KUWAIT: The inaugural ceremony of the Sri Lankan Cultural Week was held successfully at Kaifan Theater on Monday . A few days ago, a controversial Sri Lankan New Year's Day event was interrupted in Jahra after irate Kuwaitis claimed that it violated Islamic rules. The New Year's Day event and the cultural programs staged during the cultural week were almost similar in nature, sources said.

Speaking to the Kuwait Times after the event, Sarath Dissanayake the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Kuwait thanked Kuwaiti authorities for lending support to Sri Lankan community. "We are happy that we successfully concluded the first day of a week-long celebration peacefully," he stressed. "This cultural week is a completely separate event (from the New Year's Day event). We have no doubt or any fear that we will be interrupted once again. In fact, we are very happy that Kuwait Minister of Information and Oil
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah attended the event from the beginning until the end of the program. It was a very strong message of support for Sri Lankans in Kuwait," he said.

The cultural week is being held under the patronage of National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL). In a veiled reference to the incident, Bader Al-Refai, NCCAL Secretary General, in his speech stressed that Kuwait has always been motivated by its deeply rooted Arab and Islamic traditions. In his words, "(it) embraces all cultures, admires and respect them fully peacefully and co-exist with them.

He added that Kuwaiti society has always hosted cultural events of many countries. It has added color and diversity. "I am confident that the participants will best represent the beauty of Sri Lankan Arts and Culture in a way that reflects the spirit of the people of Sri Lanka." Al-Refai added that the cultural event will create a more bilaterally beneficial cooperation in other fields like economy, tourism, science and education. "We in Kuwait, genuinely believe that the future is for peace among all nat
ions and culture," he concluded.

Sri Lankan Cultural programs include handicraft exhibition, food festivals and paintings. Venues of activities are segregated in different places in Kuwait. Tomorrows' programs of activities include a handicraft exhibition and food festival scheduled to be held at Crowne Plaza Hotel from 6 to 7 pm. - Kuwait Times