PMD: “Wasath Siriya – 2023”, state’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival was held in a grand manner yesterday (22) at the Shangri-La Green premises in Colombo with the participation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and a large number of local and foreign people. According to the instructions of President Ranil Wickramasinghe, the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Mr. Sagala Ratnayake and President’s Secretary Mr. Saman Ekanayake organized the New Year celebration with the involvement of ministries and government institutions. Many competitions were held under the 03 sections of public sector, open sector and guest sector, and a large number of staff members of ministries and government institutions, their families and friends as well as people from different provinces of the island participated in it. Diplomats and their family members representing the countries of the US, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Netherlands, China, Japan, Palestine, Bangladesh, Cuba, Myanmar, Thailand, Kuwait, South Korea, Vietnam and the staff of embassies were also present. It was special that many competitions have been organized that can be enjoyed by foreign tourists visiting this country. A model of an environment with a village house was also recreated here, demonstrating the beautiful link between the village and the village house in the rural society in the past. The celebrations included many showy elements including sweets, costumes, Sinhala New Year rituals and village games while a Ferris wheel, fireworks, bazaar and a medicine house on the ground attracted the people. Adults and children participate in the competitions with great enthusiasm and gifts were given to the winners. President Ranil Wickramasinghe visited the site of the New Year’s Festival this afternoon and had a friendly meeting with the people present. Also, the president, who visited the village house and the medicine house, had a friendly conversation with the foreigners who were there to enjoy the festivities. President Ranil Wickremesinghe also awarded prizes to the tourists and young people who won the competitions and watched several competitions including the tug-of-war. Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Saman Ekanayake, President’s Secretary and the heads and representatives of the sponsoring institutions joined the prize giving to the winners of the competitions. Meanwhile, First Lady Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe also joined to watch the New Year festival this morning and government officials including Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other political representatives and Ministry Secretaries visited the New Year festival site from time to time and joined the activities. The competition for selecting the Wasath Syria – 2023 New Year Prince and Princess was started today at around 6.00 pm. The Wasath Siriya 2023 musical was scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM at the venue and many popular singers will sing along with the popular band Mead Land.