The Sinhala and Tamil new year is a seasonal festival which is named as a folk festival in Sri Lanka falls on 13th and 14th April in every year. No acceptable evidence has found when was the birth of this fraudulent festival. Even though this festival known as an ancient festival in Sri Lanka in one angle it highlights our weakness as a nation.
This new year celebrated on month of April belongs neither Sinhalese nor Hindus. Sinhalese new year was in month of May, month named as Vesak which has the most important value for Buddhist. Sinhalese were Buddhists.
Hindus celebrate new year in between month of March and April all over the India. It is known as the first month of Hindu calendar.
The roots of Tamil New Year which is known today as Sinhala and Tamil New Year goes back to era which South Indian barbaric king Kalinga Magha invaded Sri Lanka with help of thousands of mercenaries. He invaded Sri Lanka in 1214 AD and lasted until 1255 AD.
Before his invasion Sinhalese considered month of May as New Year. (Month of Vesak) It is clear that New Year falls in April is a concept which was adopted by force on Sinhalese with the intention of claiming the right of land later on.
Two races having same traditional festival celebrating together. One can say it is there for build to build coexistence among nations but on the other hand the bitter truth is it can be used to explain both nations born on same land, therefore they have similar folk festivals.
Sinhalese were enriched with Buddhis Philosophy and they did not believe in astrology. Now it has been so long on the wrong way. The originality of tradition defaces with adaptation of foreign traditions.