National Thai pongal ceremony in Jaffna [January 17 2011]

The National Thai Pongal ceremony was held at the Durraiappa Stadium in Jaffna in this morning.

President President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest of the ceremony called ‘Suriya Pongal’ held at the Stadium with a participation of a large number of Tamils gathered from all parts of the peninsula.

A pongal rice using 500kg of rice was cooked and over 100 Hindu priests, 50 Tamil musicians and students who have excelled in the Advanced Level Examination 2010 were honored at the ceremony.

Minister of Small Industries Douglus Devananda, Governor Northern Province G.A. Chandrasiri also participated at the ceremony.

President Rajapaksa also visited the Nallur Kovial and Nagadeep Buddhist Temple in Jaffna.