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| Wednesday, 18 August 2004 |
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by Nadira Gunatilleke The National Arts Festival 2004 will be held from September 20 to 26 in the Cultural Square at the Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo 7. Earlier the festival was named as `State Literary Festival' and the word `state' denoted a certain limit. But the new name of this festival brings Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people together creating the `National feeling' among them, Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Vijitha Herath said. Minister Herath said that earlier the festival was restricted to the State and public participation was not satisfactory. But the new format will allow the public to take part in this festival freely. There is no barriers for persons of any age to take part in this festival. The main intention is obtaining maximum public participation. This year's festival will be totally different from the previous State Literary festivals. One of the highlights of this year's festival is the participation of several foreign scholars including Prof.Valeriy Nikolaevich Ganichev, Leader of the Delegation and the Chairman of the Writers' Union of Russia, Vladislav Antonovich Tchukanov, Vice President of the Centre For Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries of the Writers' Union of Russia, Vladimir Pavlovich Kazarin, Vice Chancellor of the Crimea State University, Deputy Prime Minister of Government of Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine), Sergei Artamonovich Lykoshin, Vice Chairman of Writers' Union of Russia and Dr.Chaman Nahal, a popular novelist from India. Minister Herath said the festival will include indigenous people's literature, labour literature and University sub culture literature. Different ministries will also take part in this year's National Arts Festival. Twenty five selected artistes who made a significant contribution towards the country's literary field including dance, music, drama and painting will be felicitated. Special attention will be paid to select artistes who had not received awards in the past. A consignment of books will be provided to the Jaffna library. Books received from foreign countries will be included in this consignment. The Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Ministry seeks the contribution of book publishers, writers and public for this task. They can donate books to the ministry before August 30. Books will be gifted to children born between September 20 and 26. This is to encourage parents to give a book as a birthday gift instead of toy pistols and other toy weapons, the minister added. |
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