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Cultural Center in Jaffna named ‘Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center’

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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.

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Quinlon cinema demolished (Pics)

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The premises of the once famous Quinlon Cinema in Nugegoda, has now been completely demolished after remaining closed for a prolonged period.

In a Facebook post, Senior Lecturer in Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya – Wijayananda Rupasinghe likens the current state of the Quinlon Cinema to that of a bombed-out building in Syria or Gaza.

He notes that the fate of another cinema hall ends in this manner, in a backdrop where there is a renewed discussion about reviving the Sinhala cinema.

He adds that according to data as of May 2025, the total number of cinema halls in Sri Lanka has dwindled to around 184, with the majority (117) said to be located in Western Province.

(Source : Facebook page of Wijayananda Rupasinghe)

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Clarence’s wife wins copyright case against Sarath Kothalawala

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The Supreme Court has recently delivered its judgment in favor of Sheela Wijewardene, the wife of the late veteran musician Clarence Wijewardene, against Sarath Kothalawala of Torana Music.

The appeal stems from an action filed in the Commercial High Court by Mrs. Wijewardene (Appellant) in alleging that copyright in the lyrics and musical compositions of several songs authored by the veteran musician, late Clarance Wijewardene, has been infringed by the Sarath Kothalawala and Rajiv Sebastian (Respondents) by performing the said songs and producing compact discs incorporating the said songs.

The Appellant had sought an injunction, damages, and the delivering up of infringing materials against the Respondents in the said action filed in the Commercial High Court. During the pendency of the action in the Commercial High Court, the 2nd Respondent- Rajiv Sebastian had entered into a settlement with the appellant admitting the intellectual property rights of the late Clarance Wijewardene and agreeing to pay Rs. 2,000,000.00 as damages.  At the conclusion of the trial, the Commercial High Court granted the Permanent Injunction in favour of Mrs. Clarence Wijewardene against the first Respondent Sarath Kothalawala among other reliefs sought.

An appeal was preferred to the Supreme Court in the year 2013 by Mrs. Clarence Wijewardene seeking the other reliefs. The Supreme Court has upheld the Commercial High Court’s decision of granting the Permanent Injunction against the first Respondent which is in essence;

A permanent injunction restraining the 1st defendant from directly or indirectly reproducing, carrying out any public performance or communicating to the public in any other manner songs in which the economic and moral rights in respect of the lyrics and music compositions belong to the estate of the late Mr. Clarence Wijewardena.

The court further issued a permanent injunction restraining the 1st defendant from advertising, promoting, offering for sale and the sale of Audio Compact Discs and the Audio Visual Work titled ‘Viduru Mal’, ‘Sing along with Rajiv Sebastian’, ‘Reka Heenen Piyamba’ and ‘torana Sinhala Karaoke Vol.2’; and distorting the original music compositions of those songs created by the late Mr. Clarence Wijewardena.

The Supreme Court has not granted compensation or damages against the 1st Respondent, citing agreements between the Respondents where the 2nd Defendant-Respondent had misrepresented ownership of the works and the settlement entered into between the 2nd Respondent and the Appellant. However, the Supreme Court has found that the Commercial High Court had erred in not granting the Plaintiff’s prayer for the delivering up of infringing material in the possession of the 1st Respondent and amended the Judgment of the Commercial High Court accordingly. Thus, the 1st Respondent has been ordered by the Supreme Court to deliver up to the Petitioner all the infringing material in the possession of the 1st Respondent including all copies of the Audio Compact Discs and the Audio Visual Work ‘Sing along with Rajiv Sebastian’, ‘Viduru Mal’, ‘Reka Heenen Piyamba’ and ‘Torana Sinhala Karaoke Vol 2’. This relief granted by the Supreme Court is in addition to the Permanent Injunction granted by the Commercial High Court by judgement dated 30/07/2012.

The Judgment has been delivered by a bench comprised of Justices E.A.G.R. Amarasekara, A.L. Shiran Gooneratne, and Arjuna Obeyesekere.

Dr. Harsha Cabral, PC, with Kushan Illangatillake, instructed by V.W. Kularatne Associates represented the Appellant whilst Mr. M.S.A. Wadood, with Palitha Subasinghe, Tharanga Edirisinghe, Hashane Mallawarachchi, and Dulmini Liyanage, instructed by S.B. Dissanayake Associates, represented the 1st Respondent.

(dailymirror.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Wimal launches song against strikes on Iran & Palestine (Update)

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National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa has released a protest song titled “Whose Bullets Are These?” (original Sinhala: “Kageda Me Moonissam?”) today (July 08).

The song, written and performed by Weerawansa himself, is a response to recent airstrikes on Iran and ongoing violence against Palestinians, which he attributes to what he terms the “Yankee-Zionist alliance.”

ඊශ්‍රායල් හා ඇමරිකා එක්සත් ජනපද යුධමය ප්‍රහාර හමුවේ අසරණ වූ පලස්තීන ජනතාව වෙනුවෙන් හා පසුගියදා එම යැංකි-සියෝන් බල හවුල…

Posted by Wimal Weerawansa on Monday, July 7, 2025

(This post has been updated at 10.30am July 08, 2025)

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