Yoga for One Earth, One Health
The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the High Commission of India in Colombo and its cultural arm, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, Sri Lanka.
The event took place at the historic Independence Square in Colombo.
This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, emphasised the universal relevance of yoga in promoting harmony between humans and nature.
The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, joined the celebrations alongside distinguished guests. These included Hon. (Dr.) Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology; Hon. (Prof.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development; Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka; Hon. Major General K. P. Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Defence; Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs; and Hon. Sugath Thilakaratna, Deputy Minister of Sports.
Other senior dignitaries were also present.
The event commenced with a spiritual invocation led by Most Ven. Dr. Maitipe Wimalasara Nayaka Thera and the Maha Sangha, who offered blessings for peace and well-being. This was followed by a dynamic and refreshing yoga and meditation session conducted by experts from renowned yoga institutions in India and Sri Lanka. The event brought together hundreds of yoga enthusiasts, dignitaries, and students in a shared spirit of wellness and unity.
As part of the celebrations, a specially curated Yoga Pendrive and a Sinhala translation of the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika were launched. These initiatives aimed to make authentic yoga knowledge more accessible to the public. Complementing the main event in Colombo, Consulates in Hambantota and Jaffna, along with the Assistant High Commission in Kandy, also organised special events. These events reflected the enthusiastic and widespread participation in the 11th International Day of Yoga across Sri Lanka.
In a significant prelude to the main event, the Department of Ayurveda, Ministry of Health, Government of Sri Lanka, and Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre jointly organised a landmark, island-wide celebration of the International Day of Yoga on 19 June 2025. Simultaneous yoga sessions were held in 113 Ayurveda hospitals and four universities across all nine provinces, marking the first time such a nationwide initiative had been undertaken in Sri Lanka in a unified fashion.
It may be recalled that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution piloted by India in 2014, proclaiming June 21 each year as the International Day of Yoga. The resolution was supported by over 170 countries, with Sri Lanka being one of its proud co-sponsors.