Reviving the traditional arts
Uvindu ILLEPERUMA
Mahinda Chinthana has pledged the revival of our indigenous arts, now
gone into oblivion. The National Heritage and Cultural Affairs ministry
in this backdrop has taken numerous measures to revive local martial
arts.
Remarking a significant mileage in the process of injecting blood to
our traditional values the ministry will hold a Martial Arts Display at
Folk Art Centre, Battaramulla, on August 26 at 5 pm. Reflecting the sole
identity of local Martial Arts the public will be shown the power our
people in the past possessed.
“It is after 400 years that Local Martial Art is getting state
patronage. This was instrumental in exerting a great pressure on
colonial invaders. In fact, the energy derived into human mentality
through this art made our people invincible in the presence of
invasions. So it is our obligation to revive our intrinsic arts which
died a natural death. It is the aspiration of the government to bring
those arts back,” said Minister T B Ekanayake, commenting on a Martial
Arts display.
Since western invaders never knew a counterattack method to confront
Martial Arts, the British at that time banned the art which resulted in
a total state negligence. But somehow some schools of people who valued
the art at large protected it by transmitting the practices from
generation to generation. That’s how this art was protected. Though
after granting the independence from the Colonial yoke no government
since then has shown their quest of reviving this art. “No country in
the world faced invasions as Sri Lanka had to face. Even up to fourth
Ealam War which was over in 2009 Sri Lanka confronted rivalries of many
groups and other nations. So Martial Arts should be given the due
respect since it is due to these arts that our national and nationality
still survives amidst us and downs. Such art should be protected for the
next generation,” added Minister T B Ekanayake.
“We have already allocated 10 acres of land for the establishment of
a head office for Martial Art Forum. The land is in the close proximity
to Mee Oya. And Rs 1 million is furnished for the development of Martial
Arts. We should be happy that it is after 400 years that state patronage
is granted to Martial Art. This is not going to be the one and only
measure taken for the revival,’ said the Ministry Secretary Wimal
Rubasinghe.
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