The Sri Lankan High Commission in South Africa facilitated a morning tour for the multi-party delegation led by the Hon. Speaker of Parliament Chamal Rajapaksa which participated in the recent Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Johannesburg.
Pictured at the Lesedi Cultural Village is from the right H.E Shehan Ratnavale the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Hon. P Selvarasa M.P. TNA, Hon. Chamal Rajapksa Speaker of the Parliament, Zulu warrior, Hon. Tissa Attanayaka M.P. UNP, Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva M.P. Minister of Irrigation & Water Resources Management, Mr Neil Iddawala Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs Tharanga Wickramartne Minister Counsellor Sri Lanka High Commission and Mr W.P.U. Sanjeewa Private Secretary
After a visit to the Apartheid Museum the delegation were taken to the Lesedi cultural village, which provides an insight into the traditional cultures of 5 of South Africa’s major African races namely the Xhosa, the Pedi, the Basotho, the Ndebele and the Zulu. These communities have all made interesting contributions to the history of South Africa with the latter often highlighted in the military sphere when under King Shaka a Zulu army with spears defeated a British army with guns on account of surprise and tactical manoeuvring. The photograph shows the delegation flanking a man attired as a traditional Zulu warrior.
