writers' den

Tribute to world-class female artistes

Reviewed by W. T. A. Leslie Fernando

The latest work of the well known writer, Bernard Srikantha's 'Antharjathika Keerthiyata Path Ape Cinema Shilpiniyo' (Our Female Cinema Artistes who have gained International Fame) is the 13th book of the author who has earlier presented some novels and social analytical works.

Being a catholic writer the earlier social analytical works of Bernard Srikantha dealt with Catholic themes and his home town, Catholic Negombo. In this book he has deviated from his usual field and deals with some of our outstanding female cinema artistes who have brought honour to Sri Lanka.

This book presents the life and achievements of 12 of our world-class female cinema artistes. They include our veteran film directors and actors like Sumithra Peiris, Malinee Fonseka, Neeta Fernando, Anoja Weerasinghe, Damitha Abeyratne and Sabitha Perera, controversial actor and director Anoma Jinadari and Enoka Sathyanganie and child actors who have gained international recognition, Nithyavani Kandasamy, Nimmi Harasgama, Pramudi Karunaratne and Sarala Kariawasam.

It is to the credit of the author that he has been able to give the full life-history of the film artistes and how they progressed step by step to gain international fame, included in a few pages. He also draws attention to some special characteristics of the film artistes.

For instance the author highlights that most of the films of Sumithra Peiris deals with feminine concepts. He reveals that when Malinee Fonseka entered the film world, she was able to fulfil her childhood dream of acting with Tony Ranasinghe. The author elucidates how actors like Malinee Fonseka, Neeta Fernando, Anoja Weerasinghe and Sabitha Perera progressed from popular films to serious cinema.

As well deserved by them, in this book the author deals more extensively with film artistes like Sumithra Peiris, Malinee Fonseka, Neeta Fernando and Anoja Weerasinghe. He also describes how Sumithra Peiris before making a breakthrough as a film director made her debut in the film world as an assistant director under famous Lester James Peries. And also how she edited some films and won international prizes in the field.

The author discusses how when Sumithra Peries presented the film 'Gahanu Lamai', she came under the criticism of feminists for depicting the character of Kusum who gives up the love affair with Nimal at the request of the mother of the boy, rather than breaking the traditional bonds.

The author justifies the role of Kusum quoting some film critics like Sunil Mihindukula that Kusum well and truly portrays our traditional rural society conditioned by self-sacrifice promulgated in Buddhism.

However I feel that all have missed another important point that the film was based on the book 'Gahanu Lamai' by Karunasea Jayalath and Sumithra Peries had to follow the book.

Likewise the author Bernard Srikantha discusses the significance of the roles of Malinee Fonseka in 'Eya Dan Loku Lamayek' and 'Siripala Saha Ranmenika', that of Neeta Fernando in 'Duhulu Malak' and 'Pavuru Valalu' dual role of Anoja Weerasinghe in 'Maldeniye Simeon' and of Sabitha Perera in 'Ginisisila'. This book therefore is not just a presentation of the life and achievements of relevant film artistes but an in-depth study of their roles that have won international recognition.

As usual Bernard Srikantha presents this work in simple language and in his inimitable style that provide fascination reading. Numerous photographs connected to the lives of the film artistes enhance the value of the book.

It carries an attractive cover with photographs of the film artistes and is moderately priced at Rs. 120/=. All those who are interested in our cinema should read this book.

Fulfilling a timely need

A professional media guide for Sri Lanka, containing names and addresses of about 810 media outlets throughout the country, is now available. Published by the Sri Lanka Environment Journalists Forum (SLEJF), the guide also lists the addresses of many government and political spokespersons, media organisations and news outlets. It includes 810 Profiles with 7972 media contacts.

The SLEJF is engaged in the field of environmental Journalism, ethnic and peace reporting. Their publications have been handy works for all journalists and public. The purpose of the directory is to help national and international media as well as to assist the public to communicate more effectively. This media guide of Sri Lanka year 2008 edition was compiled by Dharman Wickremaratne. He is an award winning Environmental Journalist and Environmental Media NGO Leader.

In this version are almost profiles of 810 included 1633 Names, 556 Web addresses, 554 mailing addresses, 1833 land phone numbers, 1117 mobile phones, 646 fax numbers. 823 email addresses of media from all over Sri Lanka. We have also included a list of international journalism Fellowships, Online News Clippings Services and Media Organisations.

