New Year messages

Dawn of New Year brings fresh thoughts, feelings - President

May the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year that has dawned be one that brings peace, joy and prosperity to all, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a New Year message.

The message: “ The traditional New Year is a truly great national festival that shows the remarkable bonds between nature and human kind. The dawn of this New Year brings fresh thoughts and feelings to our hearts.

“It paves the way to look at our lives and society with renewed determination and courage. The New Year becomes more meaningful through the embellishment of friendship and unity. Therefore, it is best if every step is taken to build good relations and cooperation with each other during this season of festivity.

“The observance of the many important traditions associated with the New Year strengthens great unity and understanding between family and village. Such unity is a great encouragement to solidarity for national prosperity. As the country moves towards prosperity, the observances of these traditions by all at the auspicious hours would bring great blessings. I, therefore, call upon you all to pay due importance to the observance of the New Year traditions. “ I express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Armed Forces, the Police and Civil Defence Corps and all others who carry out their official duties during this period of festivity.

“ I wish you all a happy New Year.”

Work hand-in-hand towards a prosperous future - PM

It is with great pleasure I issue the Sinhala and Tamil New Year message wishing every Sri Lankan here and abroad, a happy and prosperous New Year, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said in a New Year message.

The message: “The Sun Festival is considered more an opportunity provided by the God for mankind to strengthen unity and harmony by shedding petty differences which occurred during the year gone-by, than its traditional and cultural character. Not only as a personal individual, but as a family, a society and a country, we have many mistakes that should be corrected. “The number of challenges we faced during last year were many. We have brought home the fact to the world that if we work united with consensus, any challenge could be overcome.

I am of the opinion that Sri Lanka is distinguished among other nations; Sri Lankan identity is well established among nations, because our approaches and remedies to challenges before us are bold and appropriate. “At a time when international pressure against Sri Lanka was at its peak; it was due to the innate brilliance and wisdom of the President, we could save the lives of 20 million people by defeating the LTTE terrorism, and undertake mega development projects fulfilling dreams of the nation.

“A clear vision, a strong leadership and a country with intelligent people will no doubt make a blessed nation. The country, with a rich culture and blessed with nature’s various gifts belongs to us today. Tomorrow it will belong to our offspring, our children. Therefore, let us work hand in hand towards that prosperous future.”