Tower Hall Website launched

COLOMBO: Enthusiasts and patriarchs of Tower Hall can dive into its past via its website www.towerhall.lk from now on. The website was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees yesterday.

The website will provide a wealth of information to those keen to know about it as it has included, its origin, past performances, how it works on daily basis and gives information on history of Sri Lanka drama.

Those willing could also be able to listen to old hits, Nurthi and gramophone songs. For the present all information is provided both in Sinhala and English. Plans are on to give information in Tamil as well.

The President who launched the website discussed with the artistes as to what should be done to improve the field of art, what areas to take priority in the process.

Those artistes present at the launching pointed out the need to have a school or an institution to provide education to those taking to drama and cinema, which was very much in demand.

President who took a serious note of this requirement listened to them who underlined the need to introduce subjects into the school curriculum to provide education to children to appreciate and value of drama and cinema from their tender years.

They also expressed their appreciation for taking steps to reintroduce literature and history into the school curriculum.

He pointed out that the children of today are in a competitive milieu in respect of their education and it is the responsibility of the parents to create interest in art and culture in their minds and encourage their children to appreciate what is good in the art and culture.

President Rajapaksa expressing his views said he regretted to note that compared to the countries in the region what Sri Lanka art and culture produce, fails to impress what was unique to Sri Lanka and its indigenous nature.

He said some productions are done to suit the whims and fancies of the businessmen whose sole aim is economic gain. These however did not do any good to the minds of the people, he said.

The discussions also focused attention on a number of issues pertaining to the artistes of this country including welfare facilities for elderly artists, providing houses, a pension scheme and financial assistance in distress.

Tower Hall Foundation Director General Douglas Siriwardene, Malini Fonseka, Ratnawali Kekuluwela, Sriyani Amarasena, Robin Fernando, G.R. Perera, Sadun Wijesiri, Sangeetha Weeraratne, Champa Kalhari, Senaka Wijesinghe, Jayalal Rohana, Semini Iddamalgoda and several others were also present.