AKD Proposes National Festival to Unite All Communities

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced a new proposal aimed at fostering unity among Sri Lanka's diverse communities.

In his address, President Dissanayake highlighted the divisive politics of the past and emphasized the need for a day where all communities—Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, and Islamic—can come together to celebrate. 

He revealed plans for a grand national festival in October that will showcase the cultures, cuisines, lifestyles, attire, music, drama, and poetry of all communities.

"Our country's old politicians have always engaged in divisive politics. This time, we are introducing a new proposal in the budget. Our country has always celebrated different festivals separately: Thaipongal for the Tamil and Hindu communities, Vesak for the Buddhists, Christmas for the Christians, and Ramadan for the Muslims. But don't we need a day where all communities—Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, and Islamic—come together to celebrate? We have planned a grand national festival in October that will bring together the cultures, cuisines, lifestyles, attire, music, drama, and poetry of all our communities. We are creating a state where children from the North, South, and East can unite," said President Dissanayake.

He further noted that for the first time, Sri Lanka has a government that truly represents the common people. "In the last presidential election, the people decided to transfer power from the elite families to the ordinary families. Isn't that great?" he added, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.