2 September 2016 12:00 am Views - 1587
Sri Lanka Insurance (SLIC) has always been in the forefront when it comes to promoting and uplifting the cultural heritage of the island. Its involvement in cultural and religious festivals through sponsorship of such events, be they Buddhist, Hindu or others, spans decades.
This year being no exception, SLIC came forward as a sponsor to many of the religious and cultural festivals of Sri Lanka during the past few months. Its activities in this area commenced with its involvement in the Poson Poya festivities held in Anuradhapura during the month of June.
Anuradhapura takes centre stage during the annual Poson festivities, which commemorate the formal arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. SLIC, in cooperation with the Pradeshiya Sabha and Police, has been providing a service to assist pilgrims who got lost or separated from their families or groups to be reunited with their groups. SLIC has been providing this service for over 30 years from important religious venues related to the Poson festivities in Anuradhapura, e.g. Atamasthana. This was followed by the Esala peraheras of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya and Devinuwara Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya during July. These events are attended by both the Buddhist and Hindu communities of the country. The pinnacle of the festive season was the Kandy Esala perahera, which is held annually to honour the Buddha’s sacred tooth relic and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, which houses the relics. This perahera is renowned as one of the grandest pageants of the world and attracts visitors from across the globe.
Apart from coming on board as a sponsor, SLIC’s role at the peraheras includes providing a Rs.50,000 personal accident cover to all those who are present at the perahera site – that is all persons taking part in the perahera, officials and all spectators. This service has been provided by SLIC for a long time under the ‘Ira Handa Pavathina Thuru’ policy.
SLIC was involved in the Nallur festival of Jaffna, which was a month-long festival conducted in August. Held around the historic Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, this Hindu festival also attracts massive crowds from across the island as well as from abroad. SLIC will also be a sponsor at the Getabaru Esala perahera and festival which is conducted by the Getabaru Raja Maha Viharaya and Devalaya in Kotapola, Matara in September.
The involvement of SLIC in these events not only contributes towards their success, but also ensures that the traditional rituals, cultural practices and heritage of the different communities of the island are preserved for the enjoyment of many future generations.
The organisation which has been a leader in Sri Lanka’s financial sector, with a history spanning over 50 years, strives to ensure that its presence is felt not only in the financial industry, but also in other sectors such as culture, sports and entertainment, thereby making a difference in the lives of Sri Lankans in many different ways.