Online edition of Sunday Observer

I had always wondered from where the Lankans had picked up the expression "Enava..la!, Giya..la!" The riddle surfaced again and again in Kuala Lumpur.

Discovering eco-treasures in Sabha.

"La..s" are vociferously voluminous in Malaysia. "Come..la, Don't wait..la, Why do you look like that..la!" I guess a linguist could elucidate me the deeper caverns of how we Sinhalese hopped on to the suffix.

We were in the midst of many happenings in our short spree in KL, the dynamic, eclectic Malaysian Capital. A city of the times (of a clearly surfacing world economy power) - with magnificent sky-scrapers and an ever-spinning web of glorius highways - the architect's ultimate triumph. Hard to believe it had a modest beginning of tin-mining, where the rivers Klang and Gombak confluence. Mind you, not a single horn to split your ear-drums, as you speed along the smooth high way. The reason - no pedestrians shooting across them - unlike our "high ways" where men, women, tiny tots, cats, dogs, cattle and every conceivable four legs can be found hobbling at their leisure.

A "Panthera Pardus" (a spotted leopard) had decided to call it quits from the Johor Zoo and the neighbouring residents were getting jitters as trackers repeatedly failed to locate it in the urban jungle. Muslims dressed in "Baju Melayu", "Songkok" and "Samping" commemorated Prophet Mohammad's birthday while devotees flocked to Buddhist temples to kindle wax lotuses at Vesak. To cap it all was the government announcement that amnesty for illegal immigrants in Malaysia, said to be no less than 60,000 persons, was extended indefinitely.

Fusion of antiquity and modernity - Sultan Abdul Samad Building at KL’s Merdeka Square where Citrawarna was performed. The site where the New Malaysian Flag flew after independence 45 years ago.

Where lies the lure of Malaysia - to the regional tourist as well as the Ringgit-seeking immigrant ? The stupendous allure of duty-free shopping in the Golden Triangle of KL - the bustling electrical produce and pret-a-porter attire, and vigorous bargains of China Town ? The fun-filled theme parks and entertainment-laden resort hotels ? The comfortable living standards ? Or, is it the fascinating vista of antiquity still reigning in glory behind the platinum glint of the modern high-rises as does the constitutional monarchy behind the longest-serving, freely-elected parliament in the world ? Perhaps, a closer-to-heart explanation could be gleaned from this nation's inherent knack for co-existence, tolerance and the natural acceptance of what is different to one as part of one's whole.

Mere words or shutter-bug impressions can never capture the ebb and flow of this great nation's images or its "living and breathing spirit" which remain indelibly carved in my memory to this day. I had a startling revelation of "home" in Malaysian eyes when a tour official, in all innocence, asked me, "Is it true that the majority of your country are fishermen ?" And another, equally startling, when I was told, "Once we knew Sri Lanka for Hairy Carp and Kandos. Now, for nothing. But, in future, we hope we will know it for your people !" Well, need I say more ?

Citrawarna

"Melayu Baru", Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad's easily set-alight experiment of social engineering - the culture cauldron "New Malay" - seems to be slowly but steadily tempering a "Bangsa Malaysia" - a new race of a common Malaysian colour.

A history which began when Parameswara, an exiled prince from Sumatra, landed on the Malacca shores is sharply staccatoed with trader influx from China, India, Arabia and Europe and conquests by the Siamese, the Portugese, the Dutch and the British. The vibrant, cosmopolitan pot pourri one sees today is an exotic mix of Malays, Chinese, Indian, Eurasian, Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Kadazan, Muruts, Bajau, Ceylonese Tamil and many other hues. Not forgetting Orang Asli, the proud "Orginal" people of Malaysia and Orang Utan, the primeval "Wild man."

With such endless culture corridors harmoniously converging with the Malaysian mainstream and the global explosion, without losing the distinct character of either, Tourism Malaysia has confidently pegged its tourist arrivals target for 2005 at a dizzy 14.3M, niching the emerging Asian markets in China, India and the Middle East, besides the conventional West. As the Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism stressed the pot of gold lies in the untapped vectors - eco, sports, education and health tourism.

To see the many colours of the Malaysian people, four journalists from the local press flew along with many other media and travel crew - courtesy Srilankan Air lines - to this land of many festivals - of its many races, religions and ehtnic groups. "Citrawarna Malaysia" (Colours of Malaysia), the month-long festival of diversity in arts, traditions, dance, music and food was officially launched in a glittering cultural parade in Kuala Lumpur - featuring 5,000 Malaysians in a bewildering rainbow of ethnic costumes, performing unique dances of the various States of Malaysia.

The bent was "Mesra Malaysia" - for a more tourist-friendly Malaysia in a country which was truly Asia.