Russian Centre celebrates 200th birth anniversary of Alexandr Pushkin

The Pushkin Poetry Evening at the Russian Centre was held on the 29^th of May, 2019. The event was organized conjointly with the Literary Circle by the Russian language classes teachers and students, alongside with enthusiastic literature lovers. The evening was especially dedicated in remembrance of Alexandr Pushkin - a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist of the Romantic era, this year celebrating his 200th birth anniversary, who is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature, as well as Mikhail Lermontov a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter, sometimes called "the poet of the Caucasus", the greatest figure in the Russian Romanticism, whose 205th birth anniversary is also celebrated in 2019.

The event included a deep look into the works of the two poets by the members of the Literary Circle and invited experts, an interactive session of questions and answers about the poets, poetry recital by the teachers and students of the Russian language of the Russian Centre in Colombo. Performances by Mr. Iqbal Mohamed heading the Guitar Association of Sri Lanka and students of the Russian School of Ballet added colour to the evening dedicated to literature and art.

Ven. Pallekande Rathanasara Thero honorable professor of the State Institute of the Russian Language named after A.Pushkin, Vice-president of the Sri Lanka - Russia Friendship Society was the chief guest.

Among the guests the Pushkin Poetry Evening at the Russian Centre was attended by the President of the Literary Circle Dr. W.A.Abeysinghe, and vice-president of Sri Lankan - Russian Business Council B. Ramanayake, activists of Sri Lanka - Russia Friendship Society, representatives of the local intellectual elite and educational community.