The 2004 Southern Province State Vap Magul ceremony was held at the Bathgama Welyaya in Thihagoda, Matara under the patronage of the Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal de Silva. (Left) Southern Province Agriculture Minister Hemal Gunasekara, Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal de Silva, Southern Provincial Council member Buddhika Pathirana and Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries Chamal Rajapakse participating at the ceremony. (Right) The Vap Magul ceremony in progress.
Picture by H.D. Surendra, Southern Province pictures special correspondent