The ‘Mahaweli Prathiba’ Cultural Festival organized to portray the artistic talents of children of Mahaweli Zones held in a grand scale under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, yesterday (April 27).

According to a concept of President Maithripala Sirisena, the Mahaweli Cultural Unit and the Mahaweli Centre jointly organized the ‘Mahaweli Prathiba’ Cultural Festival with the aim of enhancing artistic talents of school children in Mahaweli Zones.

Identification of artistic abilities, providing guidance to enhance artistic talents, promoting cultural events to promote and preserve Sri Lankan identity, creating a stage for the children of Mahaweli Zones to present their talents locally as well as internationally, are among the long term objectives of this event.

This time the ‘Mahaweli Prathiba’ Cultural Festival was held with the participation of over 850 children in Mahaweli Zones, and it comprised  of colourful competitions, singing, dancing and announcing competitions, debates, essay reading, the arts, writing lyrics and short drama competitions.

The President presented awards and certificates to students who showed outstanding performance in competitions.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa, Deputy Minister Anuradha Jayaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli Development & Environment, Mr. Udaya R. Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Director General of the Mahaweli Authority, Anura Dissanayake, Director of the Mahaweli Centre, Aruna Prasad, Ambassadors, artistes and dignitaries  were present at this event.

 (PMD)