The "Panchagrama Prasadani" Gampaha District Literature and Arts Festival was held on the morning of November 5, 2026, at the new 'Agra' Auditorium of the District Secretariat. The event was presided over by Mr. Lalinda Gamage, the Gampaha District Secretary/Government Agent, and Ms. Hemali Weerasekara, Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairperson of Committees in Parliament.
During the ceremony, "Panchagrama Prasadani" honorary awards were presented to two distinguished artists from the Gampaha District who have contributed to enriching the Sri Lankan artistic landscape through their exceptional creative talents. The recipients of the 2026 "Panchagrama Prasadani" award were Mr. Wilson Gunaratne—an eminent artist, veteran dramatist, and motivational speaker with notable achievements in theatre, television drama, and cinema—and Mr. Sunil Edirisinghe, a veteran musician and accomplished vocalist (*Visharada*). Renowned man of letters, Mr. Mahinda Prasad Masimbula, delivered a special address at the event.
During this arts festival, certificates and prizes were awarded to schoolchildren who emerged victorious in various competitive categories—including handwriting, prose, poetry, song appreciation, songwriting, folklore studies, short stories, children’s stories, and academic articles based on encyclopedias or dictionaries—covering all Divisional Secretariat divisions within the Gampaha District. The event was further enlivened by dance performances showcasing the talents of students from various art institutes across the district.
Addressing the 'Pancha Grama Prasadani' Literary and Arts Festival, District Secretary Mr. Lalinda Gamage emphasized that children should be trained from a young age to manage the mental stress—a byproduct of modern-day competitiveness—and noted that art serves as the most effective medium for this purpose. He stated that art fosters the development of individuals endowed with empathy and creativity, and that the Gampaha District is advancing toward integrated development by combining the fields of science, the environment, and the arts.
A large gathering attended the event, including Ruwan Mapalagama (Member of Parliament for the Gampaha District), Eric Ediriwickrama (Mayor of Gampaha), Additional District Secretaries J.W.S. Kithsiri and Asiri Weerasekara, Assistant District Secretary Kapuru Bandara, and Gampaha District Cultural Officer Sandhya Sepali. Also present were Divisional Secretaries, artists, government officials from the Gampaha District Secretariat, school principals, and schoolchildren.
This literary festival was organized jointly by the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Division of the Gampaha District Secretariat.