|
For the fourth
successive year Hounslow Sri Lanka Janahanda Foundation
held its mega Sri Lankan Sinhala & Tamil New Year
Celebrations in London. Events of the celebrations were
held on 18th April at the Lampton School, Hounslow,
before the presence of a large gathering of Sri Lankans
of all communities – Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims.
Traditional games and competitions were held in the
afternoon with children taking part in bun-eating,
pot-breaking, hundred meters race and others. The elders
enjoyed themselves with tug-of-war, hundred meters race
and marathon running.
The main events commenced when the Reverend members of
the Sangha, the Chief Guest and other distinguished
Guests were usherd into the Hall to the sounds of the
magul bera. Young children dressed in their traditional
white received the Guests with the offering of betel
leaves.
While Revered
Seelavansa Maha Nayake Thero of London Viharaya and
Reverend Gunawansa Mahanayake Thero of Birmingham
Viharaya blessed the celebrations by their presence, His
Excellency the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, Mr.
Nihal Jayasinghe was the Chief Guest. Hounslow Council
Opposition Leader, Mr. Jagdish Sharma, Principal Sponsor
of the Celebrations; Mr. Mike Cooke, Chairman/Managing
Director, Mike Cooke Group of Companies; the wife of the
High Commissioner, Mrs. Jayasinghe; several Hounslow
Councillors and Solicitor Ms. Surya Samaraweera were
Guests of Honour.
Following the lighting
of the traditional oil lamp by the Maha Sangha, the
Chief Guest and other dignataries two minutes silence
was observed in memory of those who have lost their
lives in Sri Lanka in the present conflict. Cultural
events commenced with the Pooja Dance presented by Mrs.
Manoja Almeida performed by three young girls to the
rhytham of Lata Walpola’s song “Peradiga Muthu Etayay
may lokay pembara Sri Lanka.
President of the
Foundation, Sri Lal Dias made the welcome speech in
Sinhala followed by the Secretarty, Mohamed Marzook in
Tamil and Hindi and Vice-President Shiran Almeida in
English. Compere Asiri Banda conducted the events with
his eloquent Sinhala. The Chief Guest, Mr.. Jagdish
Sharma and Mr. Mike Cooke addressed the gathering.
Young children trained by Mrs. Indra Bopitiya performed
paddy harvest and new year dances.
The newly formed Music Group “Manoj and the Clan” in
their maiden performance provided scintillating rhytham
to the vocals of Sunil Perara, Thamara Perera, Thila
Jayaratne, Larishiya Dias and others. The Foundation’s
pride of all the events, the ‘Avurudhu Kumari’ contest,
the only one of its nature held in the United Kingdom by
the Sri Lankan community, this year attracted twenty
young contestants. The event was organised by Chalani
Jayasekera. The winner received a return air-ticket
provided by Sri Lankan Air Lines. The two runners-up and
the others contestants too received gifts.
Sunil Perera with his
provoking songs kept the many young and old on their
feet dancing to their joy. Every one present was treated
with a delicious Sri Lankan meal sponsored by Seewoo
Foods and prepared by Dhammika Dias. The winner of the
raffle-draw too received a return air-ticket.
While Mike Cooke Group of Companies were the Principal
Sponsors of the Celebrations, Bank of Ceylon, Sri Lankan
Air Lines, Samars Solicitors, Seewoo Food and Vinsanda,
Dusmantha, Chanaka were co-sponsors.
Reported by Mohamed Marzook |
