GENERAL SHAVENDRA SILVA GRACES THE SINHALA AND TAMIL NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AT THE NELLIGALA INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST CENTER

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil and his spouse Mrs. Sujeewa Nelson graced the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival held at Nelligala International Buddhist Centre yesterday (14 April).

The CDS attended as the chief guest of the festival on the invitation of the Chief Incumbent of the Asgiriya Chapter in Rathnapura Mahadisawa, as well as the Chief Priest of Kuragala, Nelligala, and Ambuluwawa temples, Most Venerable Wathurakumbure Dammarathana Thero. Upon arrival, General Shavendra Silva and Mrs. Sujeewa Nelson received a warm welcome, in accordance with traditional Sinhala and Tamil customs.

The new year festival, themed "Nelligala Sahodarathwaye Maha Soorya Mangalya," was organised with a focus on highlighting Buddhist and Hindu religious rituals, as well as traditional New Year games. Simultaneously, the event aimed to foster unity, harmony, and peace among Sinhala and Tamil communities.

The significance of the event lay in the relentless initiative of Venerable Wathurakumbure Dammarathana Thero, whose efforts, bolstered by the assistance of Mr. Arun Siddharthan the Chairman of the Tamil Buddhist Association of Jaffna, facilitated the participation of people from Jaffna in the event. At the outset, they were warmly welcomed with Sinhala cultural traditions.

More than a hundred Tamil individuals including several ex-LTTE members, from Jaffna enthusiastically participated in every event of the festival, joining their Sinhala counterparts with joy and companionship. Their participation was characterised not only by spirited engagement in the festival games but also by the thoughtful gesture of bringing traditional New Year delicacies to share with their Sinhalese friends, thus strengthening solidarity between the two communities. Their presence enriched the gathering, fostering a profound sense of unity and harmony between the Sinhala people from the South and the Tamil people from the North.

General Shavendra Silva gracefully mingled with the attendees, his presence exuding warmth and a sense of camaraderie. With sincere smiles and heartfelt interactions, he not only shared joy but also spread an aura of happiness that enveloped all those around him, leaving an affectionate mark of positivity and unity.

While addressing the gathering, Mr. Arun Siddharthan, along with attendees from the North, expressed their delight that the war was over. They acknowledged the true nature of the people in the South and admitted to being misled by terrorists, who had portrayed the military and Buddhist clergy as enemies of the Tamil people. However, after the war, as they began to interact with the people from the South, they came to realize their sincerity, compassion, and sense of brotherhood embodied by their newfound acquaintances.

The Nelligala International Buddhist Center, situated in Muruthalawa near Kandy, is renowned for its serene ambience and significant religious importance. Beyond serving as a place of worship and meditation, the center also actively engages in community development initiatives, reflecting the compassionate values of Buddhism.