News
Paradox and resilience as Lankans go into festive mood to welcome 2023
View(s):By Sohan Vipulananda
Hope amidst despair, happiness amidst sorrow: the dawn of a New Year for Sri Lankans may be a paradox. But a spirit of resilience was seen as they greeted 2023.
For the first time in three years, there were public gatherings to usher in the New Year when the clock struck 12. With Covid-19 restrictions removed, people gathered at open spaces, star hotels, and party venues to welcome the New Year. They lit firecrackers and enjoyed the fireworks, while the spiritually inclined engaged in religious ceremonies.
Crowds have been gathering at the Galle Face Green in the past couple of days to watch the firework display at the Port City and enjoy time with family and friends. Our reporters say the festive mode was the same in Negombo, Galle, Matara, and other places, especially tourist hotspots.
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- Weerakobbekaduwa temple in Puttalam: Greeting the New Year with lit oil lamps
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- Weerakobbekaduwa temple in Puttalam: Greeting the New Year with lit oil lamps
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- Homeward bound
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- Thrifty shopping: Scene at 2nd Cross Street
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- Colombo city hotels lit up for the season
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- Best buys: Shoppers make their way home with goodies
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- Puttalam: New pots for the New Year
At the Galle Face Green, the setting was in stark contrast to the weeks-long protests — the Aragalaya –that forced the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign. The Aragalaya’s centre of gravity outside the Presidential Secretariat was turned into a carnival with a towering Christmas tree, illumination, music, dance, and what not.
Revellers, mostly from middle-income groups, said that although they were facing a difficult time due to the present economic crisis, they made up their minds to have some fun in this once-a-year celebration.
In Colombo and other tourist destinations, hotels held their customary New Year events such as dinner dances and more.
The Sunday Times learns that in most hotels, New Year dinner dances were sold out.
Hotels Association President S. Shanthi Kumar said “2022 was a challenging year but we fought back and proved to be resilient.”
In Kandy, too, hotels held dinner dances while revellers who could not afford star-class hospitality on New Year’s Eve celebrated the night at DJ events.
Kandy Hoteliers Association President Rodney Armstrong said people wanted to have some entertainment this festive season.
He said that to continue the celebrations, the Kandy Hoteliers Association would hold a 2 pm-6 pm ‘Teen Disco’ at the end of this month. “Christmas went well and it was happening. It was more than what we expected,” Mr. Armstrong said.
Pix by Priyanka Samaraweera,
Eshan Fernando,
Indika Handuwala,
Hiran Priyankara
and M.A. Pushpa Kumara
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