by Our Correspondent in Colombo
For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the government will not issue an official set of auspicious times for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, marking a major departure from a tradition that has guided national rituals for more than three decades.
The decision follows the dissolution of the Avurudu Auspicious Sign Committee during the tenure of former Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake. The committee was disbanded after protests by a group claiming that the auspicious times published by the Department of Cultural Affairs for the 2024 New Year were inaccurate. More than a year and a half later, the committee has still not been reconvened.
When contacted by the newspaper Lankadeepa, Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Prince Senadhira confirmed that an official auspicious calendar will not be issued this year. He stated that two separate groups have already presented different sets of auspicious times and that the public can choose whichever they prefer when performing New Year rituals.
Astrologers note that the Department of Cultural Affairs has published the official New Year auspicious schedule every year since 1991. They warn that the absence of a single state-endorsed calendar this year is creating confusion among the public, as families traditionally rely on a unified timetable to carry out rituals such as lighting the hearth, preparing the first meal, and beginning work for the new year.
