April - ‘People and culture’ month:

Tourists enjoy ‘Avurudu’ festivities

Sri Lanka Tourism has named April in the Visit Sri Lanka 2011 Events Calendar, as the month to celebrate People and Culture. To celebrate the theme of ‘People and

Culture’, Sri Lanka Tourism lined up a series of events and activities to highlight the unique aspects of Sri Lanka and its rich cultural dynasty. Among them the prominence was given to the traditional New Year Celebrations in different parts of the country including Colombo, Kandy, Trincomalee, Ibbankatuwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Anuradhapura etc.

The final of these series of New Year celebrations took place near the south coast at the Bentota Beach on April 23. The event was organized by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau in collaboration with the Bentota Beruwala Hoteliers Association and Beach Operators.

Many traditional Sri Lankan New Year activities took place at this event. A marathon race was held with the participation of many youngsters and adults alike giving an athletic beginning to the events of the day.

It was followed by other exciting events like clay pot breaking, pillow fighting, dotting the Elephant’s eye, fancy dress, musical chairs, tug of war, balancing lime on the spoon and traditional drumming amidst singing folk songs etc. All eyes were fixed on the young men and women who were so eagerly contesting for winning the title of becoming the ‘Avurudu Kumaraya’ and ‘Avurudu Kumari’, the most attractive young lady and the most handsome young man of the season.

A high tourist participation was seen in this event and the tourists were enjoying this rare occasion that combined Sri Lanka and its culture in a vivid backdrop.

Most of the tourists said that this was indeed a very special occasion for them to witness the unity of the Sri Lankan people, their traditions and the nature of this event is truly a set up for experiencing and sharing friendliness, unity and the warmth of Sri Lanka and its people which are the most outstanding qualities they possess above other countries in the world. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau gave away special memorabilia to all the tourists who took part in this event as a mark of good will.

SLTPB Acting Managing Director Malraj Kiriella, the Tourist Hoteliers Association of Sri Lanka President Anura Lokuhetti, the Bentota Beruwala Hoteliers Association President V K Prasad and the officials of the Bentota Beruwala Beach Hoteliers participated at this occasion.