The fullest joy of the New Year is realized in a free country where home and hearth is in full abundance, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The ability to make the country self-sufficient in rice, built a society rich in ethical values and seeing this birth of a New Year of happiness, gives us much cause for satisfaction, the President said in his New Year message.
 
 
Following is the full message:
 
Let us welcome with joy the New Year that has dawned.
 
The “Aluth Avurudda” is a great cultural festival that has been observed by us from ancient times. It is the festival that marks the great association of Mother Earth with the Sun. Sri Lankans who are nurtured by an agricultural lifestyle meaningfully accepts the dawn of this traditional New Year.
 
The fullest joy of the New Year is realized in a free country where home and hearth is in full abundance. The ability to make the country self-sufficient in rice, built a society rich in ethical values and seeing this birth of a New Year of happiness, gives us much cause for satisfaction. It is a joy to us all that today, more than at other times, our people are committed to observing the tradition of the New Year and thus the revival of the nation.
 
The great tradition of bonding among families that is seen in the New Year adds strength to our society. Therefore, we must value the traditions that have come down to us from centuries past, protect them, and bestow this heritage to the generations that follow. This is what assures the continuance of the Sri Lankan nations.
 
I wish you all a prosperous New Year!


New Year Message from Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne

It is with great pleasure I add this message on account of the dawn of Sinhala-Hindu New year which symbolises the Sri Lankan’s 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. The Sri Lankans just after their new harvest perform all the New Year rituals at the same auspicious time exhibiting their harmony and collaboration.
 
As privileged two nations, Sri Lankans should be determined to make a meaningful cultural festival out of Sinhala-Hindu New Year just not focusing on mere celebrations. We all have been entrusted with the responsibility of building our nation with the inspiration of the Sri Lankan culture and our own identity. It is teamwork and all the nations should make their contribution irrespective of their races, religions, politics, castes or colour.
 
As no one could ever predict, under his able leadership, HE the president was able to end up the war that the whole country was set on fire for 30 years period. Following the victory, we are now on our way towards the development of our country at global level.
 
In parallel to the global programme to achieve millennium development goals, our government has launched many projects targeting economic, social and cultural developments 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 in the country. During the past few years, HE the President has provided his leadership for several development activities which are similar to giant projects implemented for several years by our ancient kings ruled our country.
 
Now as Sri Lankans, you have been gifted with the opportunity to materializing your new hopes of the New Year while safeguarding goods wishes, good customs and social and cultural values.
 
Today is the day that brings smiles on to your faces for a lucky future. I wish you a very happy new year filled with peace, happiness and prosperity. Wish you a fabulous future.