Colombo re-emerges as centre for promoting Tamil Literature- A.H.M. Azwer

COLOMBO: Colombo has re-emerged as the Centre in the promotion of Tamil literature and other concerned fields. Nowhere in the whole of the Tamil speaking world that novels, short stories and other literary works are released in such vast numbers as in the City of Colombo today, Presidential Advisor and Media Ombudsman A.H.M. Azwer said.

He was speaking at the launching ceremony of VCD-DVD cassettes of Sauthul Andaleeb Noor Jahan Marzook at the Tower Hall in Colombo.

Housing and Construction Minister Ferial Ashraff was the chief guest at the ceremony which honoured Noor Jahan with a Golden Shawl for the services in rendering Islamic songs, religious hymns, Baithi, Qaseeda and other forms of devotional recitals.

Azwer said there is a lot of activity among Tamils both in Colombo and in the suburbs in the South.

"Even novels published in Tamil Nadu are released in Colombo. Recently 40 books were launched in one day at the Colombo Tamil Sangam at Wellawatta which were published at the Mani Megalai Press in Chennai. This signifies a momentous upward trend with regard to the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in Colombo under the regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa," he said.

"It was a sight to see Kavadi Charitos being driven from the Mauraphathi Temple in Havelock Town up to the Kovils in Wellawatte and Bambalapitiya with large numbers of Sinhalese and Muslims standing on the wayside to witness this Hindu festival," Azwer said.

He said they also watched with awe thousands of Tamil damsels carrying milk pots on their heads, parading the streets of Colombo with aplomb.

These events should prove to the entire Tamil speaking world that the Tamil community in the South is enjoining a better environment of peace and harmony.

Devotional activities were carried on unhindered and uninterrupted by any one. One could observe that there is awakening of religious cultural, social activities of both the Tamils and Muslims communities which are being highly appreciated by the Sinhala community.

"One can easily presume that an ideal stage has been set for the minorities to enjoy in full measure their religious cultural, lives under the regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa. People of all communities, in fact, are firmly united today enjoying their rights and privileges at their freewill, Azwer said.

M.S.S. Ameer Ali, Minister of Disaster Management, former Senator S.Z.M. Mashoor Moulana, J.P. Velammal Sellasamy, Provincial Council member, W.P. Kalaiwathi Rauff and Poet Ashroff Shihabdeen were among also addressed the gathering.