Christmas observed in Jakarta

Saturday, 24 December 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta hosted Christmas celebrations on Saturday 17 December with Sri Lankans from all over Indonesia joining the event.

Rev. Alan Wood Vicar of All Saints Church Menteng, Jakarta gave the Christian sermon, prayed over and blessed the community. In his sermon, Rev. Wood reflected on the message of Christmas, of love, peace, tolerance and compassion. The Choral Group of the All Saints Church Menteng provided the evening with songs of praise and carols.

Ambassador Dharshana M. Perera in his remarks outlined the history of Christianity in Sri Lanka beginning from the earliest times to the colonial and post colonial periods and up to the present. He noted the contribution Christianity has made to education, music, art and architecture in the island. The Ambassador warmly commended the Sri Lankan community in Indonesia for coming together in partnership with the Embassy in 2016 to observe as a community the major religious festivals of Vesak, Id-ul-fitr, Deepavali and Christmas – thus celebrating Sri Lanka’s pluralism.

The evening was attended by Sri Lankans in Indonesia from all denominations including Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians whose representatives joined together in lighting the traditional oil lamp in a gesture of unity and solidarity.