President opens state-of-the-art theatre on Dec 15

Nipuni WIMALAPALA

Lotus Pond Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre

* Has seven floors
* 1288 seats
* Stage computerized
* Open theatre on fifth floor
* Two exhibition halls on 4th floor
* Theatre consists of 13 changing rooms
* Music training rooms

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will open the country’s first state-of-the- art performing Arts Theatre in Colombo on December 15. The Lotus Pond Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre is a donation of the People’s Republic of China.

The Chinese government has spend over Rs. 3,200 million for the project.

“This theatre is a result of the President’s diplomatic relationship with the Chinese government,” Presidential advisor on Cultural Affairs and artist Rohana Weerasinghe told a press briefing yesterday.

“The state-of-the-art theatre, one of its kind in Sri Lanka, will enable artistes to show their capabilities to the maximum.

‘This has been a long felt necessity as artistes were deprived of this type of modern theatre. We are grateful to the President for providing this to us,” artist Ravindra Randeniya said.

‘Most practical issues in the country’s aesthetic field will end with the opening of the theatre,” actor Jackson Anthony said.