Six Sri Lankan artistes honoured with Bunka (Cultural) Awards

Friday, 13 November 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: Lakshmi Sriharan, Kapila Poogalaarachchige, Dileeka Abesekara, Naoto Honda, Carlo Fonseka, S.B. Navinna, Kenichi Suganuma, Nadeeka Guruge, Dr. Saumya Liyanage and Priyankara Ratnayake

The 22nd ‘Bunka (Cultural) Awards’ ceremony, organised by the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund, was held on Sunday 8 November at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Colombo 7.

S.B. Navinna, Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs was the Chief Guest, while Kenichi Suganuma, Ambassador of Japan, Naoto Honda, President of the Japanese Solidarity Association of Sri Lanka, Carlo Fonseka, Co-Chairman of the Fund and other distinguished invitees including members of the diplomatic corps and several renowned Sri Lankan artistes were also present on this occasion.

The Bunka Awards are presented annually by the Fund, which was established 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.

The Bunka Awards are aimed at encouraging and promoting Sri Lankan artists with artistic talents in such fields as drama, theatre, dance, music, painting, sculpture, pottery, photography, lyric writing, literature, video animation and visual arts. For the past 21 years, 118 mid-career individuals and organisations received Bunka Awards for their creative activities in culture and arts.

This year the following six Sri Lankan artistes received the prestigious Bunka (Cultural) Awards:

1. Dileeka Abesekara - Music/Vocal

2. Nadeeka Guruge – Music/Composer

3. Dr. Saumya Liyanage – Drama/Acting

4. Kapila Poogalaarachchige – Music

5. Lakshmi Sriharan – Dance (Bharatha Natyam)

6. Academic Players (Kelaniya University) – Drama/Theatre

The highlight of the Bunka Awards presentation ceremony was the live performance by each award winner, displaying their versatile talents which merited their selection. This will be telecasted at one of Rupavahini channels shortly for the benefit of the Sri Lankan public.