One of the most celebrated events in Sri Lanka’s cultural calendar the `Kala Pola 2009′ will be held on Sunday, January 25 along the pavement of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7.
The `Kala Pola’ which is annually conducted by the George Keyt Foundation under the patronage of the John Keells Group will commence from 10.00 a.m.
According to the organisers, this year’s `Kala Pola’ will feature over 250 artists and sculptors who will be given the opportunity to display their creative talents to local and foreign visitors.
President, George Keyt Foundation, Cedric de Silva at a media briefing said the main objective of holding such an event was to help our own artisans who need to display their works to a large number of local and foreign buyers.
Director, John Keells Holdings, Sumithra Gunesekera said the
`Kala Pola’ will give our local artists an opportunity to earn an additional income while encouraging them to develop their inborn talents.
“We believe that nurturing the art is essential to preserve the society and therefore it is our responsibility to keep the local arts alive,”.
“Kala Pola” artist Sudath Abeysekera said the state patronage is lacking for artists and sculptors whereas our own authorities give lots of prominence to singers, film, teledrama and stage actors, musicians as well as sportsmen and women.
He, made a humble request to state authorities to give the due recognition to artists and sculptors as well like in other countries.
