Sri Lanka’s Independence celebrated on a grand scale in Kuwait

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Kuwait celebrated Sri Lanka’s 68th Independence Day on a grand scale at the embassy premises in Kuwait City on the morning of 4 February. The event saw a large gathering of foreign diplomats in attendance.

After hoisting of the National Flag at 8:30 a.m. by the Sri Lankan Ambassador Kandeepan Balasubramaniam, the visitors were hosted to a morning tea party with the traditional kavum, kiribath and other Lankan sweetmeats. Speaking at the occasion Balasubramaniam said that Sri Lanka had been a long standing friend of Kuwait and it was a privilege to be associated with a friendly country in celebrating the 68th Independence Day here in Kuwait City.

Since Sri Lanka gained Independence, it has had close relations with Kuwait, which has done a lot for Sri Lanka in various ways. “Kuwait has given 140,000 job opportunities to Sri Lankans which my country highly appreciates,” said the Lankan Ambassador.

To mark this event a special cultural show was also held with the participation of the world renowned dance troupe of Channa and Upuli. In addition to this a cultural show and an exhibition of scrap metal sculpture and wildlife paintings by Lalith Senanayake too were held on this day.

The Cultural Show presented by a group of 17 members from the Channa Wijewardene Dance Foundation led by Upuli Wijewardene performed well to show the culture of Sri Lanka through the art of dance. 

The Chief Guest at the Cultural Show was Kuwait’s Minister for Public Works and State Minister for State Assembly Affairs Ali Saleh Al-Omair. Almost all diplomats representing their respective countries in Kuwait attended the Cultural Show which depicted various forms of Lankan dancing. The dancers received a standing ovation.

On Wednesday a Lankan food estival has held at one of Kuwait’s leading hotels, the Radisson, organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka. This festival was intended mainly to promote Lanka’s food among foreigners, which could attract them to visit Sri Lanka as tourists. 

The Food Festival also saw many diplomats based in Kuwait visit to taste Lankan food prepared only by Lankan chefs serving at this hotel. The festival received high praise from attendees, who enjoyed the real taste of Sri Lankan food prepared using various kinds of spices.

The two days of hard work by the Ambassador and the staff of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Kuwait went a great way towards promoting the country’s image.