Representative Chris Van Hollen was the Chief Guest at this event

The Ranga Kala Kavaya New Year celebrations were held on Saturday 24th April 2004 at the Blair High School Auditorium amidst a large gathering of the Sri Lankan expatriate community, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US and Embassy Staff. Representative Christopher Van Hollen, (D-MD) was the Chief Guest at this event.

Addressing the gathering of Sri Lankan expatriate community, Representative Van Hollen expressed his pleasure to be a part of the Ranga Kala Kavaya New Year celebrations and recollected the happy memories of his childhood as a student in Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Devinda Subasinghe, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US in his address to the gathering noted that the Sinhala and Tamil New Years was a time of togetherness when differences were set aside and peace and harmony prevailed. He observed that the Ranga Kala Kavaya had continuously been in the forefront of promoting Sri Lankan culture in Washington DC, and this event was no exception.

The speeches were followed by a evening of traditional Sinhala and Tamil song and dance, depicting the rich traditions and cultural heritage of the country.

• Speech by H.E. Ambassador Devinda R Subasinghe at the New Year celebrations - (English Version)
  
  
• Speech by H.E. Ambassador Devinda R Subasinghe at the New Year celebrations - (Sinhala Version)

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA

26 April 2004