A cultural revival in the North and East

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Culture and Arts Minister T.B. Ekanayake said everybody should join hands to formulate a special program to safeguard the cultural heritage of the country. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the country's heritage belongs to every citizen in this country. There is an urgent need to launch a national movement to educate all communities to protect the country's cultural heritage.

Q: Do you plan to launch a national program to consolidate national reconciliation? What will be the cultural priorities?

A: The Ministry has already taken several steps in this regard. After three decades, the All Island Sinhala Poets Association went to Jaffna to implement a joint program between Sinhala poets and Tamil poets. In addition, Cultural Director held discussions Jaffna District Secretary and the Divisional Secretaries in the Jaffna district to set up Cultural Centres and Cultural Federations. Norwegian and French Governments have also pledged to establish six cultural centres. The Ministry has already sent letters to Divisional Secretaries to make necessary arrangements to provide lands to establish these cultural centres in the North and East. We have also requested funds from the Treasury to establish cultural centres based on Hindu and Muslim traditions in some areas in the North and East where cultural centres are not functioning at present. A competition will be launched to select architectural designs to establish these 3cultural centres. The Ministry through the Cultural Department intends to assist the people in relation to arts, literature and writings which had completely stopped over the past three decades due to terrorist activities.

Q: Since many archaeological relics and monuments are found in the North and the East, What steps will be taken to ensure their preservation?

A: This is a matter which comes under the Archaeological Department of the National Heritage Ministry. When the cultural federations are set up at Divisional Secretariat level, a cultural officer will be appointed for each Divisional Secretariat office. Many of the Divisional Secretariat offices in the North and the East don't have cultural officers. We are conducting interviews to recruit cultural officers to the Divisional Secretariat offices in the North and the East. Graduates will be appointed to these posts. The Ministry with the assistance of the cultural officers will conduct a survey in each Divisional Secretariat division to prepare a document on existing archaeologicaly relics and monuments in that Divisional Secretariat area.

Information will also be gathered on relics and monuments which have been destroyed naturally or due to terrorist activities. At present this program has been implemented in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullativu, Mannar, Thalai Mannar, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

Q: Supposing there is devolution of power to the North and the East, will there be special protection for these artefacts?

A: According to the Constitution, the Central Government has the power over archaeological sites in the country, all places of national importance will be under the purview of the Central Government. Therefore no problem will arise regarding the protection of these artefacts. To create national integration, the Government will provide a solution to the national question after discussions with political parties in the North and the East and also taking into consideration requests of the people and intellectuals in those areas.

The amendments to the Constitution was brought during the reign of the UNP as a solution to the North, but it did not provide any tangible solution to the North and Provincial Councils were introduced to the South.

We have to consider what the people in the North and East really want? Earlier the North and the East were de merged.

There is another proposal to merge the North and the East. But we have to raise these questions with the people in the North and the East.

The Government is now discussing it with the people in the North. The Government has held discussions with several political parties in the North. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had also made a very good statement recently that the UNP will also extend its support if these discussions are continued in a productive manner. I think the most intelligent approach is that the Government and the Opposition should join hands to provide a solution.

Q: Do we have a national Cultural Policy? If not are you going to introduce an all embracing policy?

A:We have a national Cultural Policy and a Cultural Department as well. Separate panels have also been established in relation to various cultural sectors while the Arts Council is also functioning with the participation of intellectuals and advisers.

Q: Treasure hunting appears to be an attempt to destroy Buddhist heritage. Do you think it is an organised one or perpetrated for individual interest?

A: This is a very conspiratorial act. For example, even if a small Buddha statue is discovered, stories appear in some newspapers stating that a Buddha statue made of gold has been discovered.

There are no Buddha statues made of gold in Sri Lanka. Sometimes gold plated Buddha statues have been found.

Most of these archaeological sites do not have precious artefacts hidden or other things as high lighted by certain sections. False rumours are being circulated that a lot of treasures are found in these sites.

These are mythical tales spread to destroy the Buddhist heritage. Sometimes the upper part of the Buddha statues are destroyed.

Those who vandalize Buddha statues cannot find anything inside these statues. Can a Buddhist do this? This is a well-organised program conducted by a certain group. In order to prevent such activities, amendments should be introduced to the archaeological Ordinance to turn it into more powerful act which prevents the granting of bail to offenders. Sometimes stone inscriptions are burnt and destroyed to completely efface our history.

Q: There are serious complaints against the Cultural Triangle on the lethargic and slow pace of work. Is it productive or a waste of public funds?

