REFUGEE

The Literature Festival of the Northern Province Cultural Affairs Department was inaugurated by the Social Services and Social Welfare Minister and EPDP Secretary General Douglas Devananda by lighting the traditional oil lamp yesterday.

The Minister was received with a warm welcome by festival organisers and was accorded to the vane, Jaffna Hindu Ladies College Ramalingam Hall.

Inaugurating the festival the Minister said it is my duty to thank the organisers of this festival in the outset of my address as they have made arrangements admiringly, in a large scale. To make the Tamil Literature live the Tamil people should live, the Minister said.

Earlier the Tamil people had all the rights including freedom of expression but all rights were denied for some time and you are all well aware of it. Even the right of living was also denied. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made us to enjoy us all our rights and we should thank him profusely. I am always prepared to give all assistance to the literature festivals in future, the Minister added.

Welcome dance, fisher folk dance, snake dance, Valli Thirumanam, Vocal drama etc. took place in this festival in the evening. Jaffna Government Agent K. Ganesh, Education, Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary R. Ilangovan, Northern Province Cultural Affairs Department Assistant Director S. Sridevi and officers of the Cultural Affairs Department participated in this festival.

Nathaswara and Thavil artists played music in this festival and were also honoured with golden shawls (Ponnadai) by the Minister Devananda.