GLEANINGS
Notes on two cultural scenes
K. S. SIVAKUMARAN
This week let us confine ourselves to brief notes on a few cultural
events in Colombo.
Among the Colombo based Thamil dramatists and those belonging to a
group called Centre for Development of Thamil Artistes (located at
E/G/02, Stuart Street Flats, Colombo 2) met with President Rajapaksa at
the Presidential Secretariat recently on the initiative of Advisor to
the President, the indefatigable cultural enthusiast Azwar.
The address of this Group is E/G/02, Stuart Street Flats, Colombo 2.
The patron of the Group, philanthropist and often caught
photographically Hashim Omar, was behind the scene to promote a closer
relationship of the Group’s members with the Head of State. The Group
submitted a memorandum of 10 points seeking State patronage for its
envisaged programme, especially seeking a 12 perch land to construct a
building to house cultural activities.
The President of the Group is well known artiste Kalai Chelvan. He
and other prominent members who are also well known on the Colombo
Thamil stage expressed their views- particularly their gratitude to
President Rajapaksa for having spoken a few words in Thamil at the U.N.
recently.
However the President addressed a few words in Sinhala only
appreciating the gratitude of the artistes and also obliging them to
take a photograph with him.
There were a few Ministers and Officials present at the hurriedly
executed function.
I happened to see the President face to face at the function.
Although I am not a performing artiste, Azwer insisted that I too should
be present at the function. With austerity I sat in a corner to witness
the TV event with all glory going to Kalai Chelvan and his Group of
artistes.
I was an invitee again to attend this year’s Lake House Saraswathi
Poojai at the Akila Ilankai Hindu Peravai Building down Sir Chittambalam
Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2. It was well organised by the Hindu
Association of Lake House by the dedicated members.
Apart from the Pooja in dedication to Goddess of Learning-Saraswathi-
the Association also gave away prizes for various competitions organised
among Colombo schools.
There were dances and singing by students and the offering of
Prasadams to those assembled which included journalists, teachers and
religious persons.
I was happy to meet veteran journalist and Editorial Director Nihal
Ratnaike, Daily News Editor, Pramod de Silva, Editor Thinakaran Siva
Subramaniam, Senior Journalist Ananth Paalakiddnar (President of the
Association), Chief Administrative Officer Rohana Ariyaratne and the
General Manager Abaya Amaradasa and relatively young journalists of Lake
House.
One other major event was the presentation of the Jaladeepam Award to
Senior Educationist and Literary Scholar, Dr. Kumaraswamy Somasundaram.
I was also amased at the fluency of speech of a Thamilian journalist
Ravi Ratnavel working for Silumina in undertaking the translations and
introducing the programme for the benefit of the Sinhalese.
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