The Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS) in collaboration with the University of Calicut, Kerala, India and the National Institute of Language Education and Training (NILET), Sri Lanka organized an International Webinar on ‘Literature, Culture and Globalization: With reference to Hindi and Sinhala literature’ to mark the 10th Anniversary of the CCIS on 13th January 2022 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. The webinar inaugurated with the Sarasvathi Vandana presented by Sangit Nipun Pamalka Manjitha Karunanayake. Professor Pramod Kovvaprath, Head, Dept. of Hindi, University of Calicut, Kerala, India made the welcome speech. Especially, the proceedings of the webinar were launched during the webinar. The inaugural speeches were made by Senior Professor Chandrika N. Wijeyaratne, Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo, Professor (Dr) M. K. Jayaraj, Vice Chancellor, University of Calicut and Dr. Prasath Herath, Director General, National Institute of Language Education and Training (NILET).
The Chief Guest of the event was His Excellency Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner, High Commission of India in Sri Lanka and on his behalf Chair Senior Professor Upul Ranjith Hewawitanagamage, Director, CCIS read his message. Professor Sandagomi Coperahewa, Founder Director, CCIS and Chair and Head, Department of Sinhala, University of Colombo made the Inaugural Chair’s speech. Ms. Ridma Lansakara, Academic and Research Officer, NILET delivered the Vote of Thanks concluding the inauguration ceremony.
Professor Satyakethu Sankrit (Dept. of Hindi, B. R. Ambedkar University, Delhi, India), Professor Sangeeth Rathnayake (Dept. of Languages, Sabaragamuwa University, Sri Lanka), Professor Ashish Tripathi (Dept. of Hindi, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India) and Professor Nilanthi Rajapaksha (Dept. of Languages, Cultural and Performing Arts Studies, University of Sri Jayawardhanepura, Sri Lanka) were the resource persons of the webinar. Professor Devendra Chaube, Centre of Indian Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi acted as the Session Chair. Professor V. K. Subramanian, Department of Hindi, University of Calicut, Kerala delivered the Vote of Thanks. Ms. Wathsala Samarakoon and Ms. Yodunika Seneviratne compered the inauguration and the closing ceremony of the webinar. More than 100 participants from both India and Sri Lanka attended this webinar.
