World Hindi Day Celebrations with the students from University of Jayawerdenepura

In a lively celebration for World Hindi Day, the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre organized an event on 10th and 11th January that brought together Hindi lecturers, Hindi students from all over Sri Lanka, and special guests. The Head of the Department of Languages, Cultural Studies, and Performing Arts, Prof. Nilanthi Rajapakshe, along with Dr. Wajira Gunasena, Senior lecturer in Hindi and Ms. Aswini Perera, Assistant lecturer in Hindi and twenty seven Hindi students actively took part in this event. The Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and Mr.Ankuran Dutta, Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre were the chief guests. The cultural program featured impressive dance and singing performances by students from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, showcasing the beauty of Hindi arts. Certificates were given to the participating students for their excellent performances. At the same time, a Hindi Research Conference took place. Prof. Nilanthi Rajapakshe and Prof. Upul Hewawithatna chaired the first session, and alumni Sarasi Ranasinghe and Sinali Pathirana presented interesting papers, contributing to the academic discussion. The celebration also included immersive Hindi language practice sessions and a delicious experience of tasting Indian food. This fostered language exchange and appreciation for each other’s cultures. The event not only strengthened cultural ties but also provided a lively platform for academic discussions and artistic expression, symbolizing the lasting connection between Sri Lanka and India.