Music for a noble cause

Surath Paura and the Lotus Heart:

by Ranga Chandrarathne

‘Surath Paura’ and ‘The Lotus Heart’, two concerts organised by ‘Help Samitha’ will be held on May 25 and July 1, 2008 at BMICH and Sugathadasa Stadium respectively.

These concerts are unique as they were organised in aid of 25 year old Gonnage Samitha Samanmali, a fourth year under graduate in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colombo who is warded at ward 73 National Hospital following the tragic accident at BMICH.

Samitha’s accident occurred on February 15th at BMICH while she was enthusiastically engaged in the preparation for the Medical Exhibition which was to be held in March. As rain came down heavily Samitha and three other students rushed into a huge tent put up for the exhibition.

Unfortunately the tent collapsed with its iron rods. Though Samitha tried hard to escape, falling iron polls hit her on the head, causing extensive damages to her spinal code. Though her vertebral column was successfully fixed through a surgery, she lost her control of her own body below chest level and now lies on bed paralyzed.

However, her condition is stable and undergoing rehabilitation at the National Hospital.

‘Surath Paura’ will be one of the memorable occasions for Sri Lankan concert goers as it will be a rare convergence of talents in the field for a worthy cause. Significantly concert among other things is a testimony of unity and comradeship of undergraduates at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colombo.

As it offers unparallel talents of the contemporary music scene in Sri Lanka, it would be a not-to-miss concert. ‘Surath Paura’, literary meaning a wall of hands, reaffirms the idea that collective strength is mightier than individual effort.

Edward Jayakody and Charitha Priyadarshini Peiris and Sanath and Malkanthi Nandasiri, popular musician will head the organising team. The SLBC’s orchestra headed by Susil Amerasinghe will provide music for the concert.

One of the salient features of this concert is that artistes will perform free of charge and the proceedings of the concert will go to ‘Help Samitha’ fund.

Some of the artistes who will perform for the concert are Sunil Edirisinghe, Victor Ratnayake, W.D. Ameradeva, Nanda Malini, Prof. Sanatha Nandasiri, Visharadha Edward Jayakody, Charitha Priyadarshani Peries, Athula Adikari and Rodney Warnakulasuriya.

It is the unrest hope of the Sri Lankan music lovers that Prof. Sanath Nandasiri, who is a classical vocalist, would sing, at least, a Gazal, though he usually sings popular numbers. For the zest of the original product (classical music) is much more appealing than its by-product (song).

‘The Lotus Heart’ the Recital of Medico-Visionaries is a popular concert which will be held on July 1, 2008 at Sugathadasa Stadium.

The concert organised by Medical Student Pradeep Rangana, who is also an icon in popular music, is a trendy and bombastic with modern styles of popular music. Sinhala Pop-music band Merians headed by Nalin Perera will provide music for the concert.

The artists including the Merians will not charge for their performance at Concert. This mega concert will be a stunning performance, representing diverse trends in the popular music scene.

The artist who are to perform for the concert include Super Star 12, Pradeep, Surendra, Amila, Gamini, Nadini, Sanka, Buddhika, Manjula, Nalinda, Maheshika, Wathsala, Nayani, Shihan Mihiranga, Romesh Lakshan, Bhatiya and Santhush, Tisha, Surani de Mel, Chamika Sirimanne, Amila Perera, Malith Perera and others.