New Year messages

President's New Year message:

Bestow treasured heritage on future generation

The New Year is Sri Lanka's biggest cultural festival conducted from times immemorial. It reminds us about the wonder of the earth linked to the activity of the Sun. Sri Lankans nurtured by an agrarian lifestyle received the new year meaningfully and gained delight and enjoyment, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a Sinhala, Hindu New Year message.

The message said, "The true happiness of the New Year is safeguarded by a verdant, free and independent country. The sacrifices we have made to build a prosperous and disciplined country offers us great consolation. The enthusiasm currently shown by the people to fulfill new year customs and traditions as never before is a cause of pride and happiness to us all.

"The family bonds built due to the New Year customs and traditions helped to further strengthens Sri Lankan society."

"Therefore we should all follow age-old new year customs and traditions and bestow our treasured heritage on the future generation. It is through this that the nation's existence will get stabilised.

"I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year!'

Opportunity to safeguard customs and values - PM

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne in his New Year message, says: "It is with great pleasure that I send this message on account of the dawn of the Sinhala-Hindu New Year which symbolises Sri Lankans' prime cultural festival which brings peace, happiness and prosperity to their lives.

The New Year is important, not only because the Sun transits from the House of Pisces (Meena Rashiya) to the House of Aries (Mesha Rashiya), but also since it is a very special function which turns on a new page of the lives of Sri Lankans, who just after their new harvest, perform all New Year rituals at the auspicious time, exhibiting their harmony and collaboration.

Sri Lankans should be determined to make a meaningful cultural festival of the Sinhala-Hindu New Year, not just focusing on mere celebrations. We have been entrusted with the responsibility of building our nation with inspiration from our culture and identity. It is teamwork and all should make their contribution irrespective of race, religion, politics, caste or colour.

As no one could ever predict, under his able leadership, President Mahinda Rajapaksa ended terrorism the country was plagued with for 30 years. Following the victory, we are now on our way towards the development of our country at global level.

In parallel to the global program to achieve the Millennium Development Goals our Government has launched many projects targeting economic, social and cultural development with the objective of uplifting the country to a higher elevation at global level. Further, it supports the existence of an economically and spiritually developed nation.

During the past few years, the President has provided his leadership for several development activities which are similar to giant projects implemented by our ancient kings.

Now as Sri Lankans, you have been gifted with the opportunity of materialising your new hopes of the New Year while safeguarding goods wishes, good customs and social and cultural values.

To day is the day that brings smiles on your faces and hopes for a lucky future. I wish you a very happy New Year filled with peace, happiness and prosperity and a fabulous future."

New Year evokes fresh feelings - Minister Rambukwella

Minister of Mass Media and Information Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, in his message for the New Year said, "According to astrology, the New Year dawns with the sun moving from the House of Meena to the House of Mesha.

Sri Lankan society awaits year by year with endless hope, this miraculous hour of the incessant circle of nature.

The New Year is a joyous period which evokes fresh feelings and thoughts among the young, old and elders.

The New Year invites society to think anew, start afresh, wear new clothes and revive relationships and re-wakening takes place in society as a result, thereby succeeding the expectations of the Government to build a new Sri Lanka.

The unique New Year rites from time immemorial and followed in terms of religion and nationality are of utmost significance in securing the civilisation and the culture of Sri Lanka.

Even any developed nation could approve the universality of our rites without an argument. Therefore, the pride of Sri Lanka is no second to any other country.

The New Year rites built on the basis of ensuring unity and harmony among each other strengthens the supremacy of the New Year festival.

The Government, which ensured a free environment to celebrate this cultural festival enjoyed by all countrymen on a grand scale, aims at creating an economically-developed society.

It is the duty of every Sri Lankan, who has endured 30 years amidst moans and gunfire, to forget that bitter past and take every step to ensure not to witness such a situation again.

Even though the New Year is fresh, if the thoughts and attitudes of man are not freshened, such society would never achieve development. Let's contribute towards the forward march of the country with a new vision. Let's ensure co-existence and virtues within the society.

I wish you all a joyous, peaceful and prosperous New Year!"