Troops of 51 Infantry Division Celebrated Sinhala and Tamil New Year in a Grand Scale with the Jaffna Tamil Community

With objectives of enhancing the mutual understanding of values, attitudes and inter-relationship in a multi-cultural, religious, multi-ethnic society and civil military cooperation, a Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival was conducted by the troops of 51 Infantry Division under the guidance of Major General Swarna Bothota, Commander Security Forces (Jaffna) and the supervision of Major General Vajira Welagedara General Officer Commanding 51 Infantry Division on 15 April 2023 at Duraiappa Stadium Jaffna. The Governor Northern Province Hon. Jeevan Thiyagarajah graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and there were number of high - profile Government Officers and Military Officers attended to the festival.

The day’s itinerary was begun after the hoisting of National Flag. Initially organized sporting events were bicycle race and marathon (Men / Women). After lighting the oil lamp customary activities and other games were began. Some of the interesting games were the grease tree, pillow fighting, breaking pots, tug-of-war, dotting the elephant eye, cadjan weaving, play musical chairs, inflating balloons, bun eating, obstacles race, the lime-on-spoon race, Kolam Rata, fancy dress up, Thachchi Penima. The festival was filled with Sinhala and Tamil traditional events and Tamil cultural dances which drew the attention of a large gathering of civilian from Jaffna peninsula. Army band extracted extraordinary glamour by playing Tamil songs during the event. A large number of Tamil civilians enthusiastically participated in those events.

Brigade Commanders, Staff Officers of 51 Infantry Division, Commanding Officers and Officers of Brigades and Battalions, and troops under 51 Infantry Division had contributed for the successful completion of the programme with tremendous cooperation of the District Secretary Jaffna and Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Northern Province.