Suba Aluth Avruddak Vewa

Labuwavu aluth avurudda saamaya, sathuta, nirogee suwaya pri suba nawa vasarak ma vewa! [Roughly translated to - Wishing you peace, happiness and good health for the New Year.]

In April, the month of Bak, when the sun moves from the Meena Rashiya to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Pisces to the House of Aries); Sri Lankans begin celebrating their New Year or Aluth Avurudhu (or Puththandu in Tamil). The history of this Sinhala & Hindu Aluth Avrudha dates back to primitive period in Sri Lankan history. However, with Sri Lanka embracing Buddhism in the third century BC, the existing New Year activities were adjusted and aligned along a more Buddhist way, thereby transforming the New Year rites and rituals to what they are today. Hinduism, on the other hand, existed side by side with Buddhism, in medieval times and New Year practices interpreted in the Hinduistic way developed among the Hindus. Because of that Sri Lankans often confuse this New Year to Buddhist/Hindu New Year, whereas it is actually not.

National festival of Sri Lanka
W.T.A. Leslie Fernando [Retired High Court Judge] says in his essay in his essay titled ‘New Year could be the national festival of Sri Lanka’ says:

 “Since New Year is not a religious festival confined exclusively to a particular faith, it could be celebrated by all the religious and ethnic groups in Sri Lanka as a common national festival. Its unique features could be made use of to promote friendship and mutual understanding among people. “