October 20, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his message marking the Deepavali festival, extended heartfelt wishes to Hindu communities in Sri Lanka and around the world, highlighting the festival’s enduring symbolism of light triumphing over darkness and righteousness prevailing over evil.
Observed today, Deepavali commemorates the victory of Lord Vishnu over the demon Narakasura, and the President acknowledged the spiritual significance of the festival as devotees engage in religious rituals praying for the illumination of hearts and the spreading of light.
Linking the essence of Deepavali to the current challenges facing the nation, President Dissanayake emphasised his government’s ongoing efforts to confront serious issues such as drug trafficking and organised crime, which he identified as barriers to national development. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring every citizen’s right to safety, which he described as fundamental to a good and healthy life.
In his statement, the President also underlined the administration’s broader mission to protect the physical, mental, material, and emotional well-being of not only citizens but also residents and visitors in Sri Lanka. He reiterated a pledge to eliminate religious and ethnic extremism, promote social justice, and foster a society where all individuals enjoy civil, political, and cultural rights without obstruction, and where freedom and dignity are upheld.
Calling Deepavali a festival of light, President Dissanayake expressed hope that the festival would inspire unity and collective progress toward a common vision of “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life.” He concluded by wishing all Hindus a blessed and radiant Deepavali, expressing hope that their hearts may be filled with the enduring spirit of the festival.
Full Statement:
“The Deepavali festival, celebrated with great devotion by Hindus around the world, is celebrated today (20). In remembrance of Lord Vishnu’s defeat of the demon Narakasura, devotees engage in religious observances while praying that, as righteousness triumphed over unrighteousness, darkness in everyone’s hearts may be dispelled and light spread throughout.
This celebration symbolises the victory of goodness over evil. Currently, our government is undertaking substantial initiatives to address the serious challenges confronting our nation, including the pervasive threat of drug menace and organised crimes, which obstruct our nation’s progress. Ensuring the right of every citizen to live safely and promoting this right as fundamental to a good and healthy life remains the primary aim of our endeavours.
Furthermore, as a government, we are committed to safeguarding the physical, mental, material, and emotional well-being not only of our citizens but of all residents and visitors in the country. We emphasise that we act to overcome all religious and ethnic extremism, to establish social justice and to build a safe nation where every individual can freely enjoy all civil, political and cultural rights without hindrance and where the freedom and dignity of all are preserved.
Deepavali is, above all, a festival of light. On this day, as every household illuminates itself with lamps, we pray that the collective path towards fulfilling the hopes for “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life” may become ever more united. I extend my warmest wishes for a blessed and radiant Deepavali to all Sri Lankan and overseas Hindus, hoping that their hearts may shine with the spirit of the festival.”
