With Indian Assistance, Sri Lanka Gets its Largest University Auditorium

The University of Ruhana in Matara in Sri Lanka has got the country’s largest auditorium built with Indian assistance.

According to reports, India financed SLR 300 million for the construction of “Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium,” which is said to be the largest in Sri Lanka.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Vice Chancellor of the University Ruhana Gamini Senanayake jointly dedicated the auditorium.

Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium at the #UniversityofRuhuna, Matara as University celebrates 40 years, dedicated by H.E. High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu & Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Gamini Senanayake.Built with Indian grant assistance LKR 300 Million. pic.twitter.com/GpTG1cpUtc

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) October 9, 2018

The words on the plaque call the auditorium “a gift to the people of Sri Lanka from the people of India.” In another tweet, Sandhu called it “India’s gift to Sri Lankan youth.”

“Today, we are dedicating the largest University Auditorium in Sri Lanka. This State-of-the-Art Auditorium joins Ruhuna University in its Ruby Jubilee celebrations (40 years),” Sandhu said on the occasion. “This modern auditorium is named after Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, who was an intellectual giant among men. Gurudev’s contribution to literature, art, music and education are unparalleled. He was the first non-European to win Nobel Prize for Literature.”

Over 1000 people including faculty, supporting staff, students of the university and other guests attended the dedication ceremony, the Indian commission said in a media release.

The auditorium, with seating for 1500 people, has been designed by Sri Lankan Architect Geoffrey Bawa.