Members of the Sri Lankan Sinhala and Tamil communities celebrated their New Year Festival in Beveridge at the weekend.
The Sri Lankan New Year falls on April 14 and is based on the solar calendar that depends on the sun’s movement.
The festival provided an opportunity for the Sri Lankan community to get together and share traditional customs.
Sri Lankan Association of Mitchell Shire president Panchani Jayatilake said everyone enjoyed the traditional games.
“We dress with our traditional outfits on that day. This is a cultural event for us,” she said.
“Our main aim is to promote our cultural values and customs to our young generations as well as to the Australian community. Our organization was started with a few families who lived in Wallan and now it has expanded around to the surrounding suburbs.”
This is the successful third year the Sri Lankan Association has run the Sri Lankan New Year Festival. Sri Lankan Consul General, Melbourne Mr Sandith Samarasinghe attended this year’s event.
