2009 Sinhala and Tamil new year celebrations organized by the committee of East London Buddhist Cultural Centre was held on 13th April 2009 at the temple premises under the patronage of the head priest Ven. Makure Mangala thero. The Chief Guest of this event was the Governor of North Central Province of Sri Lanka, Mr. Karunaratne Divulgane and the Guests of Honor was H.E. Justice Nihal Jayasinghe, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK and Mrs. Jayasinghe. London Borough of Newham Councilor Mrs. Lakmini Shah also graced this occasion as a special guest.

There were plenty of activity throughout the day to keep the well attended crowd entertained and educated of the importance of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. In the morning there were the traditional New Year games for the adults and the children alike. The packed audience was then entertained with a fabulous cultural program presented by the Temple’s Dhamma School children and the parents.