Launch of Lacanian Eye on Salman Rushdie

Dr. Krishanthi Anandawansa, Senior Lecturer from Department of Languages launched her third book titled ‘Lacanian Eye on Salman Rushdie’, a psychoanalytic review of selected works by Salman Rushdie, on 27th July 2024 at the Lighthouse Auditorium, Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Horton Place, Col. 07. The Chief Guest of the event was the KDU Vice Chancellor Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara, VSV, USP, psc, MMaritimePol, BSc (DS) and the Keynote speaker of the event was Dr. Mahesh Hapugoda, Senior Lecturer, Department of Languages, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, while the two Guest Speaker invitees were Mr. Saman Wickramaarachchi, former High Court Judge, novelist and critic, and Mr. Jeremy Muller- Director/ Editor-in-Chief, The Jam Fruit Tree Publications. Other special guests included former KDU Vice Chancellor Maj Gen Milinda Peiris (Retd), Dean FMSH Dr. Lakshika Liyanage, Directors of KDU, HoD-Languages Dr. Thilini Wijetunge, and Academic Staff of FMSH and KDU. Also present at the event were several journalists, general public and friends and family of Dr. Anandawansa.

The event commenced with the lighting of the oil lamp by the Chief Guest, the Vice Chancellor of KDU, former Vice Chancellor of KDU, Dean – FMSH, Director – CGEE, HoD -Languages, Keynote and Guest Speakers of the event, parents of Dr. Anandawansa, and the author herself. After a brief welcome, the event commenced with an introduction of Dr. Anandawansa by Ms. Lakshani Willarachchi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Languages, KDU.

During the Keynote speech, Dr. Hapugoda focused on the importance of ‘getting off one bus halt before the final one’, in our journey towards modernism, since we are in debatable times in the advent of being ‘consumed’ by Artificial Intelligence (AI), which would compel one to re-enter into serious human dialogue (i.e. Lacaninan discourse) of the self and other interaction and its importance. The Keynote speech was intrinsically engaging, and captivated audience interest. Following this, the first Guest Speaker Mr. Saman Wickramaarachchi delivered an eloquent literary critique on how novel writing per se creates dialogue between author and reader, and praised the author for her use of allegorical references in the novels to the Indian postcolonial debate, beyond the mere realm of fantasy, while highlighting on some debatable points in the book.

Mr. Jeremy Muller, the second Guest Speaker elaborated further on the dynamics of the Lacanian discourse in relation to the ‘human factor’, emphasizing on how important the latter would remain, despite the vast advancements in AI, since as humans we would, following Lacanian thought, continuously strive to reach the unattainable ‘object of desire’. Mr. Muller further emphasized on how the magic in creative writing can be beautifully merged into the Lacanian discourse, to emphasize the utter requirement of the human element.

The event concluded with an open floor for felicitations, in which the Vice Chancellor addressing the gathering congratulated Dr. Anandawansa for her outstanding effort in bringing out yet another publication. He further stated that as the Vice Chancellor of KDU, he is proud that such scholarly production has come out for the benefit of humankind and for those interested in the subject matter in concern, and wished that she would continue to do so in future. Dean – FMSH, Dr. Lakshika Liyanage, speaking at the felicitations, expressed that she too was proud of Dr. Anandawansa, and encouraged her to do more in terms using her literary and music skills for the betterment of the Department/ Faculty. The event concluded with the Vote of Thanks by Dr. Anandawansa, followed by further collaborations and discussions during refreshments.