Fairway Galle Literary Festival begins

Friday, 13 January 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Fairway Galle Literary Festival, one of the most eagerly awaited events in the country’s – if not the region’s – literary calendar kicked off with much fanfare at the Dutch Fort in Galle on Wednesday.

A cultural show put together by the office of the Prime Minister together with the sponsors and organisers, with performances by the Sri Lanka armed forces, thrilled audiences with its dazzling display of Lankan heritage.

One performance that was particularly impressive was a piece featuring Angam Pora, the traditional Sri Lankan martial art, as presented in a king’s court, backed by rich orchestral music fused with classic Sri Lankan percussion and brass instruments.

The grand finale was a live rendition of the Kandy Perahera, complete with an artificial elephant, all taking place on stage.

The cultural show was followed by cocktails organised by title sponsor Fairway Holdings, where incited guests, authors and participants mingled into the night.

The Fairway Galle Literary Festival ends this Sunday.

Pix by Upul Abayasekara