Sri Lanka Environmental Journalists Forum - SLEJF is a Public Interest, non-profit media organisation committed to influence, encourage and promote sustainable Human development, communication and awareness building among the public in Sri Lanka. This directory consisting of 280 pages contains profiles of 810 addresses, Resources, Geographic Coverage, Activities, Target groups of 28 Art Galleries, 20 Cultural Bodies, 21 Development Agencies, 20 District Secretariats Press officers, 28 Drama Theatres, 36 Foreign Missions, 3 Government Media Organisations, 36 Media Agencies, 18 National Media Organisations, 48 Provincial Media Organisations, 5 Media NGOs, 26 Media Trainers, 85 Cabinet/Non-Cabinet Ministry Information Secretaries and Ministers, 11 Daily Newspapers, 34 Weekly newspapers, 3 Bi Weekly Newspapers, 15 Monthly Newspapers, 16 Political Parties Media Spokesmen, 14 Radio Stations and Broadcasting Companies, 39 Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry Press Attaches Abroad, 15 Street Drama Groups, 14 Training Institutes and 15 TV Stations, Broadcasting Companies etc.

This publication will be useful to anyone to any person who needs information regarding the media and for those in the media itself.

The directory also provides many online addresses in connection with the media and other important government and private institutions in Sri Lanka. In short, the publication is a praiseworthy attempt to fill a timely need of public interest in the country.

SLEJF is a professional media organisation interested in environment and development. Established in January 1987, with support from the Sri Lanka Government, UNEP and the UN-ESCAP, this organisation has a membership of nearly 1000. Its Secretariat receives the assistance of 8 full-time staff, seven consultants and many volunteers.

The objectives of the SLEJF include safeguarding the ideals of media freedom, environmental media promotion, media education and training, freedom of expression, professionalism, influencing Government to safeguard the rights of the media community, defending the rights of members to practice their profession, developing the professional standard of members in the field of journalism in Sri Lanka by organising workshops, advocacy, seminars, audio visuals, street dramas, networking and still pictures, establishing contacts and cooperating with fraternal organisations both local and foreign towards achieving the objects of the Forum, taking necessary actions whenever there is misrepresentation regarding media personnel in Sri Lanka.

Towards this end SLEJF has taken media personnel meet the multi media challenges that is sweeping the world, by publishing this Media Guide of Sri Lanka. The SLEJF look forward to working with media colleagues towards achieving unity and helping national and international media communicate more effectively with each other.

Easy way to learn Dhamma

Maranaya Walakina Thana hamuwewa

By G.K. Suresena Wijayawardana

As Wijayawardana mentions in his introduction "Go Forth and Meet the State of Deathlessness" is an attempt to help the ordinary laymen to understand and penetrate through the Dhamma - the doctrine of conditionality of all physical and mental phenomena of living beings or the process of Karma and rebirth.

The book which is both in English and Sinhala elaborates on Patticcasamuppada and Satipatthana. The book is distributed free. The remedial treatment Satipattana-establishment of awareness or mindfulness is identified as the way to achieve enlightenment.

Journey through his past

by Harshini PERERA

Memories are all that remain to keep one's spirit up throughout his/her entire life. Terrence Perera, in his autobiographical reminiscences of Sri Lanka gives the reader not only cherished memories of Sri Lanka but also his experience in other areas of globe. Therefore, "Sri Lankan Memories" , portrays the stages of his life from childhood to old age. This is conveyed through the culture merged in different places he was brought up and lived from the mid 20th century to the early 21st century.

For readers, the book does not merely reflect his memories but aspects of Sri Lankan culture as well. The story begins when the British were ruling the country, so many incidents related to the context is given explicitly. It clearly brings out the values and cultural practices of the past. Some of them remain up to this day. One such value is that men were not allowed in kitchen or any household chores as Terrence Perera puts it, which in some contexts still practised.

One who is eager in studying history also could gain much knowledge reading through the book. There are lot of historical facts given in detail, some are the formation of place names. Kuda Kusum Balika Vidyalaya reveals the story behind its name which was in 1943 known as Little Flower Convent. This work is a river of knowledge that continues to flow through time. Rickshaws, the common transportation system where a single man carries a man on that two wheel device cart in early to mid 20th century was described with rich insightful remarks. The memories always mingle with the whims and fancies of his time. Collection of Craven A cigarette cartons is an example from his time which the young ones enjoyed a lot. They are not merely memories of his childhood but serious issues expressed in satirical way which reveals socio-cultural prevailing at that time. The writer's economical way of expression attracts that one would never put down the book. Colloquial similes makes this much related to Sri Lankan context.

"He killed two birds with one stone"

The additives to his way of expression, detailed descriptions of Australia and Zimbabwe and other countries run back and forth throughout the work. They are the critical analysis of issues the countries are pressed with. One is fully aware that inter racial marriage was concerned a taboo in Sri Lanka but none would believe if that was so even in some developed countries as Australia. At times the reader feels bored when some things are repeated but the writer has missed out the best part of the story; the love story with Myrna. But his story of life is related in such a way that one feels that it is not a read through of memories but a collection of information gathered in a museum.

Advocate W. A. Abeysinghe's "Laebeema - Nolaebeema" , the Sinhala translation of "To have and to lose", was launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Colombo 10 recently. Here the author hands over a copy of the book to Dr. G. Uswate Arachchi Chairman Sanskruthi Publication Association. Publisher Dayawansa Jayakody and writer Newton Gunasekara look on.