DEFENCE MINISTRY RINGS IN THE DAWN OF SINHALA AND TAMIL NEW YEAR

The Ministry of Defence commemorated the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year with grandeur and warmth, setting a tone of unity and prosperity at the Defence Headquarters Complex premises at Akuregoda today (10 April). The esteemed presence of His Excellency President Ranil Wickremesinghe graced the occasion, infusing it with a sense of prestige and making it memorable for all attendees.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc MPhil, extended a warm and gracious welcome to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the festival.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva WWP RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil attended the event at the invitation of the Defence Secretary and extended his heartfelt wishes for a joyous and prosperous New Year.

The event was meticulously orchestrated, paying homage to the cherished traditional Awurudu Kreeda (new year sports), while beautifully showcasing the rich heritage and cultural values of both Sinhala Tamil New Year celebrations. While the events saw enthusiastic participation from all staff members, the 'Awurudu Kumariya' and 'Awurudu Kumaraya' competitions captivated the attention of everyone present.

At the conclusion of the event, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with the Defence Secretary and senior defence officials, gave away the prizes to the winners of the day's competitions.

Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President on National Security Sagala Rathnayake, Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksha and Vice Chancellor of Sir John Kothelawala Defence University Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara were among the distinguished attendees present at the event.