New Year celebration events serve as an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their talents in arts and sports beyond their academics. Hon. Governor N. Vethanayahan stated that students can develop leadership and other virtues only by fully engaging themselves in such extracurricular activities.
The ‘Northern Province Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebration – 2026’, jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs Unit of the Northern Province Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs, Sports and Youth Affairs along with the Department of Sports, was held today – on Friday, 17 April 2026, at the Uduppiddy Imaiyanan Central Sports Club grounds, under the chairmanship of the Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Education M. Patrick Diranjan. The Hon. Governor made the above remarks while delivering his address as the Chief Guest at the event.
Further elaborating in his speech, he stated:
Due to the current fuel crisis, there was a state of confusion as to whether to hold this event or not. The final decision to hold it was taken only a few days ago. I extend my appreciation and congratulations to all those who worked hard to organize and stage this event so elegantly and successfully within such a short period of time.
This Sinhala & Tamil New Year is common to both Tamil and Sinhalese people. It is the only festival celebrated jointly by both communities. Such celebrations greatly help in understanding each other’s culture and traditions, and in fostering mutual understanding. The students who performed the cultural events today displayed their talents in a truly outstanding manner.
In fact, today’s celebration has not only been a mere festivity, but has also brought before our eyes our traditional cultural practices, games and food varieties, he noted.
Earlier, guests who arrived at the event venue were welcomed and escorted in a traditional and dignified manner. Following that, Hon. Governor and other guests visited the Tamil and Sinhala traditional pavilions set up in the grounds. Eye-catching cultural performances by students took place in the grounds, and guests also visited exhibition stalls featuring products of local entrepreneurs.
Thereafter, the stage events included a welcome dance, Pedikoothu, Kandyan dance, Kannan dance, traditional Sinhalese dance, innovative dance, snake dance, and Thillana dance.
At the same time, traditional games such as greasy pole climbing and pillow fight, along with several other rural sports competitions, were held festively in the grounds.
Among those who participated in the event were Hon. Upali Samarasinghe, Chairman of the District Coordinating Committee of the Vanni Electoral District and Deputy Minister of Cooperative Affairs; Hon. J. Rajeevan, Chairman of the Karaveddy Divisional Secretariat Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament; Northern Province Chief Secretary Mrs. Thanuja Murugason; Additional District Secretary of Jaffna District; Divisional Secretaries of Karaveddy and Point Pedro; Assistant Director of the Cultural Affairs Unit; Director of Provincial Department of Sports – Northern Province; Hon. Chairman and Secretary of the Karaveddy Pradeshiya Sabha; Zonal Directors of Education; students and members of the public.
