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The British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his best wishes for Sinhala and Tamil New Year today:
"I'd like to send my best wishes to everyone in Britain, Sri Lanka and around the world celebrating Aluth Avurudda and to all Tamil communities celebrating Puthandu today. I know that millions of people across five continents will celebrate their New Year with their friends, families and neighbours.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Tamil and Sinhalese communities in Britain for their fantastic contribution to our country. From education and medicine to culture and business you have played an incredibly important and positive role in modern-day Britain.
I'm sure many people celebrating today will be thinking of loved ones overseas, especially in Sri Lanka. On my visit there last year I was touched by the resilience of its people and by the warm welcome I received, which was only matched by the country's stunning beauty.
I hope that this New Year will bring communities closer together in helping to heal the wounds of the past.
To everyone celebrating Puthandu and Aluth Avurudda I wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year."