‘Salam Ramadan’ returns to Colombo to experience spirit of generosity, unity, coexistence and cultural diversity

From left: Traffic and Road Safety Range Deputy Inspector General of Police DIG W.I.P. Senadheera, Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof, Salam Ramadan Chairman Rizan Nazeer, Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar and Cinnamon Grand Colombo Administration and General – AHPL Hotel Manager Rida Marikkar at the Salam Ramadan launch in Colombo – Pic by Ruwan Walpola 

By Dilrukshi Fernando

Colombo will come alive with vibrancy and festivities as ‘Salam Ramadan’, the country’s foremost Muslim cultural event, returns for a second successful year to Green Path (Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha), from 27 February to 1 March 2026, from 5 p.m. to 12 midnight each evening.

This unique three-day event will take place during the holy month of Ramadan, under the patronage of the Office of the Governor of the Western Province and the Mayor of Colombo. Joining hands as the host hotel is Cinnamon Grand Colombo.

Salam Ramadan will showcase the cultures and traditions of all Muslim communities in Sri Lanka, including the Moors, Malays, Memons, and Bohras, through various aspects such as their rich culinary heritage, traditional attire, handicrafts, and cultural performances. Green Path will transform into a festive boulevard atmosphere, commonly found in Middle Eastern countries during the festive season, complete with brightly lit surroundings and decorative motifs.

 “This is a cultural initiative that reflects not only the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, but also the shared values of unity, coexistence, and mutual respect that define Sri Lanka,” said Salam Ramadan Task Force Chairman, Rizan Nazeer, at the launch press conference held to announce the 2026 program lineup.

Salam Ramadan was inaugurated in 2025 as an initiative of the Governor of the Western Province, Political Council, Hanif Yusuf, in collaboration with the Colombo Municipal Council, to foster understanding, appreciation, and celebration of Sri Lanka's rich cultural diversity during a sacred and reflective time of the year. The event drew more than 15,000 visitors over three days, including Sri Lankans from across the island and foreign nationals.

 “We united communities from all faiths and backgrounds. Transformed Colombo through illuminated streets, places of worship, and commercial institutions. We demonstrated that cultural celebration can be a powerful platform for social cohesion,” Nazeer said further, recalling the success of last year.

 A citywide celebration open to all communities

 Encouraged by the positive impact of its inaugural edition, Salam Ramadan returns this year as a larger, more inclusive, citywide celebration. Visitors can look forward to a vibrant food and retail marketplace, with countless sales booths lining the road, alongside cultural performances by schools and community groups - including song, dance and drama - a new highlight for this year. Traditional attire, handicrafts, and heritage displays will also be featured, complemented by Henna art (Mehndi), Arabic calligraphy, and an educational cultural booth, for a unique cultural experience. Together, these elements come together to create a safe, welcoming, and family-friendly environment.

 Emphasising the importance of collaboration to launch an initiative of this nature and scale, the organisers requested the support of mosques, commercial establishments, malls, supermarkets, as well as public and private institutions, to illuminate and decorate their premises throughout the month of Ramadan, helping create a shared festival atmosphere across the city.

 Over 100 stalls are expected to line up Green Path, including a stall by the host hotel, Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, to cater to the crowds that will be thronging to the venue through the three-day celebration. Provisions are underway to make ‘Sahar food’ available at various stalls,  encouraging the Muslim community to join Salam Ramadan after evening prayers, enabling them to break fast at the venue with their families.

 Nazeer also said that the initiative creates the most opportune moment for Colombo’s business community. “It is a platform for entrepreneurs and emerging brands from the Muslim community to be able to showcase their products and services. We welcome our fellow Sri Lankans to join with us in fellowship and goodwill to make this year’s event a vibrant representation of the Sri Lankan spirit”.

Multicultural Colombo - a city of celebrations, a city of unity

“Colombo is a truly unique city, home to more than 15 diverse cultures, identities, and communities. Within this rich multicultural setting, we sought ways to bring people together through a shared celebration, which led to the inception of Salam Ramadan in 2025. This year, once again, the initiative offers an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to come together to celebrate Ramadan, both as a city and as a nation,” said Mayor of Colombo, Vraîe Cally Balthazaar.

The Mayor extended an open invitation to residents of Colombo and beyond to attend the event and join in breaking fast with the Muslim community, experiencing a distinctive cultural gathering that celebrates unity through diversity.

Echoing the Mayor’s sentiments, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof highlighted Colombo’s evolving calendar of multicultural celebrations. “You don’t have to be Muslim to celebrate Ramadan. As Governor, we have just concluded Christmas celebrations, followed by the upcoming Gangaramaya Perahera, a relic exposition, and after that, Salam Ramadan,” he said, outlining the citywide line-up of inclusive cultural events. Such initiatives, he added, bring communities together to celebrate collectively. “We want Colombo to be a city of celebrations, a city of art, culture, and unity,” Governor Yusoof emphasised.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W. P. J. Senadheera, stated that a special vehicular traffic plan and designated parking facilities will be in place throughout the three-day event. “The Sri Lanka Police will extend its fullest support to ensure a safe and secure environment, enabling the Salam Ramadan 2026 celebrations to be conducted peacefully,” he said

Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Hotel Manager Rida Marikkar shared that the spirit of inclusivity - where festivals of all cultures are celebrated together - was what drew the hotel to host Salam Ramadan. He noted that this sense of unity stood out as uniquely Sri Lankan compared to his international experiences. “Events such as this are the perfect way to showcase the beauty of our country,” Marikkar added.

The Salam Ramadan 2026 Organising Committee extends an open invitation to all Sri Lankans to visit and experience this joyous citywide celebration, marking a month of light, culture, and harmony.