Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his  New Year message notes that the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a national festival which embellishes national unity, brotherhood, equality, pleasure and prosperity of which traditions are embedded in the culture of Sri Lankans whose lives are mostly based on an agricultural economy since the distant past.

The message went on to note that the country is marching towards a new political culture for the progress of the entire nation where ethnic, religious and political differences have no value adding that it is unique that, in this year people are able to celebrate the New Year without any pressure, fear or suppression.

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