Happenings / People
Mignonne honoured
by Mahes Perera

Mignonne Fernando receiving the Gold Medal in the field of Art and
Literary Work from the International 2nd Vice-President Lion
Mahendra Amerasuriya. Also in the picture are District Governor 306
A - 1 Lion Lalith de Silva and Chairman of the Most Outstanding
Citizenship Awards 2006 Lion Kanchana Wijayaratne.
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Sri Lanka's 'living legend' in the music industry, Mignonne Fernando
received the 'Most Outstanding Citizen Award' in recognition of her
contribution to the Sri Lanka music industry and the development of Sri
Lanka on the International music scene.
The award was conferred on her recently by the Lions Clubs
International District 306 A - 1 at a glittering award ceremony held to
coincide with the first District Convention of the Lions International
Club District 306 A - 1, at which the Chief Guest was the Lions
International 2nd Vice President Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya. Four other
eminent personalities were honoured in recognition of achievements in
their specialized vocation.
Mignonne's credits read like an encyclopaedic print-out of the music
industry. A singer, composer who writes and arranges her own music and
an all-rounder in the field of music and showbiz, she enjoys iconic
status not only in South Asia but also in the Far East, where for a
record number of years she led her band the 'Jetliners' at the The
Regent in Hong Kong.
In her illustrious music career she collected many awards for her
participation in Song Festivals internationally, and is the only Sri
Lankan artiste on record to have been selected and honoured for three
consecutive years at the World Popular Song Festival organised by the
Yamaha Foundation for Music Education held yearly at the famous
Buddhokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The Matsuhita Award as composer and a special Jury Members prize as
performer which she won in 1972 holds special significance to Mignonne
who not only brought fame to herself but has made Sri Lanka proud.
Gypsies at Silver Ball

Sunil and The Gypsies.
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Enjoying success on the fast lane of popularity is the band Gypsies,
led by the charismatic Sunil Perera who has the uncanny knack of
reaching out to his audience, no sooner he moves onto the stage.
A simple remark by him is greeted by an appreciative applause from
his fans and is an endorsement that over the years, Sunil and his band
had never allowed themselves to fall into a lethargic, dull groove.
So, with six months to go, Sunil and the Gypsies have been sought and
signed up by the Hilton Colombo for their Silver Ball 2006, on New
Year's Eve. Considered a 'crowd puller', the popular band has a rich
history in the music industry. "The Silver Ball is one event that is
most look forward to.
It has its own followers, just like the band, and we would like to
advise patrons to book their tickets early" commented Gigi de Silva the
hotel's Marketing Communications Manager. Gypsies means entertainment at
its highest, complete with creative music, exhilarating dance rhythms,
laughter and skits that are ideal ingredients for New Year's Eve.
M.P
MAF steer forward

Members of the Moratuwa Arts Forum.
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The Moratuwa Arts Forum comprising musicians and singers from this
traditional city of music will be holding their 12th Annual General
Meeting on Sunday June 18. The event which will be held at the Sri Palee
Hotel Moratuwa at 5.30 p.m. will be graced by a distinguished gathering
of invitees.
The MAF Presidential awards of excellence for outstanding performers
during the past year will be distributed as one of the highlights at the
evening. There will also be a song and dance show presented by the
members.
MAF during the past year have held many musical activities, most
significant of which was Punsanda Paya , the Down Memory Lane series,
and the launch of the associations Golden Oldies CD, titled Down Memory
Lane - Vol 1 which turned out to be a seller.
Another of their programmes on leadership and personality attracted
more than 150 senior students from about fifteen schools in the Moratuwa
education circuit.
In the new year MAF hopes to continue to attract new artistic ideas
and socially responsible projects as well as the production of the 10th
annual Down Memory Lane programme which has always been well patronised.
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