Colombo celebrates Christmas
Beer and wine are set to overflow as Sri Lanka Tourism gears to celebrate Christmas on the streets of Colombo kick-starting the festivities for the season on December 20-22.
Sri Lanka is aiming at creating events in Colombo marking Christmas celebrations with the aim of attracting tourists and locals to participate in seasonal festivities at the Christmas Fest and the Colombo Christmas Street similar to happenings around the world, Tourism and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga said at a media briefing held in Colombo on Tuesday at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management.
The Christmas Fest event is scheduled to be opened by President Maithripala Sirisena and the Christmas tree will be illuminated by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
He noted that in this respect they would be attracting the private sector to join in especially the SME sector to showcase their products at stalls at the Christmas Fest event at the Arcade Independence Square.
This is expected to be the third edition of the Christmas Fest programme and this year the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation that was take part in the event would be having separate zone comprising a snow city and a Sri Lankan band from Germany performing alongside carols as well.
The Urban Development Authority has also joined hands with the organisers of the event in addition to the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Sri Lanka Retailers Association.
In addition to music by Voice Print, Alston Koch and the Old Joes Choir will also participate at the event in addition to the tri-forces together with bands like Flame, Heat and Black performing at the venue. The Colombo City Tour double decker bus service would bring tourists staying at the city hotels to the event daily with a live choir singing carols onboard.
Last year’s event was said to have been a success with the Colombo Christmas Street attracting a turnout of about 500,000 to the shopping for the season.
With no government funding allocated for the event, the minister pointed out that the main driver of the event would be the private sector.