Lanka’s rich cultural heritage on show at National Literary Arts Festival

Rasika Somarathna

HORANA: The National Literary Arts Festival 2007, which recognises outstanding literary creations in Sinhala, Tamil and English would be held at Sri Palee MV in Horana from September 20 to 23, heralding a exponential revival in Sri Lankan Literature.

The inauguration is scheduled for September 20 at 3 p.m. under the patronage of Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake and Minister for Cultural Affairs Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane.

The four day festival will include entertainment programmes on lyrical literature, exhibition stalls, dramas, book launches poetic fora, films, lectures, discussions, cultural processions, folk song recitals and many other events depicting Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage.

It would bring out a variety of traditional arts and crafts.It is to be concluded with the awards ceremony on September 23 with speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara making the annual literary oration. According to the Cultural Affairs Minister the festival would provide a platform for artists in rural areas, who live in relative obscurity to show their prowess.

He also vowed to use this year’s festival as a springboard to propel these artists to national and international level.” The new generation should be provided with progressive recreation by way of high quality literary creations”, the Minister added.

The event is to be attended by the cream of the country’s literati with three distinguished literary personalities being honoured in recognition of their outstanding contribution to Sri Lankan literature.