Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC celebrates Thai Pongal!: வாஷிங்டன் இலங்கை தூதரகத்தில் தைபொங்கல் விழா!

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Washington::Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya said, "The Thai Pongal celebration is an occasion to contemplate the continued peace in Sri Lanka".

 

Further he said that, "It is an occasion to reflect on the peace in Sri Lanka, and pray for the continuation of lasting peace and reconciliation. Our own genuine efforts to join hands and unite as Sri Lankans living in the US, can offer valuable support to the peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka".

Ambassador Wickramasuriya shared his views delivering the welcome address at a function organized to celebrate the Thai Pongal at Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC on 15th January.

 

In keeping with the tradition of celebrating important days of all four major religions observed by Sri Lankans, the Embassy commences its event calendar every year by hosting Thai Pongal.

Ambassador Wickramasuriya during his remarks also recognized two prominent Tamil community leaders, Swami Sivanatha Kurukkal and Mrs. Kanaga Ranganthan for their long and unreserved service to the Sri Lankan American community in the United States.

 

Swami Sivanatha Kurukkal made the offerings to Lord Ganesh and Deities according to the Hundu tradition. He also offered blessings to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka and US, and to the people of the two nations including all present.

 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Kanaga Ranganthan delivered a special speech on the "Significance of Thai Pongal". In her remarks Mrs. Ranganthan also made a special reference to the rich diversity of Sri Lanka and the ability of its people to find unity amidst the diversity.

 

We have to consider pretty strongly that Sri Lanka is a country that is richly endowed with the diversity of people, diversity of culture, diversity of faiths, diversity of everything and it owes us as children of God to find unity in this diversity. And this unity that we can find in the diversity in the population that we are richly endowed with in Sri Lanka will bring us eternal joy, peace, bliss and serenity." , she said.

 

Mrs. Ranganthan thanked Ambassador Wickramasuriya and the Embassy staff for hosting a colourful Thai Pongal celebration once again in this year. The guests enjoyed a traditional Sri Lankan vegetarian dinner following the formal proceedings of the ceremony.