Jaffna Music Festival 2015 to promote unity and creativity

By Sarah Hannan

The much-awaited biennial music festival in the Northern Province returns to the peninsula on Saturday 30 May and will kick off from 3 p.m. onwards at the Jaffna Municipal Grounds.

The sister event of the Galle Music Festival, Jaffna Music Festival  is an initiative of the Sri Lanka-Norway Music Cooperation, implemented by Sevalanka Foundation in partnership with Concerts Norway and artistic direction from Aru Sri Art Theatre, with funding by the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Addressing the media at yesterday’s press conference Sevalanka Festival Director Kaushalya Navaratne stated that the Children’s Festival was postponed due to the unfortunate incident that occurred in the city last week.

“The school children are still in a state of shock and the authorities have declared a period of mourning for the next two weeks. We have therefore honoured the authorities’ decision by moving the program to a later date,” she added.

However, the main festival will take place as planned on Saturday 30 May and will start off with a Photo Exhibition where the images of the previous festival will be on display from 3 p.m. onwards. From 4 p.m. onwards the festival will feature local as well as international acts that are scheduled to perform.

Sharing the bigger picture behind the Sri Lanka-Norway Music Cooperation Royal Norwegian Embassy Counsellor and Head of Development Section Knut Nyflot noted: “The Music Cooperation was established in August 2009 with the main activity being the music festivals that are held annually alternating between Jaffna and Galle. The main objective of these festivals is to build ethnic harmony through cultural interventions.”

Nyflot further stated that this year the festival is focusing more on peace building and reconciliation through the exchange of cultures across the country and the South Asian region.

“It is not just a music festival, but a platform to share ideas among artists and cultivate ethnic harmony among the diverse communities in Sri Lanka. Our aim is to promote unity, creativity while exchanging contemporary music forms.”

Introducing the local and international acts for the festival Aru Sri Art Theatre Artistic Director Arunthathy Sri Ranganathan stated that, “the festival will be open to everyone with free entrance and will celebrate diverse cultures and art forms that are in a state of extinct”.

The Islamic Social Heritage Cultural Association (ISHCA) from Irakkamam from the Ampara District, Puli Kooththu from the east, Udappu performances from puttalam district, Yarl Kiramiya Sangamam orchestra, Baliphonics by Musicmatters, Youth Voices – Unity in Diversity by the Undergradutes of Peradeniya, Batticaloa,and  JaffnaUniversities; Tappu by Kaveri Kala Manram (KKM), Banku Raban shanthi-karma by Kaluthara Dodangoda Bankuraban collective, Sabaragamuwa Bali, Agnee – India, Band LALON – Bangladesh and Shankar Brothers (Sanjeev Shankar and Ashwani Shankar) Shehani Recital will be featured at the festival.

The festival will return to Colombo on Sunday 31 May and will have a show for the Colombo audience from 7 p.m. onwards at Nawarangahala. Following the previous music festival traditions a Sound Engineering Workshop will also be hosted by a renowned Sound Engineer from India on the same day.