Sri Lanka Paralympic team as they head for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in France extends a very warm welcome to the Sri Lankan team for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, upon their arrival on the 26th of August 2024 at Paris CDG airport.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in France extends a very warm welcome to Team Sri Lanka for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on their arrival at Paris CDG Airport.
The Team comprised of young athletes representing the vibrant diversity and ethnicities of Sri Lanka : Palitha Bandara, Nuwan Indika, Samitha Dulan, Nadeem Raheem, Suresh Dharmasena, Anil Prasanna, Janani Dananjana, Pradeep Somasiri.
12th Symposium of ICTMD Study Group on Music and Minorities
The Kelaniya University Department of Fine Arts held from 4 to 8 December, the 12th Symposium of the ICTMD (International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance) Study Group on Music and Minorities (SGMM) with a joint day with the ICTM Study Group on Indigenous Music and Dance. As a major international event with over 60 scholars/musicians/dancers from around the world including Sri Lankans, representing various universities within the country, the interlinking of the aesthetic with the scholarly was profound, facilitating also a good example for the potential of knowledge based tourism.
The event was launched on 4 December at the Kelaniya University and held over the rest of the week till 8 December, at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM) auditorium, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, (SLCB) supported by the Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry Department of Cultural Affairs and other stakeholders.
A notable aspect of the event was the music and dance performances by children with special needs, Kaffir Afro-Portuguese descendants from Sirambiadiya, Puttalam, Sri Lankan Muslim, Malay, Indian, and Sri Lankan Tamil, Sufi music performers apart from the tourism centered performance of the cultural troupe of the Cultural Department and performance by the St. Cecilia’s Choir of St. Joseph’s College Colombo.
Refrain from making commemorative events a political platform - Genuine Request From The People, of Trincomalee
Gone are the days when Mullivaikal commemorations were celebrated emotionally and today it has become something to be celebrated with the help of diaspora organizations and our Tamil politicians. The commemorations were a way to push for closure of their loved loves during the humanitarian struggle in Sri Lanka.
The people of Mullivaikal, as well as the commemorative community that oversees the community's commemorative events, have long asked that the celebrations of Mullivaikkal not be politicized.
However, for their own self-interest, our Tamil politicians and diaspora organizations denigrate our relationships. They are attempting to utilize our Tamil people's tears for political gain.
Additionally, they favor holding commemorations in a single location where everyone may freely and amicably express their emotions. However, it is significant that, in the present day, people lavishly celebrate holidays, a move that is encouraged by Tamil politicians and immigrants.
Furthermore, the General Committee of Civil Organisations has already urged Mullivaikal not to politicize the commemoration events, saying that politics should not be imposed and that the people should observe the day consciously. However, even as they have asked that politics not be imposed, they are now protesting the interference of our Tamil politicians and immigrants with the day's events.
A civil organization called "Tamil United People" has released posters and pamphlets. These posters have been put up and displayed in areas like Moothur and Nilaveli.
The people plead not to sacrifice Tamil people's lives to further the goals of these foreigners and our Tamil politicians are voicing a range of ideas and filling their coffers to the brim with this.
It is also significant that this matter has attracted attention in the north and these ideas are spreading among the people.
iDove Hybrid International Youth Conference
Interfaith exchanges and inter-religious dialogue to promote peace and coexistence were key aspects of the iDove in Sri Lanka programme. Over 300 youth across the country participated in this process, which encouraged youth leadership and creative means to promote harmony.
Young people from across 23 districts in Sri Lanka as well as from Uganda, the Philippines and Kenya, who are part of the iDove global network came together over two days to learn from each other and raise awareness on this important issue.
Celebrating Sinhala and Tamil New Year with pride and unity
A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people” - Mahatma Gandhi.
Sri Lankans are of different religious and cultural backgrounds. However, each and every Sri Lankan, irrespective of their religion, race, beliefs and background contributes to the uniqueness and the eminence of the country.
We pride ourselves on the fact that we are a nation with a deep and rich culture but continue to ignore the fact that the diversity that exists within Sri Lanka is the main reason as to why the country’s culture is so great. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is an occasion during which, two ethnicities come together and celebrate a common occurrence with their own traditions and cultures, along with the rest of the Sri Lankan society.
Sri Lankans celebrate unity as communities come together for Ramadan
Thousands of people from several communities in Sri Lanka came together for Iftar over the weekend, an occasion they say conveyed unity and optimism in a country that faced economic collapse and political upheaval in the past year.
The gathering, which was organized by the Sri Lanka Muslim Civil Society, the Soup Kitchen Sri Lanka and the Torrington Walkers’ Team, aims to “show the unity in this country. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims but today we enjoy the companionship of members of all communities for a common goal. This joint initiative by all communities is a good signal that the country will forge ahead in the future.
