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| Sunday, 22 December 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Shilpa 2002 by Arundathie Abeysinghe
A national event geared to promote creativity, talent and skills of those in the arts and crafts industry, this craft show will be an annual event. According to Buddhi Keerthisena, Chairman National Crafts Council Shilpa 2002 will showcase various handicraft products made of rush,reed,palm, along with brass, silver ware, batiks, leather products and pillow lace. "The items for the exhibition were chosen from craftsmen around the country and exhibitions of these products were held at provincial level". He said that both handicraft and tourism industry will unite to raise Shilpa 2002 to greater heights, allowing history to once again repeat itself, transforming Sri Lanka to the "land of delights". Shilpa 2002 would also highlight the various tourism destinations in the provinces. Pointing out that when tourists leave Sri Lanka after a holiday, they buy local products as souvenirs, he said the handicrafts industry and the tourism industry are closely linked in this manner and that Shilpa 2002 is a far sighted project which would attract both local and foreign buyers to this trade." Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and Swarnavahini are the official sponsors of this event. ##### Young Tenors in Colombo In centuries past, continental Europe used to be the source for many a
musical talent, especially in the area of classical music. This rich Since then, they have performed in more than 100 concerts each year with a repertoire ranging from classical music to Christmas concerts and Spanish medleys. They are equally renowned in Europe for performing cross-overs between classical and pop music. The Young Tenors will appear in Asia for the very first time, with Sri Lanka notching up the particular privilege of hosting this debut performance on March 1 and 2, 2003, thanks to the efforts of Classic Live Unlimited, who were responsible for bringing the Vienna Boys Choir to the country earlier this year. Classic Live will also be arranging for a medley of Christmas music sung by the Young Tenors which will be broadcast on Gold FM and transmitted on Rupavahini in view of the festive season. So if you are a fan of pop music, but enjoy classical music as well, interested in musical arrangements that bring out the new in the old, and want to be part of a unique musical event, then Colombo is your destination for March 2003. A number of big names are sponsoring this musical extravaganza. Sri Lankan Airlines is the airline sponsor and Colombo Hilton the host hotel. TV media sponsors are Rupavahini and Channel Eye, while radio sponsors are ABC Network (Gold FM). The Daily News and Sunday Observer are the print media sponsors. ##### Rajasthani folk dance in Sri Lanka A 12 - member Rajasthani folk dance troupe from India will be visiting Sri Lanka from today until December 29 at the invitation of the Cultural Affairs Ministry to participate in the National Dance Festival organised at the Vihara Mahadevi Park in Colombo. The group led by Mr. Umrao Khan Langa will regale the audiences with its repertoire of lively performances, delightful music and colourful folk dances, rarely seen in Sri Lanka before. Located in the North West of India, the state of Rajasthan forms a part of the great Indian desert, and is famous for its sand dunes, breathtaking architecture, majestic forts, vibrant colours and rich cultural traditions. Folk dance of Rajasthan is characterised by brightly coloured costumes and pulsating folk music, reflecting the state's rich cultural heritage and glorious past. The performances can be witnessed at the Elphinstone Theatre and Vihara Mahadevi Park on following dates: December 23 - at Town Hall, Matale December 24 - at mahamaya Ladies College, Kandy December 26 - at Elphinstone Theatre, Colombo December 27-29 - at the National Dance Festival at Chiara Mahadevi Park, Colombo. The visit of the troupe is sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The performances in Colombo and Kandy are being jointly organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka and the Indian High Commission in Colombo under the India-Sri Lanka Cultural Exchange Program. Invitations can be obtained from the Indian Cultural Centre and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. ##### Reach out for a Soul Christmas Breaking away from the norm and releasing a CD of original Christmas songs in Sri Lanka may not be an easy task, but a group of dedicated musicians has done it and deservedly too.
The seven original songs Time of the Year, Praise the Lord, Home for Christmas, This Christmas Time in Sinhala, Chapel on the Hill, Playing Santa, Stay United and Our Christmas Wish reveal the amount of hard work that has gone into the production, by take one productions and the CD released by M. Entertainment. The driving force behind the production of Soul Christmas has been Asitha Attanayake who was responsible for most of the lyrics and also for the direction of the singing styles and music arrangements. He is ably supported by the other members of the team singer/composer Rajive de Silva, Mihiri Bopearachchi who has freelanced as a singer with many bands in Colombo and Agra Premarathne - keyboardist/vocalist who has considerable experience in South Indian classical music and in music direction for films, tele dramas and stage productions. The others in the group include Shean Dharmaratne former frontline singer of Dream Team and now with Aquarius in Dubai, singer Chathuranga Ranadatta, rap and ragga singer Shiraz Yoosuf of Rude Bwoy fame, singer/violinist Elishya Godamunna and the young singers Shilpee Bopearachchie and Sajith Gunaratna. With such an array of creative talent and youth, Soul Christmas should not be missed out this season. ##### Running Wild Manel de Silva's photographic epiction of local flora and fauna, on table mats, coasters, t-shirts and Christmas cards and titled Running Wild will be exhibited on December 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at studio Arianne, at Kellingnore, 4, Police Park Place, off Police Park Avenue, Colombo 5. The fifty per cent of the proceeds will be donated to the conservation of wildlife and marine life. |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
With a rich culture that dates back to 2000 years Sri Lanka also has a
vibrant handicraft industry influenced by the centuries old values and
beliefs. And giving a 21st century fillip to this vibrant craft is "Shilpa
2002" to be held at the BMICH from December 27 to 30.
heritage continues to flourish even today, and the Young Tenors are a case
in point. Three trained tenors from different parts of Germany, they came
together in spring 1997 to sing the title song to Herzblatt in Munich. The
result: the birth of the Young Tenors.
The CD a Soul Christmas reflects some of the true emotions experienced
by people during this yearly season, and all these captured on rhythms
that reach out easily to the listeners. The band of musicians have used
hip hop to country and western to fusion in a laudable fashion.
