ONUR celebrates Thai Pongal in schools to foster national unity and reconciliation

In a meaningful initiative to bring the people of Sri Lanka closer together and understand each other’s diversity and different cultures, the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) celebrated the Thai Pongal festival in schools in seven provinces – Northern, Eastern, North Western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern.

A total of 51,706 students in 549 schools in the provinces covering 53 Zones and 112 Divisions participated in the Thai Pongal celebration.  The event meaningfully helped the children of different religions to celebrate and share the customs of others and understand that it does not impact on one’s own identity in any way – which is the key objective of true reconciliation. 

“The arts and culture initiative undertaken by ONUR to target the education sector in inter-religious and cultural festival celebrations in schools will enhance awareness of different religions, traditions, customs and values, helping to create a deeper understanding of the similarities in the core of diverse faiths and cultures in the country, opening the door to true reconciliation,” said M. S. Jayasinghe, Director General of ONUR.

Arts and culture is used by ONUR to enhance national unity and reconciliation among different cultures and ethnicities and this initiative, held for the second successive year, has been significant due to its reach and the ability to trigger positive perceptions among different segments of the population.  

ONUR worked closely with the Ministry of Education and Provincial Education Ministries to organise this island-wide initiative to promote experiential learning on the nation’s diverse cultures.  

ONUR will continue to bring together school children of different cultures on all important religious and cultural festivals such as Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Poson, Ramazan, Christmas, enabling the children and their parents to share in the celebrations of different communities, making each a unique and innovative event that opens their eyes to the joy and friendship resulting from sharing and celebrating diversity.