One of the largest cultural pageants in Europe:

Sri Lanka adjudged second among 84 nations

Sri Lankan dance troupe

The procession

The Kandyan dance troupe

Sri Lankan Association in Berlin achieved one of the most prestigious place among the nations in the international city of Berlin by achieving the second place at the Carnival of Cultures, held in the streets of Berlin last week.

The event was viewed by millions alongside the route of the procession and also by millions of Europeans over the live-telecast by leading German channels.

The Sri Lankan Association was assisted by the Sri Lankan Mission in Berlin with the contribution from the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Sri Lanka Tea Board.

Sri Lanka was awarded the first place among 99 countries with a pageant led by the Channa Upuli Cultural Troupe in 2012. After a lapse of one year, the Association, which is the oldest Sri Lankan association in Germany, again represented the country's culture and its heritage at the pageant, which is admired by millions alongside the route.

The first place went to the country presentation by Colombia and the third place to Palestine. Sri Lanka is the only country representing Asia to win this place, which was competed by many nations and organisations.

The members of the Sri Lankan community participating in the event were able to project its low-country and up-country dancing representing various ethnicities among the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher communities of Sri Lanka.

The final dancing presentation was to the tune of "Majura Wanna" with improvised music melody to suite the occasion, backed by Kandyan drummers among the Sri Lankan youths living in Berlin. The Majura Wanna was performed by female dancers trained by Ms. Anjali Dissanayake.

Sri Lankan flags were carried during the entire procession to several kilometres taking about eight hours showing the true ethnic harmony between all communities of Sri Lanka living in Germany.

Another attractive feature was displaying of the Thumpath Rena sculpture creation of father, mother, child elephants taken around on the structure of a float sponsored by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Berlin, which attracted huge enthusiasm among the gathered onlookers, because of its unique feature connected to Sri Lanka, which no country had depicted in this procession.

The Sri Lankan group began with the attractive float designed by the Sri Lankan Association depicting a large image of a peacock, which won the admiration of the Jury deciding in favour of Sri Lanka in this event.

According to the jury, Sri Lanka was awarded the second place for its message of harmony among the community through culture, which was the theme of the Sri Lanka Association for this parade. In this closely competitive jury decision, Sri Lanka won 104 points behind Colombia's 108 points, and the group from Palestine won 96 points. Some analysts emphasised the peacock displayed as a bonding symbol between the Buddhists and Hindus, as a symbol of harmony in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Germany Sarath Kongahage played a key role towards the success and congratulated the Sri Lanka Association for the great contribution they have done. He also thanked the sponsors, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Sri Lanka Tea Board, for their contribution for make this success. He requested all sponsors to keep the annual Carnival of Cultures in Berlin in mind, as the appearance of the Sri Lanka Association was again a great contribution towards a positive image of Sri Lanka in Germany.

The float

Some of the viewers

The massive gathering watching the pageant