The Embassy of Sri Lanka together with the Sri Lankan Associations and Sri Lankan Community living in Japan organised the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival on Sunday 13th April in Tokyo. A large gathering of over 5000 Sri Lankan and Japanese community members from all parts of Japan participated in and celebrated this auspicious occasion. The Chief Guest at the opening ceremony was Hon. Yoshiki Nagatamo, Mayor of Chofu City.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda stressed the importance of cultural events of this nature to promote Sri Lanka’s unity and traditions abroad, in addition to strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Sri Lanka through such cultural exchanges.The Ambassador highlighted the close and friendly relations that Japan and Sri Lanka have shared over the years, recollecting the support extended to Japan by Sri Lanka at the San Francisco Peace Treaty Conference in 1951 and expressed gratitude to the people of Japan for their overwhelming generosity and goodwill extended to Sri Lanka with ODA assistance and during Tsunami 2004.
Hon. Yoshiki Nagatamo, Mayor of Chofu City also addressed the gathering, conveying his best wishes for the special occasion, stressing the similarities of two cultures and friendly ties between two countries. He also thanked Sri Lanka for the support extended to Japan during the Tsunami in 2011.
A number of traditional games were organized which included ‘kanamuttibindeema’, ‘Raban Geseema’, ‘Aliyataehethabeema’, ‘Andayata kiri keveema’ and the Avurudu Kumari competition where Japanese and Sri Lankan contestants participated in the event. The Aurudu Celebrations also comprised of Sri Lankan cultural performances including Fashion show of Sri Lankan Ladies Traditional Costume and authentic Sri Lankan food. All the attendees were entertained by the Channa – Upuli Dance Troup.
The event was also highlighted as an ideal opportunity for Sri Lankans to gather and participate as a community in upholding cultural traditions and values.
The celebrations were organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan in joint collaboration with the Sri Lankan Associations, Volunteer Organizations and The New Year Committee.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Tokyo
15th April 2014
