All Ceylon Hindu Congress requests Maha Sivarathri declared mercantile holiday
Tuesday, 10 February 2015 01:22
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The All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC) has requested President Maithripala Sirisena to declare the Maha Sivarathri Day which falls on 17 February to be declared a Mercantile holiday.
In representations made via Minister for Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Affairs D.M. Swaminathan, the ACHC has stated that Maha Sivarathri is the most important religious day in the calendar of the Hindus.
The ACHC or the Federation of Hindu Religious Associations and Trusts in Sri Lanka has also requested for the Government to allow the freedom of movement on that day since devotees will be visiting the temples in the night and provide adequate security. Another request is to provide adequate public transport especially for those who will be travelling to Thiruketheeswaram in Mannar from Colombo, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa and up country and other Sivan temples in the country.
ACHC has also requested for the closure of all liquor and meat shops on 17 February and telecast poojas and programs from Thiruketheeswaram Temple via Sri Lanka Rupavahini free of charge
