Sri Lanka prepares for New Year festivities, declares additional holiday on 15th

Sri Lanka in preparation to celebrate the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year will declare an additional holiday this year on April 15th and the gazette notification relating to the declaration of 15th as an additional holiday will be released today.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs P.B. Abeykoon says that Government, Corporations and Statutory institutions are entitled to enjoy the additional holiday declared on the 15th of this month on account of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
A request has been made to grant this holiday to the employees in the private sector as well.
The Secretary adds that extra holiday has been declared according to a proposal of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs says that the traditional Nekath Seettuwa or the list of auspices times for the rituals of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year will be declared following presentation of the list to the President today.
The state-run radio said the general public is arriving in large numbers to the towns to prepare for the celebrations of the New Year. The hours of business of trading places have been extended.
The Ayurudu Polas of the Divi Neguma programme will take place from the 5th to the 12th of this month on the regional level. The Consumer Affairs Authority is engaged in conducting special raids to prevent market irregularities during the festive period.