Photo Gallery: Sri Lankans Celebrate Independence, U.N. Admission At Cultural Center

Singing and dancing was a big part of the Feb. 7 dual celebration by the Sri Lankan community.

Several hundred members of the Sri Lankan community gathered Feb. 7 at the Ukranian Orthodox Cultural Center for a double celebration.

They were celebrating the 68th anniversary of Sri Lanka winning its independence from Great Britain, and the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka being admitted to the United Nations as a member state.

සිංහල මේ කතාව කියවීම සඳහා , අන්ත දක්ෂිනාංශික තීරුවේ ඇති භාෂා පරිවර්තකයා මෙවලමක් භාවිතා .

சிங்களம் இந்த கதையை படிக்க , இதுவரை வலது பத்தியில் மொழிபெயர்ப்பாளர் கருவியை பயன்படுத்த. 

The bulk of that celebration was comprised of a cultural program, featuring singing and dancing. There were also addresses by several officials, and a blessing of the event by representatives from the four major religions of Sri Lanaka: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.

In attendance was A. Rohan Perera, the Sri Lankan permanent representative to the United Nations. Perea said this is a meaningful celebration because of the current political climate in Sri Lanka.

“We are entering a decisive phase in Sri Lankan recent political history,” he said. “After a long, drawn-out conflict lasting decades, the present government has launched a reconciliation program, basically heling the wounds of the past for all communities, races, religions to get together as one nation and that important post-conflict nation building.”

Sri Lanka suffered a 26-year civil war between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which wanted a separate Tamil state. The war ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers.

Dr. Wije Kottahechchi, one of the event’s organizers, said it was a “community celebration by the Sri Lankan community here in Central new Jersey and Franklin Township and also by the Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations.

In welcoming the guests, township Mayor Phillip Kramer said the Sri Lankan community “enriches us.”

“Please continue to enrich us with your culture and your wisdom.” he said.

2016 Sri Lankan Independence Celebration

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