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| Sunday, 1 September 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Tourism International 2002: A fine spread of native splendour by Jayanthi Liyanage If I placidly expected expertly packaged glamour girls from a beauty factory, I was in for a surprise.
The pageant to pick the local lass who could portray the most charming image of Sri Lanka to the world as Miss Tourism International, was a hark back to the sixties glory days when beauty meant grace, dignity and femininity at its most elegant and sensitive best. As flickering flames of palm-borne clay lamps lit up the pearly-skinned freshness of maidens gingerly entering the dimly-lit ramp - epitomising Sri Lankan traditionality in pearly-hued redde-hattes, pearly necklets, white Araliya flowers worn at the ear and low 'konde' at the nape - strains of 'Danno Budunge' filled the Sapphire Ball Room of Ceylon Continental Hotel. Indeed, a rare beauty pageant of aesthetic depths, bringing out right native inflexions at the right moments - choreography, make-up and sartorial flair cleverly crafted and mixed for a brilliant impact on ramp. The fresh and radiant beauty seen on stage would have come from the fact that many of the 20 contestants were drawn from provincial areas such as Ambalangoda, Ratnapura and Kurunegala and that none had taken part at a beauty pageant before. "Grilling them in social graces kept me on my toes," says the pageant's Chief Organizer, Yvonne D'Rozario. When some village beauties shed formality in swim-wear, their long, flowing natural tresses were balm to the eyes. In true traditions of eco-tourism, the Eco-Gallery-gifted pageant costumes were 100% cotton. The rich earthy colours of individually-painted and glittered evening sheaths heightened the russet on the cheeks of the willowy young women ascending the ramp in-between hefty 'sesath' bearers. While the majority of contestants spoke with aplomb at the question-and-answer round showing they are no "dumb Barbies", a few, though pretty as pictures, were lost behind the microphone. Undoubtedly, eloquence and general awareness is an essentiality sought in a Sri Lankan ambassadress presenting the country's charms to foreign counterparts on October 4.
What would have been a fine spread of native splendour in promoting local tourism climaxed in crowning tall and regal Jenita Anoja Miriam De Mel as Miss Lanka for Miss Tourism International 2002. Ashanthika Naomi Jayasinghe was the 1st runner-up while K.A. Milani Dilrukshi was the 2nd runner-up. The 20 contestants on parade should have little cause for disappointment as over a dozen received mini-titles, with Gayani Kaushalya Jayasinghe as Siddhalepa Queen and Udayanthi Kulatunge as Miss Golden Mile. Yvonne says that ITN's Chairman had exclaimed that he had never seen so many pretty girls in a single show and asked them all to apply to be tried as news readers, teledrama actresses and in other capacities at the TV station. Consequent to the pageant, contestant Lakmali Herath has flown to Moscow to represent Sri Lanka at Miss Tourism of the Globe to be held at end August. The pageant was judged by Sebastian Perera, local Franchise Director for Miss Tourism International and Chairman, Celsin Ltd.; Jacky Perera, Director, Celsin Ltd.; Nawaz Rajabdeen, Managing Director, Rajabdeen and Sons; Shirley Ganegoda, Chairman, Mount Royal Hotel, Mt. Lavinia; Upeksha Wijeratne, Director, Jonathans (Pvt) Ltd., Ruwan Godage, Features Editor, Daily News, ANCL; Chandana de Silva, Senior Manager-Sri Lanka and Maldives, Srilankan Airlines; Hashim Dole, Managing Director, Corporate Directories (Pvt) Ltd. and Russell Perera, Managing Director, Russell Teas (Pvt) Ltd. Mohan Moraes compered the show, and Cross Section with Antoinette and Rodney, together with Corrine and Ashanthi, dished out musical fair as the night progressed towards dinner and dance.Many were entranced at the visual beauty achieved by the official hair dresser/beautician, Premasiri Hewawasam, and the official dress designers, Judith Bhakthi Panditharatne and Kumudini Rajapaksha. Choreography of Yvonne and Premasiri deepened the elegance of imagery. The main sponsor of the pageant was Siddhalepa Hotel Resorts (Pvt) Ltd. Golden Mile Restaurant was the co-sponsor; SriLankan Airlines - official airline; ITN - official TV channel; Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. - official newspaper; Soft Pro Systems Ltd. - computerization; Jonathans (Pvt) Ltd. - official photographer; Nalin Gunaratne of Gunaratne Printers - official printers; Jet Asia of Jetwing - official transporter and travel agent; Entertainment Unlimited - backdrop; Starling Flowers - florist; Furnifits - trophies; Eco-Gallery - sashes; Linea Aqua (Pvt) Ltd. - swim suits; Crown for Miss Sri Lanka - Nawaz Rajabdeen. |
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