A: The Cultural Triangle faced various difficulties in the past due to low tourist arrivals. A large number of employees have been recruited under various recruitment procedures. At present nearly 3000 employees work in the Cultural Triangle.

Tourist arrivals have shown a significant increase due to steps taken by the Government to defeat terrorism. Polonnaruwa earns nearly Rs. one million income per day while Sigiriya is earning Rs.1.5 million.

The Ministry has launched a massive program to maintain cultural and religious places. The Ministry has also expedited the renovation of the Abhayagiriya dagoba.

The intention of the Ministry is to unveil its pinnacle by year 2012.

The Ministry has also taken steps to overcome the shortcomings of the Central Cultural Fund. We have set up a Ruhunu Cultural Foundation for the Southern province.

The Ministry has created a Cultural Triangle formed by Yapahuwa, Dambadeniya , Kurunegala and Paduwasnuwara kingdoms.

The Ministry with the assistance of UNESCO will start to check ancient ola leaves in temples and houses.

A separate unit will be established to preserve and computerise them because this is considered the oldest book form in the world. We have already found several important ola leaves.

Q: There seems to be a revival of drama in the country but most of the dramas are confined to Colombo. How do you plan to take drama and other performing arts to provincial areas as well?

A: I am very happy to say that nearly 16 dramas are staged every weekend. There is enthusiasm among the people to watch these dramas staged at theatres.

At present these dramas are staged throughout the country including the North as well. Steps have to be taken to provide theatres to stage these dramas. The Education Ministry and Cultural Ministry, Cultural Department has decided to provide facilities to stage these dramas.

As President Mahinda Rajapaksa mentioned in his budget speech, the Ministry has also taken initiatives to provide necessary assistance to preserve and reproduce old "nurthi gee" (drama songs) and dramas.

We have also found some sponsors who are willing to produce them.

We hope to open the new performing arts complex in Colombo by November this year.

We did not have a theatre of international standard. The BMICH is not a theatre. It is a conference hall.

Therefore the opening of this new performing arts complex would provide the opportunity to artistes to produce their creations up to national level.

We are also exploring the possibility of establishing such performing arts centres in several outstation areas as well. With funding from Norway and France, the Ministry intends to set-up such centres in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and the eastern province. The Ministry through this concept would provide the opportunity to people in those areas to see new creations in Tamil and Sinhala.

Q: How do you plan to enrich the northern people culturally? What about rebuilding their art and cultural facilities?

A: The Cultural Department has decided to set up Cultural Federations in each divisional secretariat level in the North and East.

There are a lot of creative people in the North and East.

When poets, writers and dramatists in these areas work jointly, they can submit their program to the Ministry by seeking assistance. The Ministry has also made arrangements to translate the "Mahawansa" into Tamil for the benefit of the Tamil speaking people.

Q: Many students are not keen on aesthetic studies at school level. How can this situation be arrested.?

A: The people should pay more attention and watch dramas and listen to old "nurthi" songs. Now instead of listening to pop music, a new trend has arisen to listen to indigenous and classical music.

The Ministry will try its level best to promote this concept among youth with the help of the Tower hall Foundation, Cultural Department and Arts Councils.

At present the Arts Councils and Cultural Centres are conducting several programs to improve entertainment levels of students and the people. We have already commenced a new cultural resurgence which will open avenues for creative work.

Q: The President expressed concern about the crude language and scenes used in some of the teledramas. Any action being taken in this regard?

A: We have a Public Performances Board to decide whether a film is suitable for the screen or not. But when this Public Performance Board act was drafted, television services did not exist in Sri Lanka.

Therefore teledramas are not watched by this board. As the Cultural Minister I will propose to amend the Public Performances Board Act to give powers to decide whether a teledrama is suitable for telecast or not.

We also introduced amendments to the Intellectual Property Act recently providing some strength to artistes.

The proposed amendments made to the Public Performances Board Act would provide strength to those who produce quality teledrams as well as prevent the production of low quality teledramas.

Q: Another common problem is that pirated copies of films, teledramas, dramas and songs are widely available in the market, depriving revenue to the artistes. Are the authorities taking action?

A: We also included a special clause regarding this to the amendments introduced to the Intellectual Property Act in Parliament recently. After a bill is passed in Parliament, it goes to the Attorney General's Department and it should be released by the Legal Draft man's section.

After this bill is released, the Ministry will vest all powers to the IGP to take stern action against those who have engaged in producing and selling pirated copies of films, teledramas, drama and songs.

It would provide the right of that creation to the genuine owner and strengthen the quality of production.