Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival 2024 organised by the Foreign Affairs Ministry was held at the Police Field Force Headquarters Ground in Colombo on Saturday (20).
The festival brought together Foreign Ministry staff, their families and members of the diplomatic corps based in Colombo along with their families to unite and indulge in a day of fun, which included traditional Avurudu games and display of New Year customs. The special feature of the traditional Avurudu games was an Elle match played between the Foreign Ministry team and a team comprising Heads of Missions and Diplomats of the Colombo-based Missions who were clad in traditional Sri Lankan Sarong. The Diplomatic community along with the Foreign Ministry staff enjoyed playing new year games such as lime on the spoon, counting seeds of the papaya, buns eating competition, sack race etc. Avurudu Kumara and Kumariya contest for staff of the Foreign Ministry was also held.
A cricket tournament was also held with the participation of teams fielded by the Missions of Australia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UK as well as the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
A cricket match with the participation of a team of Sri Lankan Cricket legends led by Sanath Jayasuriya, was another highlight of the New Year Festival. The legends team comprised of national players including Upul Tharanga, Dilruwan Perera, Indika de Saram, Ajantha Mendis, Tharanga Paranavithana, Asela Gunarathna, Isuru Udana and Farveez Maharoof, and also the former Pakistani pacer Aaqib Javed. They played against the Foreign Ministry cricket team.
The festival was concluded with an Avurudu Kumara and Avurudu Kumariya contest with the participation of Heads and Diplomats of Colombo-based diplomatic Missions showcasing traditional batik dresses.
