Arts promote unity - Ambassador
Arts are an excellent medium to promote unity, Sri Lankan ambassador
to US Jaliya Wickramasuriya said.
Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya and Priyanga Wickramasuriya
with the organisers of
the South Asian Arts Festival. Deputy Chief of Mission
Ambassador Esala Weerakoon is also in the picture |
Delivering the keynote address at the annual South Asian Arts
Festival at the American University in Washington DC, he said: "In the
world we live in today, there is entirely too much focus on differences
that we may share as humans, but not the things we have in common."
The opening of the day long festival was held at the university
premises on April 6.
"Fostering discussion among students and scholars, as well as
enjoying what these talented South Asian performers have to showcase, is
an excellent way to look past those differences and come together to
promote the creativity and unity that can be conveyed purely through
music, dance, theater, and other visual arts," he said.
The Sri Lankan dance group led by Chathuri Wickramarachchi
performing at the American University South Asian Arts
Festival, Washington |
Ambassador Wickramasuriya opined that promoting culture is a powerful
tool of diplomacy as it helps to build bridges between communities
through increased opportunity to learn about each other.
The student organisers described the intercollegiate South Asian Arts
Festival (SAAF) as a platform to generate discussion of South Asian art
and diasporic identities. The festival featured South Asian arts in
different mediums including music, dance, paintings, drama, movies,
literature and poetry.
Choreographer Chathuri Wickramarachchi , together with Sarindee
Wickramasuriya, Fenoli Lowe, Dinali Weeraman, Natalia Adikarige, and
Amali Perera of the Sri Lankan dance group performed a fusion dance item
combining the different traditions of Sri Lankan dance.
The festival also featured South Asian food, panel discussions, movie
screenings, and number of guest speakers. |