Accra:Sri Lankan Parliament The Navaratri Puja, symbolizing multi-religious harmony, was held within the Sri Lankan Parliament on October 20. The event saw the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

According to News.LK, the annual Navaratri Puja was organized by the Parliament of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. The festival began with religious rituals followed by several devotional dance performances.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya addressed the gathering, expressing that the ceremony, conducted with good intentions, would bring blessings to the entire country. She emphasized the importance of building a better nation through religious and cultural harmony and respect for diverse cultures.

Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne shared his hopes that the blessings of Hindu goddesses—Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati—would dispel evil, bring prosperity, and enhance wisdom, respectively. He noted that such celebrations, involving collective participation without discrimination, set a positive example.

The event was attended by various dignitaries, including Hindu religious priests; Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih; Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara; Chief Government Whip and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa; Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar; Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Sundaralingam Pradeep; Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka; Secretary-General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera; and members of the parliamentary staff, affiliated staff, and security personnel, including the Police.