NCPCs 19th annual arts festival a success

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional district group correspondent

The North Central Provincial Council is holding the Annual Provincial Arts Festival for the 19th consecutive year. We have established a “North Central Provincial Dancing Team which has gained international recognition.

It has already displayed our traditional dancers in three foreign countries. I have planned for the formation of a Provincial Arts Development Board for the promotion of aesthetic activities, said North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake.

He was addressing the artists at the Anuradhapura Madya Maha Vidyalaya participating at the North Central Provincial Arts Festival 2008 on its concluding day.

The Chief Minister said special attention would be focused for the preservation of traditional folk dances, folk songs and rituals hereditary to the North Central Province.

He said steps have been taken to revive the art of drumming which had been on the verge of extinction by establishing a drumming training project costing Rs. 2 million.

In addition a Provincial Public orchestra has been commissioned and its performances at the Arts Festival after just three months of its formation was excellent.

The Secretary North Central Chief Ministry Ananda Kularatne, Provincial Cultural Affairs Director Sugath Nayananandha, and a large number of top ranking Provincial Council officials and artists were present.

The winners of the art competitions were presented awards and certificates by the Chief Minister and other distinguished guests.