Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival 2024 organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held last Saturday (20) at the Police Field Force Headquarters Ground in Colombo.
The colorful Festival was a full-day event that brought together Foreign Ministry staff, their families and members of the diplomatic corps based in Colombo along with their families to unite and indulge in a day of fun, which included traditional Avurudu games and display of New Year customs. The special feature of the traditional Avurudu games was an Elle match played between the Foreign Ministry team and a team comprising Heads of Missions and Diplomats of the Colombo-based Missions who were clad in traditional Sri Lankan Sarong. The Diplomatic community along with the Foreign Ministry staff enjoyed playing new year games such as lime on the spoon, counting seeds of the papaya, buns eating competition, sack race etc. Avurudu Kumara and Kumariya contest for staff of the Foreign Ministry was also held.
A cricket tournament was also held with the participation of teams fielded in by the Missions of Australia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UK as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A cricket match with the participation of a team of Sri Lankan Cricket legends led by Sanath Jayasuriya, was another highlight of the New Year Festival. The legends team comprised of national players including Upul Tharanga, Dilruwan Perera, Indika de Saram, Ajantha Mendis, Tharanga Paranavithana, Asela Gunarathna, Isuru Udana and Farveez Maharoof, and also the former Pakistani pacer Aaqib Javed. They played against the Foreign Ministry cricket team.
The Festival was concluded with a colorful Avurudu Kumara and Avurudu Kumariya contest with the participation of Heads and Diplomats of Colombo-based diplomatic Missions showcasing exquisite traditional batik dresses.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
23 April 2024
