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On 12 January 2016, the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute hosted a lecture and book launch for H.E. Andrés Barbé, the new Ambassador of Chile to Sri Lanka. This event was conducted in collaboration with the Honorary Consul for Chile in Sri Lanka, Mr. Mano Selvanathan.

Ambassador Barbé introduced the audience to his country and spoke about relations between Chile and Sri Lanka. He also launched a book in Sinhala by Ms. Indrani Rathnasekara, entitled ‘Ceilán: La Soledad Luminosa’.

The book, ‘Ceilán: La Soledad Luminosa’, comprises a translation of collected writings by the preeminent poet and Nobel Laureate, Pablo Neruda, who was once Ambassador of Chile to Ceylon. Ms. Rathnasekara spoke captivatingly about her experience with translating Neruda’s work from Spanish into Sinhala.

An interactive discussion followed the speeches of Ambassdaor Barbé and Ms. Rathnasekara, and was moderated by Dr. Dinusha Panditaratne. Participants raised a range of questions relating to the literature of Pablo Neruda and to Chile’s relations with Sri Lanka, including on the potential impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade relations.

Copies of Ms. Rathnasekara’s book were distributed to participants, and will later be distributed to public libraries.