The Sri Lankan Association in Berlin has achieved one of the most prestigious place among the nations in the international city of Berlin by achieving the Second Place at the Carnival of Cultures, which was held on the 8th June 2014 in the streets of Berlin. This event is viewed by millions alongside the route of the procession and also by millions of Europeans over live-telecast by leading German channels. The Sri Lankan Association was greatly assisted by the Sri Lankan Mission in Berlin with the generous contribution from the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Sri Lanka Tea Board.
In the year 2012, Sri Lanka was awarded the First Place among the 99 countries with a pageant led by the Channa Upuli Cultural Troop. After a lapse of one year, the association, which is the oldest Sri Lankan association in Germany, again represented the country’s culture and its heritage at the pageant, which is admired by millions of people watching alongside the route. The First Place went to the country presentation by Colombia and the Third Place went to Palestine. Sri Lanka is the only country representing Asia to win this place, which was competed very enthusiastically by many nations and organizations spending greater funds than Sri Lanka spent.
The members of the Sri Lankan community participating in the event were able to project its low-country and up-country dancing representing various ethnicities among the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Malay Burger communities of Sri Lanka. The final dancing presentation was to the tune of “Majura Wanna” with improvised music melody to suite the occasion, backed by Kandyan Drummers among the Sri Lankan youths living in Berlin. The Majura Wanna was performed by female dancers effectively trained by Ms. Anjali Dissanayake. Sri Lankan flags were carried during the entire procession to several kilometers taking about eight hours
All ethnic communities of Sri Lanka living in Germany participated in the parade showing the true harmony between all communities of Sri Lanka living in Germany. Sinhala and Tamil songs were sung throughout the procession, and it was a new encouraging development that many Tamils joined the procession and danced to Tamil and Sinhala songs.
Another attractive feature was displaying of the “Thumpath Rena” sculpture creation of father, mother, child elephants taken around on the structure of a float sponsored by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Berlin, which attracted huge enthusiasm among the gathered onlookers, because of its unique feature connected to Sri Lanka, which no country had depicted in this procession. The Sri Lankan group began with the attractive float designed by the Sri Lankan Association depicting a large image of a peacock, which won the admiration of the Jury deciding in favor of Sri Lanka in this event.
According to the jury, Sri Lanka was awarded the second place for its message of harmony among the community through culture, which was the theme of the Sri Lanka Association for this parade. In this closely competitive jury decision, Sri Lanka won 104 points behind Colombia’s 108 points, and the group from Palestine won 96 points. Some analysts emphasized the peacock displayed as a bonding symbol between the Buddhists and Hindus, as a symbol of a peaceful togetherness in Sri Lanka.
H.E. Mr. Sarrath Kongahage, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Germany, congratulates the Sri Lanka Association for the great contribution they have done to achieve this for our country and also thanked Kawshal Huladduwa, Roy Pathirana for design and decoration, Aruna Lian for composing the music and DJ Prabath, Anusha Weeratunge for training the youth and children dance group and others actively made contribution for the success of this event. He further thanked the sponsors, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Sri Lanka Tea Board, for their contribution for make this success.
He also requests all sponsors to keep the annual Carnival of Cultures in Berlin in mind, as the appearance of the Sri Lanka Association was again a great contribution towards a positive image of Sri Lanka in Germany.
