This year Georgia, Italy, Germany, and India, are joining hands with Sri Lanka to make the festival rich with cultural diversity and theatrical techniques around the world.

The inauguration ceremony of the 5th Colombo International Theater Festival was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the BMICH on March 31.

During the event, the Sinhala translation of the book titled "Contemporary German Children and Youth" by German playwright Ingeborg von Zadow was presented to the President.

The President also presented a special award felicitating the veteran playwright Parakrama Niriella at the festival for his enormous contribution to the arts for decades.

Performances at the festival will commence on April 1 and continue till April 6 at the British School in Colombo each day at 7pm. The maiden performance will be Parakrama Niriella's stage drama Sekkuwa.

Parallel to theater festival, Colombo Theater Forum will be held from 01 - 06 April at the German Cultural Centre. The forum creates a space for theatre practitioners, critics and theatre lovers to interact, exchange ideas, discuss topics that are vital to contemporary theatre practice and to pave the way for co-thinking and collaboration.