Writers achieve where rulers fail

CULTURE: Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena delivering the keynote address at the launch of Nihal P. Jayatunge's Sinhala novel Mallikawo saha Noothana Angulimala said that writers in some countries had accomplished what rulers, ministers and other politicians had failed to achieve.

The book was launched at the Library Services Auditorium, Colombo. He further said that such artists and artistes helped to build an intelligent society and noted that Nihal Jayatunge belonged to this category of novelists. His latest novel, the minister pointed out, provided food for thought to readers.

Minister Abeywardena stressed that the aim of Mahinda Chintana was to build a prosperous and disciplined society. He noted that artistes had a major role to play in this task.

He emphasized that their creative works should focus on national issues instead of sex, family problems and triangular love affairs. The Minister recalled that Mao ze Dong launched a cultural revolution to resolve national issues. Artistes and writers had been in the forefront of the revolution.

The Minister appealed to all writers and artistes to engage in creative work not only for public entertainment but also to improve their knowledge and wisdom.

The government's main objective was to secure peace and ensure economic self-reliance on the lines of Mahinda Chintana. But he warned that works of artistes and writers should never become propaganda but should be creative and artistic.

They should unite under one flag and avoid factionalism and divisive activities.

The Minister assured the gathering that the government was willing to listen to constructive criticism of artistes and ready to implement proposals that would benefit the arts in this country. They should work on personal agendas, the minister advised.

In conclusion he expressed the view that Jayatunge's novel should become the subject of an extensive literary dialogue.

Former Cultural and National Heritage Minister Vijitha Herath saw Jayatunge as a person who made a major contribution to the country's political process during the social upheaval of 1971.
The former Minister said that Jayatunge was one of those shouldering a social task that they were currently undertaking. He noted that Jayatunge's latest novel was an insight to a very tense and shocking period of our society. The novel provides some answers to the questions pertaining to the reasons for that upheaval and its outcome, the effects of which the society is facing today, according to Herath.
The former Minister expressed confidence that Jayatunge would undoubtedly be happy to see that his past experiences in Prison (where he began his literary career) and his pioneering efforts had borne fruit. It was not something that could be described in words. Herath said that he was happy and proud that he was able to make some positive contribution to society for which it should be indebted to him.

Herath said that he did not agree with the theory that art should be separate from politics.

Although a direct link between art and politics was not visible it was invariably connected to politics indirectly. Politicians whose characters were moulded by art and literature made the right decisions while those had no such knowledge often took steps that adversely affected society.

He regretted that in today's Sri Lankan society art and literature were not in a satisfactory state.

The former Minister said that he had received the invitation to attend this ceremony not because of his former ministerial position, but due to a stronger political and social bond between he and Jayatunge.

Senior Lecturer, Ruhunu University's Sinhala Department, the Venerable Wilegoda Ariyadewa, well-known Cinema Artiste Ravindra Randeniya, former Chairman, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Jagath Naranbedda and leading Artiste Bandara Eheliyagoda also spoke.

A.R.
