Poor draw for creativity contest

Priyanka KURUGALA

Around 1.2 million individuals work as Government Servants but only 5,000 participated in the Inter State Public Servants Creativity Contest 2010, Cultural Affairs and Arts Minister T B Ekanayake said.

Speaking at the Inter State Award Ceremony of Government Servants, the Minister said one of main objectives of the ceremony was to introduce skillful Government Servants to the country.

"Hence every Institute Head, Department Head and Government Servant should have paid the attention to participate in this competition," the Minster said.

The ceremony was held at the National Museum Auditorium yesterday. "The Cultural Affairs and Arts Ministry spends money for this contest even though only three Institute Heads participated in this ceremony."

"Other Institute Heads should also participate with their skilled employees next year," he said.

"The country is free of terrorism. This is the right time to create aesthetic creations," Ekanayake said.

Cultural and Arts Affairs Ministry Secretary Wimal Rubasinghe said the Government plans to give fullest support to the fields of art.

"One hundred and thirty winners were selected out of 5,000 competitors. This number should be over 100,000 next year," he said.

Cultural Affairs and Arts Ministry Additional Secretary H D S Malkanthi, Cultural Department Director Vijith Kalugala and Kolubowila Teaching Hospital Deputy Director Savithri Samaraweera also participated.