Shared Values Bring Hope for Sri Lankan New Year

The Sri Lankan New Year is celebrated when the sun reaches its highest point, in mid April each year. Wreathed in tradition and a cornerstone of the customs of families of particularly Buddhist and Hindu backgrounds, the celebrations are anticipated all year round and preparations start weeks before. The first sign of the Aluth Avurudu (New Year) build-up is the extended opening hours of clothes shops, the queues to pick up new garments to give as gifts to loved ones on the day itself. Each year astrological predictions dictate auspicious colours that people should wear for the New Year. They also give auspicious times for the key activities that are to happen on the day.

One of the most remarkable sites is seeing the number of marathons and road races being run by people of all ages, men and women, on the main roads leading into and out of Colombo. Bare foot races, serious long distance runs and cycle races all take place. As well, schools, villages, companies and charities organise fun days where everyone competes in traditional games such as the pillow fight, tug of war, coconut scraping, climbing the greasy pole, musical chairs and much more. And for those who are not lucky enough to see it in person, many of these events are broadcast on TV, which makes for some pretty interesting viewing!

This was a very special New Year celebration this year, 2010, being the first for 30 years to be held in a country united.
It was also made special for the Foundation of Goodness thanks to the blossoming of ties with Oriflame, the prestigious catalogue cosmetics company. Oriflame nominated the Foundation of Goodness as its Charity of the Year for 2010. In February the partnership was launched with a press conference and the donation of a percentage of sales from the most popular lipstick towards the children’s projects run in Seenigama.

The partnership has been further strengthened thanks to the organisation of a fabulous day of fun and laughter, with around 500 Oriflame consultants and staff gathering at the Reed Avenue Race Course in Colombo to hold their own New Year games, all in an effort to raise funds for the Foundation of Goodness.

During the opening ceremony, which included traditional drumming, the lighting of the oil lamp and raising of the Oriflame and Foundation of Goodness flags, Pierre Mortenson, regional manager for Oriflame Asia commented on the values shared by the two organisations including good action, hard work and generosity.

The Foundation of Goodness team displayed information about the village, and the Beralu Lace teacher ran a stall of crafts made by local women, including beautiful clothes and household items embellished with the delicate lacework of her students.




Much fun was had by all, underlined by the serious message of helping others in an auspicious start to the year, which culminated in the Oriflame Consultants Conference on the 25th April, when Kushil, Founder and Trustee of the Foundation of Goodness, received a donation of 500,000 rupees from the Oriflame team, matched by a further 500,000/-at a glamorous event held in Colombo to recognise the hard work of the Oriflame consultants throughout the year, presided over by the Oriflame Founder’s son, Alexander.

Kushil commented that “this is really a partnership that is blossoming like no other I have seen. The commitment of staff to get involved and the generosity of everyone in the organisation has really touched us. Corporate Social Responsibility is a phrase that many companies use these days, and it is great to see this in action in such an admirable way. The benefit to our young children, who will receive services such as the Lahiru Pre School and other educational services as a result of this partnership, is immeasurable. On their behalf, thank you, and many blessings for the year to come.”

2010.04.26