PASIKUDAH : There is something about Avurudu that naturally fills every corner of Sri Lanka with energy and connection, and this year, that spirit extended to the shores of Pasikudah. At Sun Siyam Pasikudah, part of the Prime Collection within The House of Siyam, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year was celebrated on 14 April with a vibrant, full day programme that brought together guests and team members in true festive spirit, warm, lively, and centred around shared traditions and generous feasts.
The day followed the rhythm that Sri Lankan families know well. At the auspicious hour determined by the almanac for the New Year, the hearth at The Kitchen was ceremonially lit and the milk pot set to boil, symbolising warmth, unity, and the drawing in of abundance for the year ahead. This followed another auspicious moment at noon where a Traditional Sweet Table was laid out, where kiribath, kokis, kavum, aasmi and more were on offer, prepared by the resort’s culinary team and enjoyed by guests who had gathered, some for whom this was the most natural thing in the world, and others encountering the tradition for the very first time.
From 3:00 PM onwards, the afternoon opened into games. The resort grounds hosted the full run of Avurudu classics: Kana Muttiya (Pot Breaking), Kaba Adeema (Tug of War), Banis Kama (Bun Eating Contest), Balum Pipirawima (Balloon Blowing), Kotta Pora (Pillow Fighting), the Sack Race, Spoon Race, Blindfold Yogurt Feeding, Eyeing the Elephant, and Finding the Coin on the Plate. Guests of all ages joined in, and the kind of laughter that filled the afternoon is really the only way to describe what Avurudu at its best feels like.
“Avurudu is one of those occasions where the feeling in the air does all the work. The auspicious timings, the lighting of the hearth, the sweet table, the games in the afternoon: each of these carries its own meaning, and when you observe them properly and together, the day takes on a quality that is hard to replicate at any other time of year. We wanted our guests, wherever they had travelled from, to feel genuinely part of that, not simply watching from the outside. I think the day showed that Pasikudah is a place where that kind of celebration feels entirely at home,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah
The celebration is also a reflection of a broader moment for this stretch of the Sri Lankan coast. Pasikudah has long been known among those who seek it out: a bay of extraordinary calm and clarity, unhurried in a way that the island’s busier coastal destinations rarely are. What has shifted in recent years is that more people are finding it. Sri Lanka welcomed over 600,000 international visitors in the first quarter of 2025, generating tourism revenue of USD 1.025 billion, and the East Coast is increasingly part of that conversation. Sun Siyam Pasikudah has been central to placing Pasikudah on that map.
The resort’s 34 pavilions, offered in one and two bedroom configurations across garden and beach settings, are styled in a way that is quietly striking: monochrome interiors with warm golden accents, spacious and well-considered, always with the ocean close by. Dining is spread across The Kitchen, The Cellar, The Slice and Grill, The Tea House, and The Bar, with destination dinners available for guests who want a private evening under the stars. Sailing excursions along the coastline, spa and wellness, and encounters with local arts and crafts complete what Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers throughout the year.
For reservations and enquiries, guests can reach the resort on +94 65 205 5555 or +94 70 242 4263, or visit www.sunsiyam.com/sun-siyam-pasikudah. Sun Siyam Pasikudah is part of the Prive Collection by The House of Siyam.
