Sri Lanka, Jan. 15 -- I am extremely happy to join with the Sri Lankan Tamil brethren to celebrate the Thai Pongal festival that is being observed with festivities by all Tamils across the world. On the day of Thai Pongal all the people who are engaged in the agricultural sector, worship the sun to express gratitude to the nature and seek blessings, states President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a Thai Pongal message.

The message: "The new relationship built within the family unit with the dawn of the Thai Pongal, gradually expands to the entire society strengthening harmony. I earnestly believe, through this festival, the social bond filled with the spirit of humanity will further spread between the parents and children, teachers and students, ...