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| Sunday, 1 May 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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A star in the music galaxy by Mahes Perera The launch of Tharu Es Dahasak the latest CD by the fabulously versatile singer Nirosha Virajini marks a red letter day in her career which was justifiably celebrated with a solo concert at the BMICH.
In the twelve years of her professional career Nirosha Virajini has received many accolades for her performances and there is no doubt she worked hard to reach the top rung of popularity today. A Sarasaviya and Sumathi award winning vocalist, Nirosha literally burst into the music scene in the early nineties singing Tamil and Hindi songs. She launched her debut solo concert and her album Hitha Handai to a packed audience at the Elphinstone Theatre and since then, there was no looking back for this highly talented singer. She is grateful to veteran broadcaster and artiste B. H. Abdul Hameed for giving her the courage and all support to perform her maiden solo concert. Today she is a recognised household name in Sri Lanka as well as an eagerly awaited artiste at the many global concerts she has performed. Tharu Es Dahasak is Nirosha's sixth album, which is sure to captivate you since the music is by Rohana Weerasinghe, Suresh Maliyedde and a host of popular song writers. Her unusual lilting voice has given the Sri Lankan music scene nuggets that have gone down in the books. To jog your memory, remember Sina Thotak Viya, Punsanda Reta, Sigiri Geeyak, Duhul Malaka, Hitha Obata Muwawi, Ven Purawe to name a few? Nurtured in a home that echoed with music quite naturally, since her father sang a lot at home, and her mother was constantly listening to music, Nirosha has many happy memories of her life with her parents, who supported her in her musical activities and were confident in the thought that she would one day hit the centre stage. She did so with her soul stirring and lilting voice.At her solo concert we learn that she will have the popular duo Bathiya and Santhush and the show will be compered by film star Sanath Gunatilleke with Ravindra Randeniya, Malani Fonseka and Anoja Weerasinghe introducing the songs. Tissa Abeysekera the acclaimed film-maker will make the English introductions. Here's wishing Nirosha a star in our music galaxy success in her CD launch. 'Songs my mother, sang to me...' It is nostalgia time for music lovers who enjoy singing 'the songs their mothers' sang to them. The golden opportunity will be there next Saturday May 7 when the Old Thomians' Swimming Club present a 'Golden Oldies - Sing - Along Nite' from 8.00 p.m. at the club house Mt. Lavinia. Hosted by Brian Thomas, leading the singers will be Priya Peiris of La Bambas fame and Jayantha de Silva keyboardist/singer & leader of the now popular dance band Pearl. Both these singers are Old Thomians and together with Noel Ranasinghe of La Ceylonians plus, and known singers they have drawn up a programme of memorable old favourites to give you endless happiness. Backing the singers will be the Vintage Orchestra comprising well-known musicians who invite you to sing along to the sounds of the piano accordion, banjo, keyboards, bass and drums etc. Tickets are reasonably priced at Rs. 150 inclusive of dinner and a 'take away' song book of over 75 songs in English and Sinhala. Since seats are limited music lovers are advised to get their tickets early before May 5. The show is co-sponsored by the American College of Higher Education, Ceylon Tobacco Company, R T Studios and Classic FM Radio will give a live coverage of the event. This Golden Oldies Sing - A Long Nite with its wide selection of old favourites like Clementine, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Tipperary, Jamaican Farewell to name a few, will be graced by Dr. David Ponniah Warden of S Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia and Ms Ponniah. Love you mother
The time for celebration for all moms in the world is on Sunday, May 8 and the Galadari Hotel's Cafe 64 offers special Mothers Day take away cakes and chocolates from May 6 to May 9. On the other hand share your words of gratitude by treating your mother to a special quiet and quick meal at lunch time at the Pastry shop or at a cosy dinner at the shop's terrace. But that's not all you could also drop in any time during the day and enjoy the special Mother's Day spread, that will be laid out at Cafe 64. Rice bread - a new lifestyle The 'life-span' of wheat flour bread could soon be thwarted when bread made out of rice flour takes over in all homes restaurants and hotels. A slice of rice bread, which does not crumble while cutting,has the same irresistable taste as a hopper and is far healthier.
Rice bread is widely used in Japan and Thailand and it is sure to become popular with Sri Lankans who are now health conscious. Perera & Sons who were present showed a keen interest. Rice bread is moist and soft to the touch, crunchy when toasted, stable in quality and that distinctive rice flavour. With the use of trehalose a multi-functional sugar the fermentation time is easy to control, there is resistant to starch and fat retrogradation, sustains softness in bread and prevents loss of rice flavour. The demonstration was handled by Ikahada - Executive of the Hayashiba Company and Nalinda Abeyratne - Chief Patissier Ceylon Continental Hotel. (M.P.) Sugar Elegance 2005 The Sugar Craft Academy which won the Best International Display and the Bronze medal for Best Wedding Structure at last year's World Cake Competition will be holding a series of cake exhibitions commencing May 7 to May 15.
Samudra Dunuwilla, the Directress of the Academy was trained at the
Wilton School in the USA. She has branches at Chilaw, Gampaha, Kiribathgoda
and Kandy. The other dates and venues for the exhibition are May 10 and 11
at Samanala Hall, and May 14 and 15 at Sampath Hall, Kandy.
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| Produced by Lake House |
Who
can forget the crayon scribbled 'I Love You's from your loved ones on
Mother's Day? 
At
the demonstration in making rice bread, red and white, presented by the
Pelawatte Sugar Industries Ltd., in collaboration with Hayashibar of Japan
and Ceylon Continental Hotel on Wednesday April 27,the director A.
Wickremanayake revealed that Sri Lanka could save about 25 thousand million
rupees in the purchase of wheat flour and with the establishment of rice
mills in the main rice growing districts of Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura,
Hambantota, Ampara and Kurunegala more employment could be found and
transport costs reduced. Sri Lankan bakeries should make the attempt to
switch to rice bread soon and thereby introduce a new lifestyle to the
public. 
The
first of these exhibitions will be held on May 7 and May 8 at the BMICH and
the chief guest will be Shiranthi Rajapakse, wife of the Prime Minister
Mahinda Rajapakse. Each exhibition will reflect three categories of students
- the beginners, the seniors and the diploma students. The cakes on display
will be novelty cakes, wedding structures and a wide variety of sugar craft.
