Sri Lanka marked the Sinhala and Tamil New Year with the State Oil Anointing Ceremony on April 15 at 6:55 AM, a significant ritual aimed at blessing the public with health and longevity. The main state event took place at the Sri Maha Natha Devalaya premises within the Sri Dalada Maligawa complex in Kandy.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake participated in the ceremony, receiving oil anointing and blessings from the Maha Sangharatna. Prior to the ceremony, President Dissanayake visited the historic Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) for religious observances and blessings, where he was welcomed by Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela. During the anointing ceremony, the ritual was performed by the Malwathu Anunayaka Thero, Venerable Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Anunayaka Thero. Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa also attended the event.
The State Oil Anointing Ceremony was organized by the Indigenous Medicine Division of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media and the Department of Ayurveda, under the guidance of the Malwathu and Asgiri Maha Nayaka Theros. The auspicious customs, as outlined in the 'Nekath Seettuwa', advised participants to wear green-colored attire, face the east, place neem (kohomba) leaves on their heads, stand on kolon leaves, and bathe after applying a mixture of neem leaf extract and oil. The ceremony was conducted amidst Pirith chanting and blessings from the Maha Sangharatna, including the Chief Incumbents of both the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters. The event was broadcast live on national television.
Following the ceremony, President Dissanayake engaged in friendly conversation with the public gathered at the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises, where he received New Year greetings. He then proceeded to visit both the Malwathu Maha Vihara and the Asgiri Maha Vihara, accompanied by Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. At these revered sites, the President met with the respective Mahanayaka Theros – Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Nahimi of the Malwathu Chapter and Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Nahimi of the Asgiri Chapter. He inquired about their well-being, engaged in brief discussions, and received Seth Pirith chanting and blessings for the New Year.
In the afternoon, President Dissanayake continued his New Year engagements by visiting the Mahanayaka Thero of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Aggamaha Panditha Most Venerable Makulewe Wimala Nayaka Thero. The President called on the Mahanayaka Thero at the Sri Vidyawasa Piriven Maha Viharaya in Minuwanwewa, Mirigama, to inquire about his well-being and engage in a brief discussion. During this visit, the Mahanayaka Thero chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings upon the President for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Also present were Venerable Makulewe Dhammarathana Thera, Gampaha District Members of Parliament Dharmapriya Wijesinghe and Chaminda Lalith Kumara, and Mirigama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sumin Mahindalal.
Separately, other oil anointing ceremonies were also held across the island. Hiru TV organized an event at the Historic Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya at the same auspicious time, under the guidance of Professor Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Nahimi, Chief Incumbent. Additionally, an annual oil anointing ceremony took place at the Sri Pada Udamaluwa on April 15 at 6:55 AM, organized under the guidance of Sri Pada Adhipathi, Most Venerable Bengamuwe Sri Dhammadinna Nahimi, and led by Sri Pada Trustee Venerable Dorapane Sumana Jothi Thero.