President Ranil Wickremesinghe opens special Christmas carnival hosted by Sri Lanka Tourism

• Event aims to give people an opportunity to enjoy Christmas spirit, usher New Year 
• Tourism Minister Harin Fernando believes event will prove to the world that SL is open for business

The area around the Presidential Secretariat has been transformed into a tourist pull in view of the festive season. 

With a ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ light board on display, the festivities have been organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism under the purview of the Tourism Ministry in collaboration with the Tri-Forces and stakeholders of several hotels in Colombo.  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday launched the special Christmas carol concert and carnival in the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat premises. 

This event aims to give the people an opportunity to enjoy the Christmas spirit and usher the New Year; regardless of caste, creed or religion. 

Last evening an 80-foot Christmas tree was unveiled near the Presidential Secretariat as well. 

Tourism Minister Harin Fernando believes the event will prove the world that Sri Lanka is open for business.

President Wickremesinghe, who visited the event on Sunday, was cordially welcomed by the public and was seen engaged in friendly conversations and posing for photographs with them.

He also watched the Christmas carol concert sitting on the steps of the late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake statue in front of the Galle Face, along with together with Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara as well as the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu.

Tourism Minister Fernando said the carnival has been organised in view of the Christmas and to usher the New Year.

The Presidential Secretariat carols will be held from 7.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. every day till 23 December, whilst special musical shows have also been lined up at the Presidential Secretariat area with the participation of the following bands; Misty (20 December), Foot Print (21 December), Navy and Army (22 December), Kurumba (23 December), Air Force (24 December), Police (25 December), Billi (26 December), Romesh (27 December), and Line One (28 December).  

‘Flash Back’, a special musical show has been organised with the participation of 30 top artistes at the in view of the 31st night celebrations.