Five Lankan artists honoured

The 14th Bunka (Cultural) Awards organised by the Japan, Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund was held recently at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.

The Bunka Awards are presented annually by the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund, which was set up in 1993, on the initiative of the Japanese Solidarity Association and the Japanese Commerce and Industry Association in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan.

Seventy-eight such awards were presented in the past thirteen years to mid-career individuals and organisations on the basis of their creative activities in culture and the arts, promote individual and collective talent in these fields in Sri Lanka.

This year the following five mid-career Sri Lankan artists received the prestigious Bunka (Cultural) Awards.

Ms. Damitha Abeyrathne - Acting (Film and TV), Nilar Cassim - Lyric Writing, Thumindu Kithsirimevan Dodantenna - Drama and Theatre, Mrs. Sharmini Rajadurai - Dancing, Darshana Pradeep Ratnayake - Music.

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Cultural Affairs was the Chief Guest