Two Tamil journalists receive Governor's award

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 January 2002, 19:47 GMT]
The three day Tamil Literary Festival of the North-East Provincial Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs Sunday evening came to a close with the presentation of Governor's Award to forty seven recipients, including two Tamil journalists whose names were struck off earlier from the original list and later included by the Provincial Governor.

"The names of two Tamil journalists were struck off at the eleventh hour last year due to political interference. Immediately we decided not to conduct the Tamil festival without the two Tamil journalists in the awards' list. Finally saner counsel prevailed and the Governor later lifted the ban on them," said Mr.K.Parameswaran, former Provincial Education Ministry Secretary and presently Secretary to the Ministry of Hindu Cultural Affairs participating as the special guest.

The two journalists Mr.P.Manickavasagam from Vavuniya and the President of the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance and Mr.G.Nadesan from Batticaloa were among the recipients conferred with Governor's Awards Sunday at a colourful ceremony held at Trincomalee St.Joseph's College auditorium. Among other recipients were Professor S.Sivagnanasuntharam and Mr.K.Kunarasa, author of several Tamil literary works.

The Chief Secretary of the North-East Provincial Council Mr.G.Kirushnamoorthy presented the awards. Mr.Shanmugalingam, Provincial Secretary to the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs presided .