The Sri Lankan community in Saudi Arabia organized their annual celebration 2019 of Christmas in the Embassy premises with the participation of the Sri Lankan community members representing all faiths.
This evening was adorned with junior and senior choirs singing Christmas carols in Sinhala, Tamil and English while the Embassy staff from all faiths also joined in. The highlight of the event was the Christmas musical drama on the birth of Jesus Christ (nativity play) presented by a group of children in the style of Sri Lankan traditional liturgical ‘passion plays’.
Addressing the gathering the Guest of Honour of the event Sunil Joseph of the Embassy of India in Riyadh, said that Jesus’s message to this world is about peace and harmony and we all have to come together to spread this message among all. He thanked the Sri Lanka Christian community for organizing a Christmas event while encompassing community members of all faiths.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Saudi Arabia Azmi Thassim referred to Sri Lanka as a plural society and the true spirit of Christmas and its message of peace and harmony has been reflected even in this gathering where people of the Christian and all other faiths have come together to celebrate this joyful occasion.
Being the last event of the social calendar of the Embassy, New Year greetings for 2020 were also extended to all community members at this event.
The annual kids painting exhibition depicting the life of Jesus and meaning of Christmas was also held parallel to this event.
This event was attended by a large gathering of Sri Lankans living in Saudi Arabia with their families.
The guests were also treated with a dinner comprising traditional Sri Lankan cuisine with special Christmas delicacies.