The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brasilia celebrated Sinhala and Tamil New Year on 12th April, 2013 at the official residence of H.E. the Ambassador. Over 80 guests including Sri Lankans living in Brasilia, large number of Ambassadors and their spouses, Brazilian dignitaries and Brazilian Foreign Ministry officials were participated at the ceremony.
A Literary Lunch with Shevanthie Gunasekara, was one of the highlights at the11th Shanghai International Literary Festival where she made a presentation on “A Revolutionary Route through China, Russia and Ceylon-the artistic journey of Russian émigré painter Alexander Sofronoff”.
Shevanthie, a British national of Sri Lankan parentage, came across Sofronoff at the Galle Face Hotel while talking to an old lady about the famous people who have stayed in the hotel. The story of the Russian artist had fascinated Ms. Goonesekera, a writer, art historian and an artist herself.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore together with the Coordinating Committee celebrated the " Sinhala and Tamil New Year and Cultural Show 2013" on 21st April 2013 from 11.00 A.M to 8.00 P.M at Toa Payoh Town Park, Singapore.
The daylong celebration began with the hoisting of the Sri Lankan national flag by High Commissioner Ferial Ashraff and was followed by religious blessings by both Buddhist monks and Hindu priests. Guests enjoyed Kiribath and a variety of traditional sweetmeats that was laid out on a festive table. Ladies dressed in the customary costumes played the Raban bringing in the rhythmic sounds of the New Year.
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ambassador Dr Palitha Kohona, joined by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Cuba, Sarath Dissanayake represented Sri Lanka at the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro Moros held at the Venezuelan National Assembly in Caracas on 19th April, 2013 , coincidentally, the 203rd Anniversary of the Independence of Venezuela. On this occasion, President Maduro, the winner of the April 14th Presidential Elections, was sworn in as the 2nd President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela before the President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello at a solemn ceremony attended a large gathering of foreign dignitaries.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta conducted a Tourism Promotion Campaign at the Embassy premises with the assistance of the General Sales Agent of Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd where leading travel agents and tour operators based in Jakarta attended the event.
The main focus of the event was to raise awareness among leading travel agents and tour operators of Indonesia on places of interest in Sri Lanka. Further, in his presentation the Ambassador covered famous tourists and religious destinations. During the event, a representative of Mihin Lanka encouraged the participants to utilization multiple packages on offer to tourists by the airline to destinations in Sri Lanka and beyond. A considerable number of new agents and operators also attended and shared their ideas and views. The event is one of a series of promotional events the Embassy has arranged in collaboration with Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
The Sri Lankan New Year celebrations were held in Tokyo’s Chofu city on Sunday, 14th April with a large gathering of over 5000 Sri Lankan and Japanese community members from all parts of Japan who participated at the occasion, which was held for the 24th consecutive occasion. The Chief Guest at the opening ceremony was Hon.Yoshiki Nagatamo, Mayor of Chofu City.
On the occasion of the Sinhala & Tamil New Year, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Kuwait organized a day-long celebration at the Embassy premises on 14th April 2013. The celebration began with the hoisting of the national flag followed by the singing of national anthem and lighting of the ceremonial oil lamp. A pot of milk was boiled to mark this auspicious occasion.
