State Drama Festival begins today

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Cultural Affairs Department will stage seven long, 24 short and two invited dramas at the State Drama Festival which begins at the John De Silva Commemoration Theatre Hall at 6.30 pm today, a Cultural Affairs Department spokesman said.

The State Drama Festival which concludes on January 24 is organized by the Culture and Arts Affairs Ministry, Cultural Affairs Department and the Sri Lanka Arts Board.

Under the long drama category, Adawage Dawasaka Antigani- by Priyankara Rathnayake on January 17, Guththilaya- Herath Wanindrasinghe on January 18, Gladiator Premaya- Namal Jayasinghe and Prasanna Mahagamage on January 19, Janelayen Paninnada- Dhanushika Nayana Kumari on January 20, Bonikki Gedara- Jagath Bandara on January 21, Suddek Oba Amathay- Udayasiri Wickramaratna on January 22, Happy Journey - Jahan Sri Kantha on January 23 will be staged. Under the short drama category, Mage Kalaye Weerayek by- Sudath Abesiriwardana, Ekalaiwan(Tamil)- by T. Kayuriya, Api by Rohande Silva, Kadalin Akkarei Powor(Tamil) by K. Thirichchenduran will be staged on January 24.

Unwahanse by Basil Rathnaweera, Kalyana Kadei(Tamil) by N Kularatna and A Sanath Kumara, Ey Umbala Awe by S A Sampath Chaturanga Perera, Salomi(Tamil) by M C Najimun will be staged on January 25.

Gebbara by Upul Sanjeewa, Payanihal(Tamil) by S Leelawathi and R Wamali, Dinosaurs Premaya by Nuwan Dharshana Liyanarachchi, Pawakkarey(Tamil) by K Mohan Kumara will be staged on January 27.

Sanda Ella Maray by Asiri Udakara Jayarathna, Seelambin Kanal(Tamil) by K Sri Kandawel, Decent Dennek- by Sajeewa Roshan, Berdanum Sidyyum(Tamil) by Neranjan Chadradithya will be staged on January 28.

Premayanam by Amitha Rabbidigala, Thagam(Tamil) by P Sivaneshan, Hello by Chalaka Ranasooriya, Andura saha Eliya by K Suneth Deshappriya will be staged on January 29.

Under the invited category of stage plays, Merenna Widiyak Kiyanna by Ruwan Hettiarachchi, Reality by Neranajan Chandradithya, Darkness by K A K Jayasinghe, Ballo Dennek by K A J Ananda Chandrakumara, Kuduwata Enakam by Gayan Deshapruya will be staged on January 30 and Kalambo Kalambo by Indika Ferdinando will be staged on January 31.