Cultural bridge connecting Vietnam-Sri Lanka

Within the framework of activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations (1970-2025), the Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka on August 24 hosted a cultural and artistic exchange program in the Central province of Sri Lanka with the participation of artists from the Thang Long Music and Dance Theater and the Hanoi Cheo Theater.

The program received support from Truc Lam Zen Monastery - the first Vietnamese temple in Sri Lanka, led by Venerable Phap Quang.

The program attracted the presence of Professor Sarath Abayakon - Governor of Central Province, Director of the Provincial Department of Education , principals of many primary schools, along with many students and local people.

In particular, Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka also attended, creating an atmosphere of friendly exchange and solidarity.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the exchange program, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam emphasized: “Vietnam and Sri Lanka have a long-standing traditional friendship, nurtured by similarities in history, culture and religion. Cultural exchange activities like today are a bridge to bring the people of the two countries closer together, contributing to strengthening mutual understanding, while opening up practical cooperation prospects in the fields of education, tourism and people-to-people exchange."

Also at the event, Governor of Central Vietnam Sarath Abayakon reiterated his love for the country, people of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh; expressed his gratitude for the attention of the Embassy and the Vietnamese community for the locality when organizing a special cultural event like this for the first time in the Central Vietnam province.

The Governor affirmed that Truc Lam Kandy Zen Monastery is a vivid demonstration of the strong bond between Buddhism and the people of the two countries. It is not only a place for cultural and religious exchange, but also a bright spot in charity work, community education, especially the dissemination of Vietnamese language to local people. These cultural seeds will further cultivate the foundation for Sri Lanka-Vietnam relations in the present and the future.

The exchange program brings a diverse cultural picture, combining traditional folk songs and modern music of Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

Many typical Vietnamese musical instruments such as the monochord, zither, and bamboo flute were introduced and performed through songs from both countries, creating melodies that were both profound and unique.

Vietnamese Cheo melodies also received attention and response from the audience, in which some students wanted to try singing along with Vietnamese artists.

The emotional highlight of the program was the participation of children from Truc Lam Zen Monastery, when they sang in Vietnamese the song “Going to School” and danced with Vietnamese artists to the music of “Drums and Rice” and “My Homeland Vietnam.”

This is a vivid demonstration of the increasingly widespread spread of Vietnamese culture and language in Sri Lanka. In addition, some international songs such as “Cheri Cheri Lady,” also brought a vibrant experience when the artists performed with international guests.

The event affirmed the role of the Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka in not only promoting political and diplomatic relations, but also strengthening cultural and educational cooperation, connecting the community and contributing to the development of the Vietnamese language.

This is one of the meaningful activities in the series of celebrations of Vietnam-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations throughout 2025, contributing to fostering the strong traditional friendship between the people of the two countries, not only at the central level but also at the local level./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhip-cau-van-hoa-ket-noi-viet-nam-sri-lanka-post1057692.vnp