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In Mullaitivu :
Joyful New Year for peace-loving people
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Participants at the beauty queen contest
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It was the "Surya Udanaya" that brought them back the joy of a
peaceful New Year after 30 long years. People, who suffered due to a
prolonged war with LTTE terrorism, got more closer to Sinhala and Tamil
new year traditions at the "Surya Udanaya Maha Bak Maha Mangallaya" held
on the shoves of the Mullaitivu seas after several decades.
"Our children are the happiest. We never thought we would see peace.
We were able to see Sinhala New year rituals for the first time in
our lives" Pushpanadan Kamalan said. In a land where the New Year was
usually dawns with deadly bomb explosions and gun fire.
The fire crackers were lit for the first time after many decades.
The people whom slept in bunkers had to hide their children to escape
from clutches of the LTTE, danced and sang at the musical show.
The mega New Year celebrations held in Mullaitivu joined the two
communities, which looked at each other with suspicion due to the hatred
created by the LTTE in their minds.
The soldiers, whom the LTTE defined as killers, entertained them on
New Year eve.
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Some of the participants at New Year celebrations in Mullaitivu |
Twenty six-year-old three-wheel driver, Kamalan said people of
Mullaitivu never enjoyed the New Year before as the LTTE always wanted
them to be on an alert.
"We celebrate the New Year at our homes but never had this kind of a
big celebration. We always lived in fear. We thank the government and
the soldiers for giving us peace", he said.
The youth who won the first place in the cycle race thanked the Army
for organising the event.
"It is good to see the people are happy.
We suffered a lot under the LTTE". He also won the first place in the
previous cycle races held in Oddusuddan, Nedunkerni and
Kanagarayankulam, this month, he said.
The event was organised by the Tharunyata Hetak together with the
Security Forces in Mullaitivu.The chief guest was Namal Rajapaksa MP.
Minister of Housing, Wimal Weerawansa, Security Forces Commander of
Mullaitivu, Maj. Gen. L.B.R Mark, General Officer Commanding of the 59
Division Brigadier Nissanka Ranawana also participated at the ceremony.
Shanika
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