President graces glamorous ‘Bakmaha Ulela’ organized by Defence Ministry
April 10, 2024Hon. President Ranil Wickremesinghe graced the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival (Bakmaha Ulela) organized by the Defence Ministry at the Defence Headquarters Complex premises in Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte today (April 10).
The traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the biggest celebration in Sri Lanka that features a load of rituals and customs, the ‘Bakmaha Ulela’, organized under the patronage of Ministry’s Welfare Division, inclusive of an array of traditional games, saw the cheerful participation of all the Ministry staffers today.
Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President on National Security Sagala Rathnayake, Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksha and Vice Chancellor of Sir Jhon Kothelawala Defence University Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara were also present at the event.
Since there are no specific age categories for the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year games, enthusiastic participation of all Ministry staffers in games and also organizing, coordinating and refereeing were also highlighted during the session.
Cultural dancing sessions and musical displays were also conducted during the glamorous event.
The highlight of the day was the selection of ‘Avurudu Kumaraya’ and Avurudu Kumari’ which saw an eager participation by the young staffers who presented themselves smartly clad in traditional attire.
President Wickremesinghe, Defence Secretary and senior defence officials presented valuable prizes to the day’s winners towards the culmination of the event.
