A crucial stakeholder meeting between two groups of cultural experts is to be held tomorrow (16) morning at the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, with the Government hopeful that it will resolve the ongoing controversy arising from the delay in publishing the ‘Nekath Seettuwa’ (auspicious timetable) for the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, responding to a question by The Sunday Morning, said that if the involved parties reached an agreement on the Sinhala and Tamil New Year’s timetable of auspicious times during the discussion, it would be released on the same day.
Dissanayake said that a draft timetable had been submitted by astrologers, although an official timetable has yet to be published. As such, a discussion between the two parties that had come forward with separate auspicious timetables will take place tomorrow, under the patronage of Dissanayake and Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
“We believe that for such important and traditional customs, there is no need for conflicting ideologies. As a community that respects our culture, these traditions should be implemented with everyone’s agreement, which is why this coordination is necessary.
“An outcome cannot be predetermined. However, if the parties can reach an agreement for the common good, it may be possible to officially announce the ‘Nekath Seettuwa’ for this year on that very day,” the Deputy Minister said.
The delay in publicising the auspicious timetable has caused controversy in recent days, with several groups, including political parties and Buddhist clergy, expressing dissatisfaction and uncertainty, placing the Government under criticism.
Following this development, the ministry said in a press release that the compilation of the ‘Nekath Seettuwa’ has been carried out by the State Committee on Auspicious Times since 1991. However, following disputes arising from differences of opinion among members of the committee and external parties, the committee was dissolved by former Minister of Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka.
The ministry said that four meetings had been held with the two groups, with the participation of an Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Board member on four occasions, but that they had been unable to reach common ground.
The ministry said that due to the uncertainty among the public about the matter, caused by disagreements between the relevant parties and stakeholders and leading to the delay in publicising the auspicious times, it had been decided to convene a meeting involving all stakeholders.
Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Board member Mahinda Kumara Dalupotha noted that traditionally, the New Year’s auspicious timetable was prepared by local individuals known as ‘nekath rala’ or astrologers.
According to him, during W.J.M. Lokubandara’s tenure as Minister of Cultural Affairs, associates had been invited into the committee without a formal research-based selection, and such a committee would carry out the task of preparing the timetable each year.
Although that committee was dissolved, the same issue arose in 2024, when two different opinions surfaced regarding the correct times, resulting in public unease and conflict.
“We met with the Mahanayake Theras through the Ministry of Mass Media and they understood the need to address the issue while emphasising that unnecessary problems should not be created. This issue primarily affects the media, as people follow the New Year through television. After this Sinhala and Tamil New Year, we will start a formal, open, and democratic discussion to identify the most accurate scientific background,” Dalupotha said.
He emphasised that their aim was to address these issues in order to create a culture that benefited the community and allowed people to live happily while practising their traditions without conflict.
Meanwhile, an Opposition party, the Sarvajana Balaya yesterday (14) moved to prepare an Avurudu ‘Nekath Seettuwa’ for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year. This follows a prior pledge made by the party to intervene and prepare the ‘Nekath Seettuwa’ if the Government failed to take immediate steps to establish the New Year Auspicious Time Committee.
Accordingly, steps were taken yesterday to prepare a consensus-based ‘Nekath Seettuwa,’ following a request made to the Pepiliyana Sunethra Devi Purana Rajamaha Viharaya Chief Incumbent Ven. Prof. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera. Following discussions between the party leadership and the Thera, a ‘Nekath Seettuwa’ was prepared by a group of experts.