Sri Lankan expats celebrate national day

M.M. Abdul Raheem, Consul General, Consulate General of Sri Lanka Dubai and Northern Emirates lights a lamp to mark Sri Lanka’s 67th Independence Day in Dubai. Photo by Kiran Prasad

Dubai — The 67th National Day of Sri Lanka was celebrated with much pomp and festivity on Wednesday morning, at a brief ceremony at the Consul General of Sri Lanka. A row of Sri Lanka’s bright red-yellow national flags bearing the lion insignia were visible from a distance, fluttering outside the venue in Al Hudaiba.

The event started at 9am with the lighting of the lamp, flag hoisting, national anthem, and also a 2-minute silence for the war heroes. The place was decorated with yellow and white chrysanthemums — a deliberate choice, sources from the Labour Section told Khaleej Times, as these were the colours of Sri Lanka’s independence.

Invitees and dignitaries turned up in their formal best, wishing each other the returns of the day. Many Sri Lankan ladies opted for the traditional Kandyan sari drape.

Addresses of dignitaries were read out, including those of the President, Prime Minister and consul general of Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe spoke about the national aim of “a just and prosperous society”.

After the ceremonial formalities, traditional Sri Lankan refreshments were served. Refreshments included Sinhalese specialties Konda Kawum (oil cake), Kokis (sweet deep fried crisps made of rice flour), Muneta Kawum (Deep Fried Mixture of Mung Beans & Rice Flour with Sugar), and Kiribhath (rice pudding)

nivriti@khaleejtimes.com