A 120-strong gathering of Maltese and Libyan Friends of Malta celebrated Lejlet l-Imnarja on Thursday 28 June at the Embassy of Malta in Tripoli.

Enjoying the traditional Maltese fenkata, guests were entertained to well-known Maltese contemporary and folk songs by ATLAM – the Maltese band in Libya – composed of guitarists Charles Saliba and Daniel Bonello.

The event was attended by Maltese permanently resident in Libya and their families, executives and employees engaged in commercial, automotive, health, IT, petrochemical, banking and tourism sectors in Libya, members of religious orders, dual Maltese-Libyan citizens, Libyan Friends of Malta, officials and staff of the Embassy of Malta in Tripoli, as well as other foreign friends.

In a short speech, Ambassador Joseph Cassar thanked the Core Group for Maltese Cultural Activities in Libya led by Maria Calleja for organising the event as part of its varied programme of cultural and social activities throughout the year.

These events nurtured solidarity and a wider knowledge of the Maltese identity and further cultivated the strong relations that exist between the peoples of Malta and Libya.

Mgr Sylvester Magro, Bishop of Benghazi, travelled to Tripoli on 29 June to concelebrate Holy Mass in the Maltese language together with Fr Daniel Farrugia, Vicar General at St Francis Catholic Church in Tripoli on the occasion of the feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Mgr Magro reminded the Maltese congregation that Mnarja was a feast that united Maltese nationals world-wide both in their traditional and spiritual heritage. He stressed the importance that all remain faithful witnesses to those spiritual and civic values that give the Maltese people identity in their daily lives in Malta and abroad.