Sri Lanka to usher first peacetime Sinhala and Tamil New Year in grand scale

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Sri Lanka is about to welcome the first peacetime New Year after the end of the three-decade long war that had killed nearly 100,000 people of the country.


The country is especially elated with the reelection of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January and last Thursday's victory of his government just ahead of the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

Despite the conclusion of the war last May, the government has implemented a special security programme during the festive season as the capital Colombo is buzzing with shoppers who are preparing to celebrate the traditional New Year.

Sri Lanka's Police Chief Mahinda Balasuriya has told the ITN that his department is to focus more attention on providing security to the thousands of shoppers converging into the city.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army has organized a number of events to celebrate the festive season in the Northern Province, especially in the resettled villages.

According to the Army, over 193, 607 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are resettled and nearly 80, 500 people are remaining in the Welfare Camps in Chettikulam, Vavuniya. Over 28,000 people are moving out of the welfare centre on permission for their personal requirements and visiting relatives during the festive season.

The Army organized a mega 'Avurudu' cultural and musical show on Sunday (11) for those 25,922 families temporarily living in the Chettikulam welfare centre under the direction under the directions of Wanni Security Forces Commander and Competent Authority for IDP Welfare Major General Kamal Gunaratne.

The Army has also organized events in the recently resettled areas of Kilinochchi, Mannar, and Jaffna.