Sri Lanka, April 7 -- Muslims in Sri Lanka and the world over will celebrate 'Eid-ul-Fitr' (Ramadan Festival) on April 11. This year, coincidentally, it falls just before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Avurudu) on April 12 and 13, giving an opportunity for all three communities (Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim) to celebrate the festivities together in a spirit of harmony and brotherhood. Good Friday and Easter, two holy days for Christians, also fell during the Ramadan period, reflecting the truly multi-religious dimension of Sri Lanka.

The Eid festival begins with the sighting of the New Moon for the month of Shawal, which marks the end of Ramadan. (Incidentally, a similar event takes place at Avurudu with the Nava Sanda Baleema ritual).

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