President pays tribute to Amaradeva

Friday, 24 August 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

With the Parliament promising State patronage and constant efforts to pursue Pandith Amaradeva’s vision, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday moved the second reading motion to establish the Amaradeva Aesthetic and Research Centre.

The President, fondly remembering Pandith Amaradeva for his immense contribution, said: “He was not only an exceptional artist, but also a man of an era who was a prominent intellectual, a scholar, a visionary and a humanist. The nation is eternally indebted to Pandith Amaradeva for bringing international fame to Sri Lanka.”

The objective of establishing the Amaradeva Aesthetic and Research Centre is to preserve the unique music tradition developed by Pandith Amaradeva, blending his extensive understanding in both local music and Indian music, and handing it to the future generation.

According to President Sirisena, the Centre is a request by Pandith Amaradeva himself, and a promise given by President Sirisena at Amaradeva’s funeral ceremony. The laying of the foundation stone for the Centre took place on 28 August 2017 at the Battaramulla Ape Gama complex under the patronage of President Sirisena. The total cost of the project is Rs. 250 million. President Sirisena also observed that Pandith Amaradeva is an exemplary figure for all the artists in the country. (AH)