The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York hosted a Christmas celebration for the members of the Sri Lankan community on 27th December 2017 at the Mission premises. The event commenced with the welcome address by Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Rohan Perera, followed by a brief sermon by Rev. Fr. Hashendra.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Perera noted that Christmas is a special occasion, the unique spirit of which lies in its celebration of the values of love, compassion, faith, togetherness, and peace. He further quoted from the speech of Pope Francis, delivered during his visit to Sri Lanka in 2015, in which His Holiness highlighted that “whenever people listen to one another humbly and openly, their shared values and aspirations become all the more apparent. Diversity is no longer seen as a threat, but as a source of enrichment.”
Rev. Fr. Hashendra delivered a brief sermon, recalling that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Lord Jesus Christ and his teachings, wherein one is reminded of the importance of compassion and kindness.
This was followed by singing of carols by all those in attendance. The young children present were then treated to a visit by Santa Claus who distributed gifts, and the event was concluded with a dinner.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
New York
28 December 2017
