The University of Kelaniya has a full-fledged Department of Hindi Studies with over three hundred students learning Hindi at it. As part of the celebrations, a five-day Hindi Film Festival has been organized to highlight their role in promotion of Hindi in Sri Lanka.

Vice-Chancellor of University of Kelaniya, Amunugama said that Hindi cinema was creating cultural awareness and strengthening the close relationship between India and Sri Lanka built upon the shared cultural heritage.

Indian High Commissioner appreciated the close cooperation between the Department of Hindi Studies at the University of Kelaniya and the Indian Cultural Centre.

In an another event at the Indian Cultural Centre at the New Town Hall, Colombo, there were competitions in poetry recitation, singing, declamation, essay writing, and role plays in Hindi. A similar event was also organized in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.