A dispute over the preparation of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year auspicious calendar for 2026 has sparked national confusion, forcing the government to call an urgent ministerial discussion to restore agreement and protect Sri Lanka’s cultural traditions.
A special meeting has been scheduled for Monday the 16th under the leadership of the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to address the controversy surrounding the preparation of auspicious times for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year rituals in 2026.
According to the Department of Cultural Affairs, two separate groups have come forward to prepare the auspicious calendar for the upcoming New Year. Due to the conflicting proposals presented by these groups, the ministry has already held four rounds of discussions in an attempt to reach a mutual understanding and maintain a unified national tradition.
Officials stated that the State Intangible Cultural Heritage and Traditional Arts Sub Committee was also consulted during the process in order to gather expert cultural guidance regarding the preparation of the New Year auspicious calendar.
Despite these consultations and discussions, the parties involved have not yet reached a final agreement. Authorities say that as a result of the disagreement, various media reports have created confusion and uncertainty among the public regarding the official New Year auspicious times.
The government has emphasized that its main objective is to present a unified auspicious calendar to the people while preserving Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and ensuring consensus among all stakeholders involved in preparing the traditional rituals.
Therefore the ministry plans to announce the final decision after the key discussion scheduled for next Monday, which is expected to bring all parties together to resolve the matter.
Government officials also noted that auspicious calendars have been prepared under state sponsorship since 1991. However, in 2024 the State Auspicious Calendar Committee was dissolved by the minister at the time following internal disputes among its members.
After the committee was dissolved, the auspicious calendar for the year 2025 was prepared by traditional Panchanga writers associated with the Poya Committee under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Department of Cultural Affairs further stressed that the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs remains committed to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s cultural traditions, including the customs and rituals associated with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations.