Sinhala and Tamil Font books on International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day is observed every year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
The Department of Official Languages compiled two books, “Sinhala Fonts” and “Tamil Fonts”, which were presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Parliament premises by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
This presentation was made in commemoration of International Mother Language Day, celebrated on February 21. The Speaker and all Members of Parliament also receive copies of these books.
The prestigious Jaffna Cultural Centre declared open...
The ‘Jaffna Cultural Centre’ was declared open by President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (Feb. 11 2023) to celebrate the 75 years of friendship between India and Sri Lanka, which coincides with the island nation’s 75th anniversary of independence.
Expressing his views at the vesting ceremony of the Jaffna Cultural Centre, President Wickremesinghe called on everyone to join hands in brotherhood to rebuild “this fallen nation”. In his speech, the President emphasized the government’s policy of reconciliation, development, and culture, and called for all citizens to come together in brotherhood to rebuild the country.
Sri Lanka regional cuisine promotion with Jaffna food festival - Uniting citizens through the art of Food.
"Inspiration and motivation for national unity"
Initiated by his love for the food cooked by his parents and grandparents in Vaddukoddai in Jaffna, Christy Richards who had returned to Sri Lanka 10 years ago after working around the globe as an economics specialist, had suggested Cinnamon Grand hotel in Colombo at the start of showcasing the people of Sri Lanka through its food. Therefore ever since the 1st Jaffna food festival was organized it has been a long tradition to highlight Sri Lanka's richly diverse identity and its culture and food as one aspect of this diversity. Food is a great unifier within the country as well with diverse persons in the south promoting the traditional food of Sri Lanka.
A commendable approach by the University of Vavuniya, Sri Lanka to host the 1st International Conference on Harmony and Reconciliation 2023
Sri Lanka leading the academia to create people with sound theoretical foundations and practical expertise.
The first International Conference on Harmony and Reconciliation 2023 (ICHR 2023) was sponsored by the Harmony Centre, University of Vavuniya, Sri Lanka on January 19 and 20, 2023, with the topic of "Harmony and Development through Knowledge and Innovation towards Nation Building." They believe that academia's main goal is to create thinkers who are grounded in sound theory but whose knowledge is also useful in the real world. Therefore, the university designed this conference with very significant practical implications for Sri Lankan national unity, productivity, and unification of all its people. As a result, this event was linked to a variety of follow-up activities that would take place to build social cohesion throughout the entire year.
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa invites Canada-based Tamil Diaspora leaders to visit Colombo
Top CTC representative Panchalingam Kandiah handing over a letter from the Canada-based organization to Justice Minister Rajapakse, PC (Pic courtesy Daily FT)
Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyedasa Rajapakse, PC, has requested the President of the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) Sival Illango, and its Executive Director Danton Thurairajah to visit Colombo.
The invitation was extended when the Justice Minister received Panchalingam Kandiah, of the CTC yesterday (16) at the ministry. Kandiah has handed over a letter from the CTC thanking the Sri Lankan government for delisting the organization enabling it to take part in the reconciliation process.
While commending the right direction of the government to enhance the peace and reconciliation process, the CTC has emphasized the steps to be taken on an urgent basis with a view to establishing long-lasting harmony and recognizing and respecting the Sri Lankan identity.
A commendable rehabilitation process of The Govt. of Sri Lanka to promote education to all the rehabilitated Child soldiers.
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." – Malcolm
The LTTE gave cyanide capsules and grenades to its soldiers, including children, with instructions to take the capsule or blow themselves up rather than allow themselves to be captured by the Sri Lankan military forces. Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksha declared not to prosecute children who surrendered and offered 594 child soldiers a special Presidential Pardon and rehabilitated and instructed that they be given the education which was denied. For years, the Tamil children that held a gun were finally given to hold a pen/pencil by the Sri Lankan Government.
Trauma and Beyond: The Evolving Field of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support after Disaster and Conflict in Sri Lanka
“Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.”
To help address the burden of mental illness and trauma, The government ran a community-based programme with an emphasis on the psychosocial consequences of violence. Activities include increasing awareness, community strengthening, reinforcing coping strategies for long-term war-affected communities, and counselling by trained national staff. The government also set up camps to monitor the population for community disharmony, provided treatment for those who were ill and attended to family problems, and provide counselling to help people find positive solutions to their difficulties.
Nation Building - Housing projects by the Government of Sri Lanka.
“Everyone needs a house to live in, but a supportive family is what builds a home.” Anthony Liccione
The Sri Lankan government with the help of the military established new houses and provided gifts. The nation has taken an enormous interest in house-construction projects for needy civilians, in many instances, even many military officers made pocketed out their own money for the best interest of those homeless civilians. Many of those families were living in shanties or in tin sheet-thatched huts without proper safety or security for their daughters, children, and women the government undertook the project which is now in full swing.