President Chief Guest at schools’ Pongal festival

The Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), together with Ministry of Education and Provincial Education Ministries, is planning a series of multi-religious, multi-cultural events to be celebrated throughout the year in schools across the country.

The theme ‘A United Sri Lanka: Blessed with Diversity’ highlights the importance of creating awareness about, respecting and celebrating the diversity of Sri Lanka while being appreciative of the common values across communities. The ONUR plans to organise eight such celebrations in total, throughout the year.

The program will commence with Thai Pongal festival in January. Multiple events are planned to be held in four different provinces.

The main events in Western Province will be in Kalutara District with the President presiding on 18 January, Colombo District with the Prime Minister on 26 January and Gampaha District (Negombo) with former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga presiding on 22 January.