Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake said that some people who organised regional level celebrations of the New Year Festival 2023 in Sri Lanka had included indecent events to undermine the traditional games and conventional items.
Minister Wickramanayake told the media on Friday that these ‘new additions’ with naked and sexual displays would ruin the country’s cultural identity.
Such scenes would pave the way for youth to underestimate the noble, age-old customs and traditions that Sri Lankans had preserved for ages. This will lead to the erosion of cultural values if not checked at the outset.
He said those indecent scenes had been circulated on social media too. The Cultural Ministry had received several complaints regarding these indecent incidents.
“Well-organised groups ruin our national and cultural heritage to belittle our glorious cultural heritage. Officers have been deployed to investigate these cases and nab wrong-doers and punish them to avoid such malpractices,” the Minister added.
Former Director of the Cultural Department, Anusha Gokula Fernando said, “Certain anti-Sri Lankan elements seem to be trying to distort our noble traditions and misguide the younger generation. All patriotic citizens should oppose such trends and to be on the alert as they attempt to Westernise and undermine our ancient cultural values among the international community.”