Cultural Diary
CPA builds cultural bridges across ethnic groups
by Chelvatamby MANICCAVASAGAR
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Prof. Rev. Fr. N. M. Saveri flanked by members of the Centre for
Performing Arts Dancers performing at a cultural event.
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The Centre for Performing Arts (CPA) which was founded in 1965 by
Prof. Rev. Fr. N. M. Saveri as a theatre group in Jaffna under the name
"Thirumarai Kalamandram" with the aim of using arts to promote social
awareness among youth has completed nearly 45 years of service. In fact,
the CPA which conducted all its cultural activities with the help of the
young brought together from villages and towns in the northern province
expanded its activities in the late 1980s and opened new branches in the
region.
In 1990, the CPA opened a co-ordinating office in Colombo to expand
the activities in the Southern Sri Lanka and it was named as "Ranga Kala
Kendra". Since then the Colombo office has become the co-ordinating
centre for branch programmes all over Sri Lanka and in a dozen cities in
Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, France, England, Canada and
Germany.
The CPA remains are of the few cultural organisations that embrace
all Sri Lankan ethnicities and languages bringing people together to
learn and play and develop deep understanding and appreciations of each
other's traditions.
Further, the CPA performances have provided the audience with
messages about the terrible impact of violence and the foundation for
peace. The major activities of CPA are children and youth peace pageant,
children's peace camp, women's conventions, stage performances and
cultural seminars and workshops.
Prof. Saveri who is reaching his 70th year on December 3 was born at
Illavali and had his secondary education at St. Patrick's College,
Jaffna. Thereafter he joined the National Seminary at Ampitiya at the
age of 16 and completed his religious studies. For his higher studies he
proceeded to the Propaganda Fide College in Rome and was ordained a
priest in 1962 for the Diocese of Jaffna.
His academic achievements, eloquence, missionary spirit and
enthusiasm for the promotion of peace among all communities are
remarkable.
Fr. Saveri has taken several local actors to countries like Germany,
France, England, Canada and Australia on a cultural mission and he has
been honoured by several organisations in Sri Lanka. One Title was Kalai
Thootan", meaning "Ambassador of Art and Culture."
Thushara's latest art exhibition
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Dep Thushara
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 B.P. Dep Thushara will be holding his latest exhibition of art and
paintings at the Gandhara Gallery, Colombo 5 on December 4 from 7.00
p.m. onwards. Thushara describes his art: "As people we all have many
different relationships. Sometimes they don't always succeed but each
relationship has a soul".
That is what I paint. I draw on my own relationship experiences and
express my own monuments. "At this year's State Art and Sculpture
Festival held at the National Gallery, Thushara was placed second in the
'paintings' category. MP
Street theatre show
 A special theatre show will be held at the Moratuwa Kadalama
Methodist Church grounds today (November 29). The show will be conducted
by Street Theatre Group founded by the late Dr. Gamini Haththotuwegama,
on his 71st birthday.
This is the first ever Street Theatre Show since the demise of Dr.
Gamini Haththotuwegama with the intention of renewing the Street Theatre
movement.
The participants include those actors and actresses who had taken
part in the movement since its inception in 1974.
The show will make up of plays representing several eras of Dr.Gamini
Haththotuwegama's Street Theatre movement and will be the first step
towards preserving his legacy for the benefit of theatre audiences.
Golden Chimes sing-a-long
Traditional Sinhala songs of years gone by and today plus a
collection of English songs will be featured at the 150th anniversary
celebrations of the Holy Emmannel Church on December 1 at the Parish
Hall, Moratuwa. MP
Reflections 2009 - Living Images
The Annual exhibition of Sri Lanka Bonsaid Association will be held
on November 29 from 9.30 am to 6.30 p.m. at the Art Gallery Cololmbo.One
of the aims of Bonsai is to promote friendship and peace through the
common bond of love and beauty.
Fundraiser to Minidadiri Arts Festival
By Ranga CHANDRARATHNE
An open air concert will be held at the Open Air Theatre in the
Viharamahadevi Park on December 02 at 5.30 p.m., as a fundraiser to
Minidadiri Art Festival, a talent show organised by the Students' Union
of the University of Visual and Performing Arts.
Prof. Sanath Nandasiri, Victor Ratnayake, Nanda Malani, Rohana
Baddege, Amarasiri Peris, Dr. Amara Ranatunga, Sunil Edirisinghe, Neela
Wickremasinghe, Malkante Nandasiri and Rashmi Sangeeta are among the
singers lined up for the concert.
The orchestra for the concert comprises members of the university
academic staff and students of the university. Students of Faculty of
Dance and Theatre will also contribute to the concert while the stage
decoration and construction of the stage which would be one of the
biggest concert stages in Sri Lanka accommodating over 75 artists, will
be entirely done by the students of the university.
Tickets will be available at the gate and tickets can be obtained
from the Students' Union office at the University of Visual and
Performing Arts. The University of the Visual and Performing Arts has a
long history as the centre for performing arts.
The university has produced musicians, artists and academics to the
nation. As the university has not held an art festival featuring talents
of the students, Students' Union has decided to conduct an Art Festival
stretching over the month of December. The festival which is of
educational value, especially to the students, is made up of creations,
dance items and visual arts. |
