Cultural Center in Jaffna named ‘Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center’
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E Santosh Jha, and Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, Hon’ble Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, jointly announced the naming of the Cultural Centre in Jaffna as ‘Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center’, in honor of the great Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, at a ceremony.
The event was also attended by Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic, and Ocean Resources Hon’ble Ramalingam Chandrashekhar, Governor of Northern Province Hon’ble Nagalingam Vethanayan, Municipal Commissioner of Jaffna Mr. S. Krishnendran, Secretary to Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Atapattu, Consul General of India in Jaffna Sai Murali, along with other dignitaries and cultural artists from Jaffna.
Built with an Indian grant of $12 million, the Center provides a space where the rich traditions, arts, and aspirations of the people of the Northern Province could thrive.
The iconic structure is a state-of-the-art facility consisting of multiple facilities such as a museum of two floors, an advanced theatre-style auditorium for more than 600 people, an 11-storeyed learning tower, a public square that could also act as an amphitheater, etc.
The foundation stone for the Cultural Center was laid by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during his historic visit to Jaffna in March 2015. The facility was subsequently inaugurated in March 2022 and dedicated to the people of Sri Lanka in February 2023.
High Commissioner H.E Santosh Jha, during his address at the naming ceremony on 18th January, said that the initiative not only served to pay tribute to the great Thiruvalluvar it was also a celebration of a shared history, a shared culture, and the unique and unbreakable bond between India and Sri Lanka.
He remarked that the occasion marked the beginning of a journey guided by the wisdom of Thiruvalluvar toward a future rich in culture, collaboration, and shared prosperity. The High Commissioner urged the people of Jaffna and the Northern Province to make the center a living, breathing embodiment of Thiruvalluvar’s teachings.
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, Hon’ble Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, said an ideal name had been chosen for the Cultural Center in Jaffna.
He added that Thiruvalluvar’s teachings remind us that our actions should always be rooted in compassion and righteousness. His masterpiece, the Thirukkural, guides us in pursuing a just and harmonious society.
In a special gesture, the Hon’ble Minister gifted the High Commissioner of India a copy of the first-ever edition of the translation of the Thirukkural into Sinhala.
On behalf of the President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Anura Kumara Disanayaka, the Hon’ble Minister thanked the Government of India for the generous gift of the cultural center and said that he looked forward to working with all stakeholders toward making it a hub of vibrant cultural activity.