the other a traditional Tamil household, situated in a rural village environment, surrounded by a Hindu temple and the typical coffee bistro, amply demonstrated the harmonious living practices of both communities. Those exhibits attracted the attention of the spectators.

The celebrations started off with a cross- country run and a bicycle race in the morning. The winner of the bicycle race was Pte P.P.S.P Wijepala of 1 Mechanized Infantry Regiment and Signalman K.N.C Harsha Kumara of 4 Sri Lanka Signal Corps was the winner of foot cycle race.

The Commander Security Forces - Wanni (SF-W) Major General Boniface Perera graced the day’s event as the Chief Guest and watched the series of arrangements. A combined group of traditional Kandyan dancers and a group of Tamil dancers welcomed him.

Recalling past memories in typical villages, the Headman of the village invited the Wanni Commander to make a visit to the model village. Both chief occupants greeted him in accordance with their respective cultural ethos and manners.

Prof. Ajith Pelawaththa and Prof. Deepika Udayakanthi, lecturers of the University of Rajarata guided them with each and every ritual, followed by selection of the right direction, lighting of the hearth to prepare the traditional Kiribath, boiling milk in a new earthen pot, symbolic of prosperity the preparation of hath maluwa with seven different flavours which is considered a delicacy, etc.

The event was rich with a variety of New Year games such as Pillow Fighting, Climbing the Greasy Pole, Tug-Of-War, Kana Mutti Bindeema, Placing the eye on the Elephant, Coconut Scrapping, Lime on Spoon, Weaving Coconut Cadjans, Fancy Dress Parade and Beauty Queen Contest. The New Year Prince and the Princess were Lance Corporal R.M.S Rathnayake of 11 Gemunu Watch and Private K.A.I.P Peiris of 4 Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps respectively.

All the winners of the games were offered with valuable gifts and the preschool children of Kovil Kulam Pre-School were also given a packet of gift by the Commander. All General Officers Commanding, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, Senior Officers and Officers of Security Force (Wanni) and a large number of other ranks and their family members witnessed the celebrations.