Book Launch

Tunkal Dutu Paranavitane

'Tunkal Dutu Paranavitane', a book on Sri Lanka's pioneering archaeologist and epigraphist, compiled by Sirisaman Wijetunge, Secretary of Prof. Senarat Paranavitane Commemoration Foundation and former Assistant Director of Publications and Media, Department of Archaeological Survey, Coordinating Secretary, Minister of National Heritage and former Media Consultant of the Central Cultural Fund, will be launched at the Mahaweli Centre on at 3.00 p.m. on March 23.

The launch event will be held under the chairmanship President Maithripala Sirisena, with the participation of Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education and S.B. Navinne, Minister of Cultural Affairs. Venerable Banagala Upatissa Maha Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Cetiyagiri Vihara in Sanchi, President of the Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society and Chief Sanghanayake of Japan, will be attending the event as the distinguished Religious Patron.

The first copy of the book will be presented to President Sirisena, after which, it will be formally launched with the presentation to Prof. Leelananda Prematilleke, who had the rare honour of serving as Lecturer together with Prof. Paranavitane, from the commencement of the Department of Archaeology, University of Peradeniya in 1960. After the retirement of Prof. Paranavitane in December 1964, Prof. Prematilleke sustained the premier status of the Department for nearly three decades, together with a team of distinguished senior Dons, including Prof. Sudarshan Seneviratne, a scholar of international recognition.

The Keynote Address will be made by Prof. Prishanta Gunawardena, Director General, Central Cultural Fund, on 'The influence that would be exerted by the great savant, Prof. Senarat Paranavitane on the future of Sri Lankan Archaeology'.

The launch is organised by the Senerat Paranavitane Commemoration Foundation, together with the Department of Archaeology, Department of National Archives, the Central Cultural Fund and the Department of National Museums.

Manavi

Manavi a novel by Shanika Kiriwandeniya will be launched at the Sanasa Head office, Kotikawatte, on March 22 at 9.00 a.m.

Manavi is a story about a university student who grapples with life in the face of various social and cultural issues. It focuses on the injustice and oppression faced by women and adopts an unconventional stance in the face of cultural conflicts. The issues faced by women are portrayed though several characters who alternate between city and village life.

This is the third work by the writer, a Sinhala teacher by profession, who had earlier brought out two poetry collections titled, Akwehi and Panthiye Anthima Ekage Kaviya.

The guest at the launch of Mavavi will include Prasanna Solangarachchi, Chairman of the Kotikawatte, Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha and Chief Organiser of Kolonnawa of the SLFP, Opposition Leader of the Pradeshiya Sabha, Indika Karuppuarachchi and veteran novelist Mohan Raj Madawala. Mahinda Prasad Masimbula will chair the launch.