"Bakmaha Wasanthaya"at Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte :

Sinhala-Tamil New Year Festival by Fitness Kingdom and FFSL

Our traditional customs are unmatchable and even highly valued around the world and especially among the Asian regions. For a healthy and wealthy nation, traditions, which are bound by cultural heritage is vital.

Specially being a developing country, and having rapidly changing socio- economic environment, traditional customs must be protected for the future generation. Sinhala and Hindu new year celebrations are the main factor to elaborate national traditions which will be practised once a year.

New Year festivals illustrate our heritage and our harmony. In order to strengthen and enhance our national traditions which are flaking from the urban lifestyles, Fitness Kingdom has organised to have a New Year festival at Sri Jayawardanapura, Kotte in collaboration with Football Federation of Sri Lanka and they have named it as "Bakmaha Wasanthaya 2005".

Idea of having a 'New Year Festival' at Kotte, came from the Vice President of the Asian Football Federation and the Chairman of the Management Committee of Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), Manilal Fernando. Since FFSL has established their National Football Training Centre at Baddagana and in order to strengthen the relationship with the public of this area, Manilal Fernando dreamt of having something such as new year festival like this.

After taking over the management of the Fitness Centre of the National Football Training Centre by the Fitness Kingdom which is one of the well known institutions for Fitness, they make it happen.

In collaboration with FFSL and with tremendous support by the Sri Lanka Police, Fitness Kingdom was planned out to have the New Year Festival at Kotte. This festival is organised by under the supervision and guidance of Director of Fitness Kingdom, Mr. Aruna Aluthge and DIG, K. P. Pathirana of Sri Lanka Police.

This festival will consist of most of the traditional events such as grease tree, 'Kotta Pora', tug-of-war,' Raban Pada', marathon and many more. Among the common events there will be Elephant Race, Thirikkala Race and Pora Pol Gaseema also bright up the festival. To make it much more colourful the festival and for more attraction, 'Avrudu Kumaraya and Avrudu Kumari' contests also included.

This contest is open for Western province youth. In order to introduce something new to the public to enhance their health and fitness, and also to make a awareness of it Fitness Kingdom has invited to Moldavian and Indian Aerobics performance groups to perform an exhibition show end of the New Year Festival. There will be a Power Lifting Competition also included and it will be a physical strength competition, which will be open for anybody from Western province.

There will be a Mega Musical Night with participation of popular vocalists backed by the band 'Sa Ni Da Pa'.

Official Print Media Sponsor will be 'Lake House' and Electronic Media Sponsorship will be by Channel ITN for this event. Various commercial establishments are also contributing for this event.

This festival will be held at National Football Training Centre Grounds on April 22.