High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Mr. Santosh Jha and Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs – Hiniduma Sunil Senevi jointly announced the naming of the Cultural Centre in Jaffna as ‘Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center’, in honour of the great Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, at a ceremony held on 18th January 2025.
The event was also attended by Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources – Mr. Ramalingam Chandrashekhar, Governor of Northern Province – Mr. Nagalingam Vethanayan, Municipal Commissioner of Jaffna – Mr. S. Krishnendran, Secretary to Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Atapattu, Consul General of India in Jaffna – Sai Murali, along with other dignitaries and cultural artists from Jaffna.
Built with Indian grant assistance of USD 12 million, the center provides a space where the rich traditions, arts, and aspirations of the people of the Northern Province could thrive. The iconic structure is a state-of-the-art facility consisting of multiple facilities such as a museum of two floors; an advanced theatre style auditorium for more than 600 people; an 11-storeyed learning tower; a public square which could also act as an amphitheater; etc.
The foundation stone for the Cultural Center was laid by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his historic visit to Jaffna in March 2015. The facility was subsequently inaugurated in March 2022 and dedicated to the people of Sri Lanka in February 2023.
High Commissioner – Mr. Santosh Jha, during his address at the naming ceremony on 18th January, said that the initiative not only served to pay tribute to the great Thiruvalluvar, it was also a celebration of a shared history, a shared culture, and the unique and unbreakable bond between India and Sri Lanka. He remarked that the occasion marked the beginning of a journey guided by the wisdom of Thiruvalluvar, towards a future rich in culture, collaboration, and shared prosperity. The High Commissioner urged the people of Jaffna and the Northern Province to make the center a living, breathing embodiment of Thiruvalluvar’s teachings.
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs – Sunil Senevi said that an ideal name had been chosen for the Cultural Center in Jaffna. He added that Thiruvalluvar’s teachings remind us that our actions should always be rooted in compassion and righteousness, and that his masterpiece, the Thirukkural, guides us in the pursuit of a just and harmonious society. In a special gesture, the Minister gifted the High Commissioner of India a copy of the first ever edition of translation of the Thirukkural into Sinhala.
On behalf of the President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, the Minister thanked the Government of India for the generous gift of the cultural center, and said that he looked forward to working with all stakeholders towards making it a hub of vibrant cultural activity.
Mrs. World 2024 first runner-up – Ishadi Amanda returned to Sri Lanka today (04).
She was warmly received at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake and later honored at a special reception by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
Amanda secured the 1st runner-up title at the 40th Mrs. World pageant in Las Vegas on Jan. 31, where South Africa’s Tshego Gaelae won the crown.
Marking its Silver Jubilee, Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the International Theatre Festival of India, will be organised in Colombo from Feb. 06 – 09, 2025 by the National School of Drama, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
It will be hosted by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, the cultural arm of the High Commission of India, Colombo in collaboration with the Visual and Performing Arts University, Sri Lanka at Tower Hall Theatre and Panibharatha Theatre in Colombo.
Fondly called ‘Bharangam’, BRM is the world’s largest theatre festival. It began on 28 January and will be continued until 16 February 2025 across 13 cities in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Through this pioneering effort, NSD is expanding the festival’s reach with enhanced international engagement. BRM 2025 theme “One Expression, Supreme Creation” resonates with the spirit of unity in creative expression.
BRM 2025 features more than 200 unique productions from Russia, Italy, Germany, Norway, Czech Republic, Nepal, Taiwan, Spain and Sri Lanka. These will be showcased across 13 locations in India and abroad.
In Colombo, the Festival features ‘Tajmahal Ka Tender’ and ‘Babuji’ in Hindi on 6th and 7th February at Tower Hall Theatre, followed by ‘Romeo And Juliet’ and ‘Sindu Kirilli- 2 (Veronica Returns)’ in Sinhala on 8th and 9th February at Panibharatha Theatre. The inauguration of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav in Colombo will be held at 6pm on 6 February, 2025 at Tower Hall Theatre, Maradana.
Correcting what was widely seen as an historic wrong, Beyoncé won best album at the 67th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
The star was recognised for her eighth album, Cowboy Carter, which celebrates and contextualises the black roots of country music. She had previously been passed over for the ceremony’s main prize on four separate occasions.
As her name was read out, Beyoncé hugged her daughter Blue Ivy, then her husband Jay-Z, before walking to the stage in a gold paisley dress to accept the trophy.
“I just feel very full and very honoured,” she said. “It’s been many, many years.”
The singer dedicated her award to Linda Martell, one of the pioneers for black musicians in country music and the first black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry (Ms Martell features on several of Cowboy Carter’s songs).
“I hope we just keep pushing forward [and] opening doors,” Beyoncé continued. “God bless y’all. Thank you so much.”
The star’s victory comes 25 years after her first Grammy nomination, as part of the R&B group Destiny’s Child.
She went on to become the most-awarded artist in Grammys history, with a haul of 35 trophies – but the main prize eluded her until Sunday night.
In the end, it took a switch of genre to earn the Texas-born musician a win.
Focusing on country and Americana, Cowboy Carter is the second part of a trilogy of albums that interrogates American musical traditions and uncovers the often unheralded contributions made by black artists.
Notably, it makes Beyoncé the first black woman to win album of the year since 1999, when Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill took the title.
Earlier in the evening, Cowboy Carter also won the Grammy for best country album – to Beyoncé’s evident surprise.