The Dehiwala National Zoo’s oldest resident, a 153-year-old giant tortoise weighing over 400 kilograms, will be the star of this year’s traditional New Year’s Anointing of Oil ceremony, scheduled for 9:04 a.m. on 16 April.

According to the zoo’s Operations Director Anoma Priyadarshini, the ancient tortoise—gifted to the zoo in 1930—will take centre stage at the event, which will also feature elephants, zebras, hippopotamuses, Simba the lion cub, deer and a variety of birds.

Visitors to the Dehiwala Zoo will have the opportunity to witness the head oiling ritual, which blends Sinhala and Tamil New Year traditions with animal enrichment and public engagement.

“The tortoise is expected to be a major attraction at the zoo during the festivities,” Priyadarshini said.