Sybil wins Japanese Nikkei Asia Prize
Malini GOVINNAGE
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Sybil Wettasingha |
Renowned artist, author and illustrator of children’s books Sybil
Wettasingha has won this year’s prestigious Nikkei Asia Prize for
culture from Japan. The prize is sponsored by the publishers of Japan’s
leading newspaper, The Nikkei. The Nikkei Asia prizes are awarded to
Asians who have proven excellence in three categories: Regional Growth,
Science Technology and Innovation and Culture. This is the first time a
Sri Lankan wins a Nikkei Asia Prize; Sybil Wettasingha is the 6th woman
to win a Nikkei prize since its establishment by The Nikkei Inc.
seventeen years ago.
Information Ministry official on Mass Culture Dara Kanlaya from Laos,
actress and film producer Christine Hakim from Indonesia, author and
co-founder of Kali for Women Urvashi Butalia and chairperson Bicon Ltd
Kirn Mazumdar from India, CEO and President of Hyflux Group Olivia Lum
from Singapore and choreographer and dancer from Cambodia Sophiline
Cheam Shapiro are the other women who have bagged the prizes in the past
years. Sybil’s stories are cherished by generations of children here and
abroad. The only woman illustrator in the newspaper industry at one
time, her crucial contribution to Sri Lankan culture was to shifting
children’s attention from western influenced narratives to stories
rooted in local Sinhala culture.
Sybil is expected to receive the Nikkei Asia prize at a special
ceremony which will be held in Tokyo on May 23. |
