SRI LANKAN EXPATRIATES CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS AT EMBASSY OF SRI LANKA IN WASHINGTON

Father Percy De Silva addresses the Sri Lankan community from the Greater Washington area

The Sri Lanka Embassy’s annual Christmas celebrations were held on a crisp and cold Washington evening on 06 December, in keeping with the tradition of the Embassy of commemorating the important festivals of all four world religions practiced in Sri Lanka.

Deputy Chief of Mission Tissa Wijeratne began the program with a welcome speech, explaining the importance of participating in multi-religious events as a celebration of harmony among diversity.

“Christmas of course is a time for giving and receiving gifts,” Deputy Chief of Mission Wijeratne told the gathering. “As Sri Lankans, we recognize that this year we have received the greatest gift of all - peace and liberty from the tyranny of violence.”

Everybody joined in to sing some popular carols, led by Mrs. Melita Ethelbert

Father Percy De Silva of Kensington, Md. delivered a Christmas prayer and Dr. Gregory Fernandopulle of the Sri Lanka American Catholic Association of Metropolitan Washington spoke on “The Significance of Christmas”.

Everybody joined in to sing some popular Christmas carols, led by Mrs. Melita Ethelbert .

Minister P. Selvaraj delivered the voted of thanks.

After a brief program, the guests enjoyed Sri Lankan food and tea and exchanged holiday pleasantries.

The embassy was decorated in the Christmas spirit, including a large Christmas tree.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA

11 December 2009