Sinhala-Tamil new year celebrated at Embassy in Paris

Paris, 18 April, (Asiantribune.com):

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris observed the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year with ceremonies at its premises on April 15.

At the commencement of the ceremony, the Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy, Ms. W. S. Perera read out the New Year message of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and highlighted his call made for the New Year festivities “to seek to further unite our people in heart and mind.” It was also noted that ‘The New Year celebrations by Sinhalese and Tamils alike are most appropriate in recognizing the kinship among us. This is the continuance of strong cultural traditions that strengthen the bonds among the people of our land.’

Sri Lanka's First Family celebrates traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa celebrated the first post-war Sinhala and Tamil New Year customs today at the President's ancestral home, Carlton House in Tangalle.
Here First Lady lights up the traditional fire at the suspicious time to boil milk while the President looks on.
President's son, newly elected MP Namal Rajapaksa, his brother, Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, and Minister D.M. Jayaratna