Sri Lanka-China Journalists’ Forum holds exclusive Sri Lankan cultural show in China

Harsha Udayakantha Peiris, reporting from Guangzhou in the People’s Republic of China

A special press briefing was held at the Guangzhou Kai Rong Du International hotel in Guangzhou in China on 25 November 2010 in order to officially announce the Sri Lankan cultural expression at the special cultural performance that would be held parallel to the 16th Asian Games being held in China.

Nalin Aponso President of the SLCJF and the Chairman of its Cultural Wing expressing views at the occasion

The special cultural performance that is taking place from 25 to 28 November 2010 in Guangzhou in China has been organised by the Chinese authorities to enrich the city’s cultural life to showcase the diversity of Asian culture.

The Sri Lankan component of the Guangzhou cultural performance has been organised by the Cultural Wing of Sri Lanka-China Journalists’ Forum (SLCJF) that is headed by its President and the Chairman of the Cultural Wing of SLCJF Nalin Aponso.

Expressing views at the special press briefing, Aponso stated that the SLCJF established in 2001 in order to boost the bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the People’s Republic of China has performed in many aspects to develop the mutual relations between the two friendly nations since its inception nearly a decade ago.

A Sri Lankan mask dance exhibited at the press briefing

“We are happy that our efforts, performances and dedication have been well identified and also much delighted to have this special Sri Lankan cultural performance to be organised by the Cultural Wing of the SLCJF,” he said.

SLCJF is so far successfully continuing a dedicated web site and a monthly magazine namely ‘People’s China’ to make the local readership and the international community aware of the enhanced bilateral relations as well as cultural and socio-economic aspects between Sri Lanka and China.

Recently the forum also organised the first-ever Chinese education exhibition in Sri Lanka with the participation of more than 30 renowned higher education universities established throughout the People’s Republic of China.

Speaking further at the press briefing, Aponso stated that the Sri Lankan component that would highlight the country’s cultural aspects and authenticity at this special cultural performance would also contribute towards the fast growing industry of tourism in Sri Lanka which has become a money spinning trade in the country at present.

Saranga Wijerathne, the Assistant Secretary of SLCJF, speaking at the special press briefing to notify of the Sri Lankan component of the special cultural show in Guangzhou in China, said that though Sri Lanka was a small island in the Indian Ocean, it was rich with a culture that drives back for more than 2,500 years of history.

An upcountry Tamil dance version performed at the briefing

He also said that this opportunity extended to highlight the Sri Lankan authenticity at an international arena in China was therefore highly valued in view of building stronger bridges of mutuality between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan component of cultural expression at the show will highlight nearly 14 items from up country, low country and Sabaragamuwa regions in Sri Lanka that would mainly express traditional drums, music and ‘Wes Netum’ (mask dances) that are truly authentic to Sri Lankan culture.

Guangzhou City, of the People’s Republic of China, which facilitates and hosts the 16th Asian Games in China, is one of the fast-developing and largest economic development zones in the country and is immensely contributing to its national economy.

The latest infrastructure developments in the region have clearly depicted the desire of the authorities to let its dwellers grow with a qualitative and standard city life in order to enable them to participate in their fullest capacities to enrich the national economy through an efficient and productive performance in their field of work.

The growing city infrastructure has mainly focused on developing its facilities amongst greenery and vegetation carefully grown in between the city developments to minimise the environmental pollution and to create a dust free atmosphere in the suburbs.