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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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Lanka Udaanaya 10th anniversary celebrations :
Glittering and memorable musical show by Colvin De Silva - Lake House correspondent in London Music loving Sri Lankan audience who are starved of good entertainment in Sinhala music was provided with a golden opportunity to satisfy their entertainment needs, when Lak Udana musical nite was staged recently at the Camden Centre in London by the organizers of the Lanka Udaanaya Sinhala radio programme. It was indeed a glittering show at which a galaxy of Sinhala musicians from Colombo were specially flown out of this purpose. The Organiser, Akshin Punchihewa prompted by his love for Sinhala music and culture had worked tirelessly to muster a group of well-known and popular musicians who showed their musical skills and abilities on that occasion. The group included Ivor Denis, Dewananda Waidyasekara, Harun Lantra, Anjalin Gunathilake, Amara Ranathunga, Dayarathne Ranathunga, T.M. Jayarathne, Amarasiri Peiris, Jagath Wickramasinghe and Isaq Beg. High Commissioner for Sri Lanka Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne, Minister-Consular Affairs Sarath Gauthamadasa and the SriLankan Airways Manager for UK and Ireland - Johan Wijesinghe graced the occasion and lit the traditional oil lamp together with Ivor Denis, Amara Ranathunge, Rani Bulathwela, Upali Sudasinghe, Akshin Punchihewa and Buminda Karunathilake before the commencement of the grand musical evening. Background music for the singers were provided by Kalani Perera on the violin, being an experienced back up musician and a music director of great repute. Y.M. Sumanasiri was at the Sitar while Karunaratne Jayasinghe played the Tabla. Jagath Wickramasinghe was the music coordinator while playing the organ. Ivor Denis was the first melodius singer who sang Abimananiyawu navodaye-hiru heta udaye payanawa which was deeply appreciated by the musically inclined audience. Ivor Denis over a period of 50 years has always sung songs relating to the pride of the Nation and he claims to have carbon copied of the golden voice of Sunil Shantha. Anjalin Gunathilake presented the second song and sang Mata asai hina henna she too has an unbroken record as a singer - singing mostly for Sinhala films. Dewananda Waidyasekara sang mokada menike thama naththe. He too is a veteran singer and made a very useful contribution for Sinhala films. The first duet was sung by Dewananda Waidyasekara and music maestro Visharada Archana Dissanayake. Mention must be made of the musical prowess of Archana Dissanayake. She is a graduate of the Kelaniya University in the faculty of Fine Arts and later Bathkart University of India. She holds the title of "Vocal Visharada". Prior to her coming to the UK she was a teacher at St. Peter's College Colombo. Next it was Dr. Dayarathne Ranathunge who sang Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi. The second duet was between Dr. Dayarathne Ranathunge and Professor Amara Ranathunge of the Kelaniya campus. They sang maha re yame. Harun Lantra took the stage next to sing a love song mage namalee. Together with Archana Dissanayake they sang pipuna hadasanthane and they were joined by the audience. Archana invades and inhibits the role she is singing with a quite an extraordinary degree of perception. The audience by which time has been mesmerised by melodius song that were sung requested the two songsters to sing Adare sihilal and it was a fabulous song. Amarasiri Peiris sang landunei it was a great musical performance. This very popular song often goes on the airways in Sri Lanka. Next it was the popular singer T.M. Jayaratna who sang Sithen ma nosalee sitid de. TM is a fine singer who sings both contemporary and love songs and is a very professional singer and his performance was electrifying. He was followed by young Isaq Beg who is a star performer with the identical voice of his late father Mohideen Beg. He sang Giri hel mudune, which was enjoyable, satisfying and deeply appreciated by the audience. Then it was Jagath Wickramasinghe's change to sing Sagara Tharanga to please and thrill the audience. He performed well with deep emotion. Shortly after the intermission, the organizers decided to put on stage a group of small children who are training under the baton of Archana Dissanayake. The kids sang Thaththe ada mata sangeeta panthiya. They sang with singer of the older generation and the idea was to give them much needed stage experience. This was followed by another duet between Anjalin Gunathilake and Harun Lantra. Sulang Kurullo was the song they sang. This is a very popular demand from the audience Sathuta vilai sepatha malai was sung by Dewananda Waidyasekara. The organizers gave away a specially crafted beautiful mementos to each of the singer and the back up musicians in recognition of their services to Sinhala music in general and for their excellent performances at the Musical Evening. The entire group of singers combined and sang Lanka Lanka Pembara Lanka
to wind up the evening's programme. Sri Lanka always was the main sponsor of
the event and extended their full co-operation to the organizers. Mr. Ravi
Ravindran of Colombo Exchange was the co-sponsor. |
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