First lady urges children to excel in arts

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

“Directing the child generation to the subject of arts will help build a righteous society in Sri Lanka.

Hence all parents, teachers, schools and the whole adult generation has a responsibility to line up the children to accept the new country which is being built for them, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa said.

“President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ended the war which prevailed in the country over three decades and he has gifted a free country to the next generation as well. In such a situation, the child generation who are to take over the country’s future should be well-versed in the arts,” she added.

The First Lady was addressing the opening ceremony of the State Children's Art Festival ( Rajya Lama Chithra Ulela ) held at the National Art Gallery, recently.

The Arts festival was organized by the Cultural Affairs Ministry, along with the Cultural Affairs Department and held under five categories.

Under the first phase the judges have selected 150 arts creations from each district among 600,000 creations and 215 were selected for the exhibition under five age categories.

Veteran artists of the country judged the exhibition.

The creations done by the children with special needs, have also been included in the exhibition through the National Autism Association as well.

The First Lady highly appreciated the talents of the children and she extended her special wishes to the children with special needs at the exhibition. She also appreciated the organizing committee of this exhibition for giving a valuable opportunity for the country's next generation.

The First Lady presented a special prize to Anjalee Tharushika, a student of Holy Family Convent, who came first at the Kiyo International Child Arts Competition held in Japan this year.

Gampaha District MP Ruwan Ranatunga, Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Wasantha Ekanayake and Cultural Affairs Department Director General Vijith Kanugala were also present.