[Berlin]
BThe Embassy of Sri Lanka with the support of the Sri Lanka Association in Berlin celebrated Christmas at a colourful ceremony on Saturday, December 17 at the All Saints Church, Berlin. The event highlighted and symbolized the goodwill and religious harmony among different communities of Sri Lankans living in Germany.
Delivering a speech at the event, Ambassador Karunatilaka Amunugama noted the significance of Christmas and highlighted the importance of holding multi-religious events which symbolizes Sri Lanka's rich diversity.
Deacon, Thomas Markgraffkosch of Herz Jesu church in Berlin delivered a Christmas prayer bestowing blessings upon the participants and all Sri Lankans for a happy and a prosperous year ahead. Nativity plays and Christmas Carols were performed in Sinhala, Tamil, English and German languages by the children of Sri Lankan origin and Christmas ambience was generated, by setting up Christmas decorations while gifts were distributed among children. With the true spirit of Christmas and to share the joy and happiness of the season with displaced refugee children at the Zehlendorf refugee centre, the Embassy took the initiative in donating Christmas gifts to a group of 37 refugee children together with the well-wishers of the Sri Lanka Association. The event brought together around 150 guests and they were entertained with a sumptuous Sri Lankan dinner arranged by the Embassy and the Sri Lankan community in Berlin.
[Jakarta]
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta hosted the Christmas Celebrations on Saturday December 17 with Sri Lankans from all over Indonesia joining the event.
Rev. Alan Wood Vicar of All Saints Church Menteng, Jakarta and gave the Christian sermon, prayed over and blessed the community. In his sermon, Rev Wood reflected on the message of Christmas, of love, peace, tolerance and compassion. The Choral Group of the All Saints Church Menteng provided the evening with songs of praise and Carols. Ambassador Dharshana. M. Perera in his remarks outlined the history of Christianity in Sri Lanka beginning from the earliest times to the colonial and post colonial periods and up to the present. He noted the contribution Christianity has made to education, music, art and architecture in the island. The Ambassador warmly commended the Sri Lankan community in Indonesia for coming together in partnership with the Embassy in 2016 to observe as a community the major religious festivals of Wesak, Id-UL-fitr, Deepawali and Christmas - thus celebrating Sri Lanka's pluralism. The evening was attended by Sri Lankans in Indonesia from all denominations including Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians whose representatives joined together in lighting the traditional oil lamp in a gesture of unity and solidarity.
[Israel]
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Israel celebrated Christmas on December 16 at the Chancery premises. A cross- section of the Sri Lankan community living in Israel along with the Embassy staff participated in the celebrations.
Ambassador Periyasamy Pillai Selvaraj welcomed the gathering and highlighted the importance of Christmas. He also emphasized the need for loving neighbours, showering kindness and compassion in order to create goodwill, peace, harmony and friendship amongst all human beings to ensure to bring peace and prosperity around the world.
Rev. Father Roshan Wasantha Perera invoked blessings and conducted religious ceremony. The Sri Lankan community performed Christmas carols at the event. Minister D.A.Eranga Algama, delivered the vote of thanks.
The evening concluded with a reception which included an array of traditional and special Sri Lankan foods.
The gathering showed extreme appreciation of the Embassy for organizing the Christmas celebrations which maintains the traditional multiculturalism of Sri Lanka. At the end of the programme, the guests exchanged holiday pleasantries.