KINGSBURY BAK MAHA SANAKELIYA RETURNS

Sri Lanka Educational, Cultural & Welfare Foundation affiliated to the Sri Saddatissa International Buddhist Centre in Kingsbury, North London is making arrangements to bring back the Bakmaha Ulela ‘Sinhala & Tamil New Year’ celebrations on the 25th of April 2015 at Harrow Leisure centre.

Head of Sri Saddatissa International Buddhist Centre and the President of the Sri Lanka Educational, Cultural and Welfare Foundation Most Ven. Aggamaha Panditha Galayaye Piyadassi Nayaka Thero (MBE) said that the long running and claimed to be the largest Sri Lankan cultural event in Europe, the Kingsbury New Year Celebrations had to be suspended a few years back due to the huge amount of costs involved in hiring a suitable venue to accommodate ever increasing number of spectators attending the event.However many a time since the New Year programme was suspended devotees and well wishers of the temple and children of the Saddatissa Dhamma School and their parents constantly requested the Nayaka Thero and the temple authorities to make arrangements to bring back the most popular and the biggest Sinhala and Tamil New Year programme.As a result Ven. Piyadassi Nayaka Thero have asked the devotees, parents and supporters of the temple to organise the festival again on the 25th of April at Harrow Leisure Centre.

For many who are born here in the UK, living here for a long time or working in the UK this probably is the closest opportunity they will get to take part in the traditional activities and rituals of the Sinhala & Tamil New Year in the same manner as their relatives living in Sri Lanka.This year’s Bak Maha Sanakeliya will include three parts. Starting with the traditional New Year games in the morning and the Cultural Show in the after noon, and a musical show in the evening with guest artists from Sri Lanka and famous Sri Lankan artists living in UK.
Morning game event with traditional Sri Lankan games starts at 10:30 am.

We are fortunate to experience a Sri Lankan cultural show in UK, which will be decorated by Professor Mudiyanse Dissanayaka’s guidance and professional artists, and performance by pupils of the Sri Saddatissa Damma School trained by A.P.Attanayake and Rasika attanayaka. Cultural show will start at 2:30pm and finishes at 5:00 pm.
There is no entrance fee for the morning games and the cultural show.A very nominal gate charge of £ 5.00 only is charged for the musical show.

Final part would be the Musical Show. Musical Show will be highlighted with many Sri Lankan Guest Artists & Local Sri Lankan Artists. Chandani Hettiarachchige and her Husband Chaminda Hemaratne (C&C band in Sri Lanka) will perform in the show. They are well known for entertaining the crowds. Up-and-coming artist, Nilantha Siri Pathirana (who is well known for his unique talent in singing in many different voices) will provide a new experience for the gathering. You will refresh your glamorous memories of Milton Perera with the voice of Piyushan Perera (Son of Famous Musician Milton Perera). Also you will cherish the voices of the local Sri Lankan artistes such as Sunil Perera (London Sunil) famous for his baila, Maynu Thathsarani Abeykoon born in the UK but cherish the Sri Lankan Music and the youngest in the crowd, Shyama Kaluarachchi famous for her voice and entertainment, Eranda Wickramasinghe a young and talented entertaining singer with a smile and Vimukthi Mahindaratne also a super star in London. Sunrise Band will play for the event, which is one of the leading bands with lots of experience in the field.