In the wake of controversy following the release of two different sets of auspicious times for the Sinhala-Tamil New Year, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs stated that it plans to convene a meeting today (16) with astrologers from across the country in an effort to arrive at a single auspicious time schedule.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (15), Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake said the ministry was attempting to introduce one set of auspicious times, as the Government does not wish to create unnecessary disputes during a festive season traditionally associated with peace and unity.

“We earlier had a committee that provided the auspicious times of the year. However, it was dissolved in 2024. Although we made several attempts to re-establish the committee, we encountered very contradictory views. As a result, we received two different sets of auspicious times, which were released to the public,” he said.

Since it has been perceived negatively, Dissanayake said that they were now trying to arrive at a single auspicious time. "If we are still unable to reach a consensus after the meeting, we will consider alternative methods to proceed."

Last week, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs released the New Year auspicious times. However, for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, the Government did not present a single official schedule of auspicious times for the traditional New Year rituals.

The move sparked controversy among the public, with many expressing concern about the absence of an official state-endorsed schedule.

Astrologers have pointed out that the Department of Cultural Affairs has issued an official auspicious time schedule every year since 1991. They warn that the absence of a single state-approved calendar could lead to confusion among the public during the traditional celebrations.