New Year promotes peace and harmony - Minister

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a significant festival to promote peace and harmony among people, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

"President Mahinda Rajapaksa has created an independent country for all communities to live in harmony and treats all equally without differences, eradicating terrorism which prevailed in Sri Lanka for over three decades," Minister Senaratne said.

The minister was addressing the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival held at the Dhoho Park Grounds in Japan recently.

Sri Lankans living in Japan organised this festival under the direction of Japan - Sri Lanka Consul General and Japan - Sri Lanka Traditional and Trade Centre chairman Sunil M. Gamage. "All people in the world should respect each other. There is no need to fight with others.

All should love their motherland. As Sri Lankans we should think about the future as one nation," Minister Senaratne said.

"Sri Lanka is on fast track towards development and we believe that Japan will support our President's development plans as a friendly and helpful nation," the minister added.

The Sri Lanka - Japan Trade Association and Japan - Sri Lanka Students' Association had provided full cooperation for the New Year festival which included traditional sporting events.

Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake, Sri Lankan ambassador to Japan Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Colombo National Hospital acting Director Dr. Sujatha Senaratne, Japanese Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Hirano Horofumi and a large number of Sri Lankans living in Japan participated in this event.