The “Wasath Siriya – 2024” Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival was held yesterday (27) at the Shangri-La Green premises in Colombo in a grand manner, with the participation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Madhavi Prarthana Jayalath from Maradankadawala, Anuradhapura, was anointed as the “Awurudu Kumariya – Wasath Siriya 2024”, while K.P. Ayesha Jayasundara from Kurunegala won second place, and third place went to Prabhani Edirisinghe from Pannipitiya. H.D. Miyuranga was anointed as the “Awurudu Kumara – Wasath Siriya 2024”. The second place went to A.H. Kaushasn Sasanka, and the third place went to A.M. Hirusha Sandeepa, who came from Chillaw.
Cash prizes of Rs. 100,000 each in cash and gold jewelry were awarded to the Awurudu Kumara and Awurudu Kumariya – “Wasath Siriya – 2024”. Cash prizes of Rs. 75,000 each and Rs. 50,000 for third place were also awarded. Consolation prizes and certificates were also given to the finalists.
The New Year celebration, organized by the welfare association of the Presidential Secretariat with the involvement of other ministries and government institutions, was carried out under the directions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the guidance of Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of the Presidential Staff, Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, and Secretary to the President, Mr. Saman Ekanayake.
Many competitions were held under three categories: public sector, open sector, and guest sector. A large number of people from ministries and government institutions, along with their friends and families across the country, participated in them. Both elders and children eagerly participated in the competitions, demonstrating great enthusiasm. Gifts were awarded to all winners as tokens of appreciation.
A model of an environment with an ancient village house was also recreated there, showing the beautiful relationship between the village and the village house in past village society, and displaying the form of a village house, including sweets, clothes, Sinhala New Year rituals, and many village games and exhibition elements. The ground was also colourful, with a Ferris wheel, a bamboo shoot display, a bazaar, and a traditional medicine house.
Foreign ambassadors, embassy officials, and tourists enthusiastically joined these events, where numerous competitions were specially organized for their participation.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the site of the New Year’s Festival yesterday afternoon and had a friendly conversation with the people present.
The “Wasath Siriya – Miazi musical concert” commenced at 7 p.m. at the venue with the traditional performance presented by “Ranwala Balakaya” led by Sahan Ranwala and one of the famous music groups, INFINITY, along with popular singers Amal Perera, Shashika Nisansala, Ashan Fernando, Ruwan Hettiarachchi, and Adithya Weliwaththa. A large number of people gathered at the Shangri-La Green premises to watch the “Wasath Siriya – Miazi musical concert”.
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