Together with the Sri Lanka – China Economic, Education, and Cultural Association (SCEECA), the Lankan mission organized the “Beijing Soorya Mangalya” (National New Year) on 16 April 2023, at the Embassy following rituals, customs and tradition. Over 250 invitees, including, Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thera and his disciples, the Sri Lanka community, Sri Lankan students, and Chinese friends attended.

The event began with the traditional lighting of the New Year Lamp, boiling of milk, serving traditional sweetmeats, Avurudu games, in particular, the tug of war, kana muttiya, musical chairs and the selection of the Avurudu Kumaraya and Avurudu Kumari. The participants were so enthusiastic as these activities brought back fond memories of Sri Lanka.

Avurudu rituals were observed enabling the invitees to observe elements of the Sri Lankan culture and to bring a little bit of the Sri Lankan culture to Beijing. The invitees were later treated to Sri Lankan delicacies, especially Sri Lankan traditional sweetmeats, and lunch.

Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Thera, who was present at the event, invoked the blessings of the Triple Gem on the country and the Sri Lankans, and performed the ritual of anointing oil.

Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona extended warm Avurudu wishes to everyone. He said that Sri Lanka is hoping that the reopening of China will result in many Chinese tourists visiting Sri Lanka and helping to revive its flagging tourist industry which was buffeted by COVID-19. We are grateful that Sri Lanka is in the list of 20 countries published for Chinese tourists to visit. China was the main source of global tourists in 2019. Sri Lanka will warmly welcome our Chinese friends.

Further he said that we are also hoping that more Sri Lankan products, in addition to Ceylon black tea, will be able to enter the lucrative Chinese consumer market. These two initiatives, tourism and trade, together will contribute tremendously to reviving Sri Lanka’s economy and also provide a much-needed impetus to its efforts to eliminate extreme poverty as thousands are dependent on tourism and small-scale agriculture for their livelihood. The development of tourism and the ability to export more of our agricultural products will most certainly assist in our efforts to achieve a sustainable recovery.

The Ambassador also encouraged Chinese conglomerates to invest in the Colombo Port City. Trade, tourism and investments are essential to sustain our recovery. In addition, Sri Lanka also provides excellent educational opportunities, conference facilities, leisure living, a two-thousand-year-old effective alternative medical system, and lots more.

Finally, Dr. Kohona thanked all the embassy staff and the SCEECA members who spared no effort to make this event a grand success.