A New Year of prosperity and reconciliation

SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena in a New Year message states: "It is with great pleasure that I extend greetings to the people of Sri Lanka for a happy new year of prosperity and reconciliation. The New Year season shows us how far cultural values are embedded in ourselves. I enjoy a hopeful experience when people of Polonnaruwa visit me at my house with a sheaf of betel. The New Year customs displayed the creative thinking of our forefathers. The New Year concept shows us how we should fulfil our cultural needs by drawing from international experiences.

"We see a depreciation of human bonds in the world we live today. The humanism in our social links is drying up after being caught up in global transformations and failure to put communication technology into proper use. This will produce a lonely and frustrated individual. New Year customs offer an opportunity to revive bonds of friendship and forget past enmities, we should celebrate the New Year in a manner that will build human friendship.

"The New Year is also conspicuous as a cultural foundation which brings Sinhala-Tamil friendship and co-operation to limelight. This shows that these two communities had lived with friendship and cultural bonds for centuries. This New Year season is very vital for us who have started living in unit in a free country once again. We as elders have a duty to bequeath the New Year which gives an opportunity to create a life linked to the environment to the future generation. Therefore we should engage children in the performance of New Year customs and traditions in a proper manner.

"I wish all Sri Lankans a happy New Year."