Forget 2018's political turmoil, Lankans all set to welcome 2019
Setting aside the political turmoil and economic sluggishness of the past 12 months, Sri Lankans are all set to usher in 2019 with firecrackers and celebrations, full of fresh hopes and aspirations.
As in other years, a large number of people are expected to visit the Dalada Maligawa, the Kataragama devale, the Gangaramaya viharaya in Colombo and other places of religious worship to mark the dawn of the New Year with religious observances.
A Dalada Maligawa official said preparations were underway to hold the annual Kiri Ahara pooja on December 31 to invoke blessings on the country and its people in the New year.
The police and armed forces will kick start the New Year with several small- scale ceremonies.
Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said that under the patronage of Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara, a special ceremony would be held at Police Headquarters on January 1 to mark the New Year. Religious observances apart, 2019 will see several government programmes coming into force.
In the health sector, an electronic health card will be implemented from January, according to National Hospital Deputy Director Dr MA SC Samarakoon. She said that by scanning the card, doctors would be able to know the medial history and the treatment given to the patient.
She also said the hospital had made arrangements to welcome the New Year by chanting pirith at the hospital premises on December 31.
The Tourism Ministry, smarting over its failure to achieve the 2.5 million tourist arrival target, partly due to the political turmoil in the past two months, is to launch stepped-up promotional measures from January 1 to attract more tourists to the country.
As part of its New Year programme, the Sri Lanka Transport Board ( SLTB) will add 100 new buses to its fleet on January 1 to be deployed on long distance routes between Colombo and provincial capitals, SLTB Deputy General Manager PH RT Chandrasiri said.
He said the SLTB would deploy one thousand more buses to meet the passenger demand on January 1, as most people would like to begin the New Year by reporting to work on time.
“The SLTB deploys 5,400 buses on a general day. But on January 1, some 5,500 will be in service," he said.
Meanwhile, as usual, moves are underway to welcome the New Year with fun and frolic. Beach parties and dinner dances are being organised by hotels and tour groups in Colombo, other main cities and popular tourist destinations.
In Mount Lavinia, a gala dinner dance is being organised featuring Chinese music and culture. Tickets for the dance are priced at Rs5,000 for adults and Rs2,500 for children. New Year parties featuring the cultures and music of a few other countries, such as Egypt, are also being planned, and organisers said tickets were selling fast.
Several 5- star hotels said tickets for gala dances were selling at the usual pace and they were happy their rooms were fully booked for the New Year season.
Meanwhile, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, a New Year beach party is being organised in an unusual place -- the Delft Islands.
An organiser told the Sunday Times that all tickets had sold out by November 30. The event is hosted by a private tourism company.
Tickets were sold at just over Rs 30,000 for adults and Rs 15,000 for children.