A 15 member Sri Lankan musicians from the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) was on stage with the South Asian Symphony Orchestra (SASO) at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai on 26th April 2019.
The Orchestra with members from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka is aimed at furthering cultural exchanges between South Asian Countries to promote peace and harmony in the region. The concert featured the New York based Sri Lankan Soprano Tharanga Goonetilleke who was the solo vocalist at the Concert. The Members of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) represented the largest contingent of the SASO for the orchestra which was named ‘’Chiragh”, light in the darkness.
Two minute silence was observed in memory of the victims of Easter attack in Sri Lanka, prior the performance.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest of the event, Vice - President M Venkaiah Naidu, stressed the need to curb terrorism in collective action and the significance of music which can be a voice for the vast majority who prefer to live in peace.
Hon. C Vidyasagar, Governor of Maharashtra, H.E. Austin Fernando, Sri Lanka High Commissioner in New Delhi, Ambassador Nirupama Rao, former Indian Foreign Secretary and the organizer of the Concert, Ms. Chamari Rodrigo, Sri Lanka Consul General in Mumbai and Mrs. Sharmini Wettimuny, Chairperson of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) were also in attendance.
The Concert was dedicated to the victims of the Easter Attack in Sri Lanka.
