3.30pm - Arrival of Guests


4.00pm - Poruwa Ceremony Commences

5.00pm - Cocktails and canapé

6.00pm - Dinner Reception

10.30pm - Afterparty

Please RSVP no later than 31 July 2023. 

The Poruwa ceremony is a traditional ceremony that is 2000 years old and is part of Sri Lanka's heritage and culture. The series of rituals showcase the values held within the culture as well emanate energies that will bless the couple with continuous good health, wealth and prosperity.

The ceremony  includes not just the bride and groom but also their parents and other family members as it recognises the success of this relationship is the result of the love and support from all those around you.

Ceremony is performed by celebrant called Ashtaka Master who recites poems and ritual to the couple. He will ask the bride and groom give gifts to their father and mother to showcase gratitude for all the sacrifices, love and support. 

Then the Ashtaka Master will tie the small fingers of the bride and the groom with a thread to symbolize their marital union.  Their small fingers are joined and water is poured over them. Water is another symbol of life,  without which no one can survive. So water poured on their hands means that they will never lack anything in their future life.

The bride and groom give each other gifts and feed each other milk rice to symbolise that they will look after each other in this ever lasting union. 

The elders of the family will be called to the poruwa to give beetle leaves to the bride and groom to give their congratulations.

To finish the ceremony special prayer "Jayamangala" is sung by group of young girls to the bride and groom to bless them both with well wishes in their journey.  

When the poruwa ceremony is finished and the bride and groom step off the stage, it is said that they will be glowing with happiness. To protect them from the evil eye, one of the grooms men will break a coconut with a cleaver to distract the guest and ward the evil eye. This will conclude the ceremony.