PARLIAMENT

The annual Christmas programme will be held at the Hon. Speaker’s official residence tomorrow, the 23rd of December 2008.

The evening will begin with a religious service, which will precede the main carol service held outdoors.

Given below is the programme for the evening:-

• Introduction for the prayer service - Rev. Fr. Benedict Joseph
• Blessing with holy water by the Rt. Rev. Bishop at the official residence of the Hon. Speaker
• Opening procession
• Starting the Service
• Introduction for the first hymn
• Singing the hymn "Aramben Pera" - singer Ivo Dennis and the group
• Introduction for the first reading (in Sinhala/Tamil)
• Introduction for the second hymn (in Sinhala)
• Singing the Tamil hymn - Choir of Emmanuel Commemorative Church of the Church of Ceylon at Maradana
• Second reading and introduction (in Sinhala) - Rev. Fr. Saman Maximus
• Conducting the Crib - St. Mary's Church, Dehiwela
• Declaring the birth of the Infant Jesus
• Inviting Rt. Rev. Bishop Oswald Gomes for prayers and prayers & blessings by Rt. Rev. Bishop Oswald Gomes
• Presentation of the book "Moses Perera" written by Rev. Fr. Benedict Joseph to mark "Diyawanna Naththal Gee Mihira" - 2008 to Rt. Rev. Bishop Oswald Gomes
• End of Service

        - Opening of the Carol Service -

• Introduction for the dance item and song - Chamara Institute of Performing Arts of Mrs. Rajini Selvanayagam
• Visharadha Jagath Wickramasinghe and the children’s choir
• Christmas Carol - Group of Carol singers of Bolawatta
• Christmas Carol - Children's choir of the Parliament
• Christmas Carol - St. Mary's Church, Dehiwela
• Christmas Carol - Group of Carol singers of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
• Christmas Carol - Group of Carol singers of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation
• Christmas Carol - Group of Carol singers of Kurana
• Christmas Carol - Group of Carol singers of Independent Television Network Ltd.
• Christmas Carol - Mr. Rajiv Sebastian
• Christmas Carol - Group of Carol singers of Associated Newspapers Ltd.
• Christmas Carol - Mr. Anil Bharathi
• The end