A Welcoming Venue for Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebrations

Sinhala and Tamil New Year events may bring Sri Lankan families and communities together for traditional activities, music, dance, cultural presentations and shared dining.

Grand Palace Function Centre offers flexible event spaces for New Year programs of different sizes.

Golden Hall up to 400 guests · Diamond Hall up to 200 guests · Catering options available

Understanding Sinhala and Tamil New Year gatherings

Sinhala and Tamil New Year, celebrated around mid-April, marks the beginning of the traditional new year for Sri Lankan communities. The occasion may include family gatherings, traditional customs, cultural performances, music and shared meals.

The way families and community organisations celebrate can vary. Some events focus on traditional activities and customs, while others centre around a community dinner, stage program or family celebration.

Every family and community organisation celebrates differently. The venue layout can be discussed around the program, guest numbers and traditions planned for the occasion.

Traditional Games

Space for traditional New Year games and family activities may be discussed as part of the event layout.

Community Recognition

Speeches, awards and community recognition segments may be incorporated into the program.

Family Gatherings

A welcoming setting for families, children and community members to celebrate together.

Traditional music, dance and drumming

Sinhala and Tamil New Year events often feature traditional drumming, dance and music. The hall can be arranged to support a stage program alongside guest seating and dining.

• ·Stage or performance area for drummers and dancers
• ·Sound and microphone requirements for performers
• ·Performer access and stage setup discussed in advance
• ·Space for cultural presentations and community performances

Stage Setup

A stage or raised area may be arranged for performances, speeches and presentations.

Guest Seating

Flexible table layouts for banquet dining, family seating and community gatherings.

Dance Floor

Space for dancing and entertainment may be included in the event layout.

Registration

Guest registration, ticket checking and welcome areas may be discussed.

Dining and cultural food

Sharing food with family and guests is often an important part of a Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration.

Grand Palace offers a range of banquet-menu options, including Indian, Bengali, Nepali and vegetarian selections. Specific Sri Lankan menu requirements should be discussed with the events team during planning.

• ·Vegetarian banquet-menu options
• ·Buffet or banquet service formats
• ·Dietary requirements considered
• ·Children's food preferences

Menu availability, changes and dietary requests should be confirmed with the events team before the event.

Children Attending

Where several children are attending, consider child-friendly seating, food and appropriate supervision.

Older Guests

Consider comfortable access, nearby seating and enough time for older relatives to participate.

Ceremonial Items

Plan a suitable area for gifts, traditional items, cultural displays and personal belongings.

Sound and Music

Discuss microphones, speeches, background music, DJs or live entertainment before the event.

Decoration

A stage, floral backdrop or cultural decoration may be discussed subject to venue conditions and access arrangements.

Parking and Arrival

Confirm current parking and guest-arrival arrangements with the venue team when planning the event.

Can Grand Palace host a Sri Lankan New Year program?

Can we have traditional games?

Can we bring drummers and performers?

Is there space for family activities?

Which hall is suitable?

Is Sri Lankan catering available?

Can we use our own decorator?

Can we display cultural items?

Can we inspect the venue?