Marvel of our times
Priyanka KURUGALA
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Cultural and Arts Affairs Minister T B
Ekenayake and Ministry Secretary Wimal Rubasinghe observing
the theatre |
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Electronic-controlled stage. Pictures by Lalith C Gamage |
Government has taken steps to complete building premises of National
Performing Arts Theatre. This will complete a very necessity of the
country. It will grow up to be one marvelous building of our times.
This ultra-modern facilitate building will be erected in the Nomads
Grounds, Ananda Kumaraswami Mawatha, Colombo 7. Rs 3080 m will be
approximately budgeted for the project, out of which the most funds are
provided by Chinese government. The foundation stone was laid on
November 11, 2005.
According to Cultural and Arts Affairs Minister T B Ekenayake this
will be the largest art centre of South Asia. The construction program
has now reached its final stage. Right now it is open to the viewers in
a shape of a half-blossomed lotus. Following the opening ceremony it
will be a fully blossomed lotus viewed to the whole city.
Cultural and Arts Affairs Ministry conducts this gargantuan project
with the assistance of Central Cultural Fund. The Centre is expected to
open before the dawn of Sinhala New year. This Centre, the ministry
officials believe, will be the ideal centre for the local artistes to
perform their talents.
According to Mahinda Chinthana, the Government expects to improve the
art affair of the country. This Centre, in this backdrop, will be the
place for any kind of performing art activity in future.
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Interior of
the National Performing Arts Theatre |
People's Republic of China and the Government signed the construction
agreement to launch the project. The construction commenced on May 23,
2008, according to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's directives. Chinese
government formulated the plan of the building.
The main objective of this project is to provide international level
infrastructure facilities with sophisticated modern hi-tech facilities
for professional artistes. Not only artistes but researchers, foreign
troupes and general public will also get a chance to perform, train and
engage in research in the building with 14,000 square meters of floor
area. The theatre will be completed with 1288 seats. The structure of
this building is similar to the ancient Lotus Pond located in
Polonnaruwa.
Under this project the artistes will get an accomplished Art Centre
to develop their talents and present their performances. At the entrance
will be a gold plated Kalpa Ruksha. Other decorations have also been
influenced by Sinhala cultural arts.
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