The 71st death anniversary of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest scholars, Munidasa Cumaratunga will be held today in Dikwella. Munidasa Cumaratunga was born on July 25, 1887 at Indigasara, Dikwella and died on March 2, 1944 at the age of 56. This great linguist, writer, poet, grammarian, orator and journalist has authoured more than 32 books and was one of the prominent scholars who pioneered the promotion of the correct usage of the Sinhala Languagels. A series of ceremonies have been organized byWevrukannala Rajamaha Viharaya Chief Incumbent and Guna Samaruwa organizing committee Chairman Ven Dikwelle Thissa Thera. Students and staff of Vijitha Central College and Cumaratunga Munidasa MV will place floral tributes at Munidasa Cumaratunga memorial in Dikwella at 10.15a.m. and alms will be offered to the Maha Sangha at the Wevrukannala Raja Maha Viharaya at 11.15a.m. The Ven.Thera said that every year essay, poetry, oratory and art competitions are being held among school children. This year more than 5,000 entries have been received and the winners will be awarded certificates at the main commemoration ceremony which will commence at 1.30 p.m. at the Silruwan Memorial Theater at Wevrukannala, today. The oratory and poetry competitions will be held at the Wevrukannala Pirivena and Asoka Vidyalaya premises while the art exhibition will be held at the Wevrukannala pre-school.