France confers National Honours on Kumar de Silva

On behalf of the Government of France, the Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka, Christine Robichon, conferred on Kumar de Silva the title of ‘Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ (Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters) on Wednesday, 31 October 2012.

The Order of Arts and Letters is a French Order, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture to recognise eminent artistes, writers, and scholars for their efforts in promoting the awareness and enrichment of France’s cultural heritage throughout the world.

The decision to induct Kumar de Silva as a Knight in this order has been taken in recognition of his significant contribution to promoting French culture in Sri Lanka for more than quarter of a century.

Paris-trained de Silva is best remembered for his one and a half decade long contribution to ‘Bonsoir’, the French cultural television programme, both as producer and presenter.

Sponsored by the Cultural Service of the Embassy of France, ‘Bonsoir’ has been, between July 1985 and December 2010, a very popular ‘window to France’ with a successful run, first on ITN and later on Rupavahini.

An eloquent speaker of the French language, de Silva’s abiding passion for France and the French culture is amply manifest in ‘Nostalgie,’ his series of annual black and white photographic exhibitions showcasing France.

An active founder member of the Alliance Française de Kotte (France’s official French language teaching institution in Colombo and the Greater Colombo areas), de Silva is a public relations and media consultant and a past student of Wesley College Colombo.