MILAN – Promoting unity, brotherhood, and selflessness among communities, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Milan celebrated Eid Al Adha on 13 June 2025 at the Chancery premises, together with the members of Sri Lankan Muslim expat community residing in Northern Italy.
Eid Al Adha or Haj Festival holds immense significance for Muslims worldwide. The initiative taken by the Consulate General to celebrate Haj Festival in this manner signifies its commitment towards fostering of the merits of ‘unity within diversity’.
In her remarks, while welcoming the gathering, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Milan, Dilani Weerakoon noted that Eid-ul-Adha serves as a reminder of the profound lessons of sacrifice while encouraging to embody the values of sacrifice in the daily lives, such as scarification of one’s own desires, ego and material possessions. She also commended the contribution of Sri Lankan Muslim community living in northern Italy for their collective efforts in social, community and religious work towards the welfare and wellbeing of all Sri Lankans. The Consul General also emphasised the vision of the Government of Sri Lanka to build a nation in which all the communities live harmoniously through equality and mutual respect.
While thanking for the celebrations being hosted, Secretary of the ‘Sri Lankan Muslim Community in Milan, Fawas assured that the Sri Lankan Muslim community in Northern Italy will stand together with the Consulate General in its future endeavours. He also emphasized the importance of coexistence and appraised unity among all the communities in Sri Lanka, beyond ethnic differences.
Highlighting the values of Eid-ul-Adha, a group of children conducted a devotional performance for the audience. Many participants to the event nostalgically cherished the screening of ‘Minarets’, a documentary film which delves into the sound arts and song traditions of the Muslims of Sri Lanka through the past and present. ‘Minarets’ is Sri Lankan film maker Nadya Bhimani Perera’s maiden documentary.
During the event, a plaque felicitating the efforts taken by the Consulate General to make all communities equally inclusive and appreciated, was presented.
The event concluded with the serving of an array of dishes traditionally favoured by the Sri Lankan Muslim community.
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