So the red and black token cards are never mixed: in this example black tokes are transferred from North to East and red tokens are transferred from South to West. The other two players (South and East) are in charge of collecting tokens won from the opponents. These cards are used as tokens, each card having the same value. One player (say North) takes charge the ten black scoring cards (2-6 of clubs and spades) and an opponent (say West) takes charge of the red scoring cards (2-6 of hearts and diamonds). The remaining 20 cards are used for scoring. These cards rank from high to low A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7 in each suit. Deal and play are counter-clockwise.Ī standard international 52-card pack is used, but only 32 of the cards are used for play. There are four players in fixed partnerships, partners sitting opposite (North and South play against East and West). Omi is a straightforward partnership plain-trick game of the Whist type, somewhat similar to the Indian and Pakistani game Court Piece in that the first player has to choose trumps on the basis of a the first few cards. The name suggests some connection with Hombre in the distant past, but if this is so, little trace of the influence of Hombre remains. Omi is a popular card game played in Sri Lanka: in some regins it is known as Oombi. Chathuri Wickremaarachchi was crowned as Bakmaha Kumari while Pragalathan Elanko won the Bakmaha Kumara title.This page is mainly based on information from Thushara Wickramasinghe. A two-kilometre Avurudu race was also held, connecting roads around the Embassy premises. The festivities also included Avurudu games such as pillow fighting, breaking the pot blind-folded, bursting of balloons, musical chairs and volleyball. All participants were served with traditional Sri Lankan lunch.

Cultural performances by Sri Lankan students from Beijing and Tianjin added colour to the event. The kevum kiribath table with traditional Sri Lankan food was open to all. The ceremony commenced with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp and followed traditional New Year customs and rituals such as boiling of milk. UNHCR Representative in China, Sivanka Dhanapala also participated in the event. Speaking at the event, Ambassador Kodituwakku highlighted the importance of cultural events of this nature, which provide an opportunity for Sri Lankans living in Beijing and adjoining areas to get together and enjoy familiar festivities though they live far away from Sri Lanka. The celebrations were held under the patronage of Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China Dr. The New Year celebrations were jointly organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing and the China - Sri Lanka Youth Forum. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year was celebrated at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing on April 15 with the participation of over 400 Sri Lankans, Chinese nationals and other foreign well-wishers.

Sinhala omi game