Sri Lanka, April 16 -- The National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka in Dehiwala joined the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations today (16), by performing the traditional ritual of oil anointing on its animals-a gesture believed to bring good health and blessings for the year ahead.

Taking center stage in the ceremony was the zoo's oldest resident, a 153-year-old giant tortoise, recognized as the oldest living animal in Sri Lanka. In a symbolic moment, oil was gently anointed on the ancient tortoise's head.

The ritual began with the 'Kadol' elephant, continuing a customary tradition of blessing elephants during the New Year period. The head of a brown bear, recently received by the zoo from the United Arab Emirates, was also anointed ...