Bill to set up Amaradeva Centre to be introduced in Parliament soon

The Government will shortly introduce a Bill in Parliament to set up the Amaradeva Aesthetic & Research Centre, to be also known as the Amaradeva Asapuwa, which would be equipped with a research laboratory, archive, library and museum.

The objectives of the Centre are to facilitate Research activities o f graduate and Postgraduate courses on Aesthetic Studies, conduct Workshops, Lectures and Appreciation programmes and any other function to promote the style of music of the late Pandith Wannakuwattawaduge Don Amaradeva.

The Centre will be required to conduct such activities in such a manner as not to create any conflict between the work of the Centre and any work being carried out simultaneously by any Ministry or, Government Department or, any Provincial Council or, the “Amaradeva Foundation”.

The administration and management of the affairs of the Centre will be vested in a Board of Management with the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education, Secretary to the Ministry to which the Centre, for the time being, is assigned, Director General of the Department of National Archives, Chairman of the National Library & Documentation Services Board, Director of the Department of National Museums and Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs or, any of their repre- sentatives as ex- officio members .

The Board’s appointed members will include an appointee of the President, Prime Minister and family members of the late W. D. Amaradeva, namely Wimala Amaradeva, Ranjana Amaradeva, Priyanvada Amaradeva and Subhanie Amaradeva, a member nominated by the “Amaradeva Foundation” incor porated under the Companies Act, No. 07 of 2007, as well as 4 members, with experience and shown capacity in the fields of Aesthetics and Literature, appointed by the Minister, with the concurrence of the “A m a r a d e v a Foundation”.

The Bill is to be presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance and Mass Media.