Vakkas Doğantekin
07 February 2019•Update: 07 February 2019
By Zuhal Demirci and Zeynep Kahveci
ANKARA
The Sri Lankan embassy in Ankara held a reception Wednesday in honor of the country's 71st Independence Day.
Hosted by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Turkey, Pakeer Mohideen Amza, the event gathered a large crowd of ministers and diplomats from several countries, including Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Aleksei Yerkhov and Canadian Ambassador to Turkey Chris Cooter.
Amza and Pekcan together cut a cake prepared especially for the celebration.
Amza told Anadolu Agency he was delighted to celebrate his country's Independence Day in Turkey's capital and recalled that it is also the 71st anniversary of the establishment of strong relations between Sri Lanka and Turkey.
Underscoring the deep-rooted historical ties between the two countries, he said Sri Lanka wants to further strengthen bilateral relations by arranging several high-level visits and finalizing important projects and contracts the two countries are working on.
At the reception, Amza and some guests lit an oil lamp, a Sri Lankan tradition before starting any auspicious event or ritual.
The oil lamp ceremony in Sri Lankan culture is believed to bring blessings and luck.
Later, the results of a lottery to win roundtrip flight tickets to Sri Lanka were announced.
The reception ended after the guests enjoyed deliciously spicy Sri Lankan food as well as drinks.
A weeklong culinary festival spotlighting local Sri Lankan cuisine began Monday in Ankara and will continue until Feb. 9.
