HON MINISTER NIMAL SIRIPALA DE SILVA ADDRESSES THE DIASPORA COMMUNITY AT THE HIGH COMMISSION’S CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN LONDON

The Sri Lanka High Commission in London celebrated a Christmas Carol Service on the 14 December 2012, with the participation of over 150 members of the  Sri Lankan Diaspora community living in the UK. The evening commenced with the lighting of the advent candles.

Rev. Father Rohitha Rodrigo; Rev Father Tony de Alwis, Venerable Konwawe Ariyarathana Thero; Pastor Charles Abraham; and Rev Father Colvin  addressed the gathering, conducted prayers , and highlighted the significance of Christmas, and the message of  peace, love and goodwill to all.

Hon Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and Leader of the House, addressed the diaspora community. He congratulated High Commissioner Dr Chris Nonis on all his initiatives in bringing  the diaspora communities living in the UK together as a symbol of unity, friendship, and peace. He said that Sri Lanka today is a Nation for all communities and all religions. He spoke of the  sincere  reconciliation efforts, in addition to rehabilitation and reconstruction,  and the imperative of bringing the hearts and minds of the diaspora together. He wished the diaspora community the joy and peace of the Christmas Season on behalf of His Excellency President  Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan People.

High Commissioner Dr. Chris Nonis said it was heartening  to see  such a large and diverse group of people of all ethnicities and religious faiths gathered  together  that evening under the roof of the High Commission, to celebrate the Christmas Season, with Trilingual Christmas Carols sung in Tamil, Sinhalese, and English. He was touched to see the Tamil , Sinhalese , Muslim, and Burger Sri Lankan Communities, and especially the children, participating so beautifully together in this Christmas Celebration, which  demonstrated such  goodwill and understanding. He said that all Sri Lankans  can now enjoy the joy of peace, and  highlighted the virtues of forgiveness,  compassion, generosity, tolerance and mutual respect of all communities for each other, which would ensure a lasting and durable peace in our Country.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka

London

24 December 2012