Sri Lanka, April 15 -- The auspicious time for the tradition of anointing oil for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year commenced at 6:55 a.m. today (15).

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is also attending the official state ceremony for the traditional oil-anointing ritual of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in Kandy.

In line with New Year customs and auspicious timings, individuals were encouraged to wear green-colored attire, face the east, place neem (kohomba) leaves on their heads, and stand on kolon leaves and bathe after applying a mixture of neem leaves extract and oil.

The state ceremony for the oil-anointing ritual is being held at the Sri Maha Natha Devalaya premises within the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

The event ...