Cultural DIARY

Colours of Sri Lanka

An exhibition of photographs entitled " Colour of Sri Lanka " will be held on December 6, 7 and 8 at the National Art Gallery, Western Hall from 8.30am to 7.00pm.

"Colors of Sri Lanka" is a theme which expresses the beauty of mother Sri Lanka in various ways and the first form will be a public exhibition. The aim of the exhibition is to exhibit the most eye catching and inspiring moments which five nature lover photographers came through in the past years and take those experiences to all the interested people. It will contain Nature's greenery, blue beaches, golden sunrises and sunsets, colors of expressions of the people around us and the vivid wildlife. The exhibition contains selected 130 photographs from an uncountable number of inspiring moments.

The team of photographers include photographers Chameera Jayasekera, Dhanushka Senadheera, Lasantha Kumara, Saranga Dewa De Alwis and Harsha Matarage. All of them took travelling and photography as their main hobbies while being professionals in different fields such as Information Technology, publications and management. With busy working schedules they earned free times to travel and discover the beauty of this little island.

Yugandaraya examines backdrop to 71's uprising

A scene from the teledrama

Yugandaraya (Story of an Era). a teledrama directed by Somachandra Wijesuriya, is telecast on Siyatha TV from Monday to Friday at 8.00 p.m.

The taledrama which was shot in Rattota area, is woven around a story that explores the turbulent post 1956 that led to the first armed rising of youth in I97l. Besed on the controversial novel 'First Rising" by Somachandra Wijesuriya the story depicts the tragedy of a fictional school teacher family in Kegalle.

Maureen Charuni plays the lead role in Yugandaraya together with Wimal Jayakody, Nimal Yatiwella Wasantha Pali. Helapriya Darshana,Madhuka Gunathilaka, Somaweera Gamage, Chanaka Fernando, Krishna Kumar, Dilruk Risantha, Thushara Godage and British actor Daniel Collins.

Clarence the legend

Clarence

To commemorate the 14th death anniversary of Clarence, the legend which falls on December 13 a special musical show will be staged on Sunday, December 12 at the Kularatne Hall, Ananda College, Colombo. The musical show presented by D.K. Promotions will showcase leading lights in Sri Lanka performing the songs by Clarence. Those in the spotlight will be Anjaline Gunathilaka, Ranil Mallawarachchi, Shyami Fonseka, Anil Bharathi, Lankika, Winslow Sin, Vernon Perera, Rukshan Perera, Manik Chandrika, Lalith Ponnapperuma, Damayanthi Kuruppu and more.

Clarence acknowledged as the Father of Sinhala Pop was responsible in introducing a new culture in Sinhala music through his songs which reflected pastoral themes. Mango Nanda, Runvan Pura, Dilhani, Sigiriya are still popular among musicians and music lovers young and old. His was a remarkable creative artistry and according to records Clarence has composed over 2,000 songs in his career which is the legacy he has left behind. He started his career with his band Moonstones and then went on to lead Golden Chimes and the Super Golden Chimes before embarking on a solo career and being a music director.

The official print media for this much awaited concert are Sunday Observer and Daily News.

SOSL heralds the festive season in style

The Family Christmas Concert to usher in the festive season, by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) will be on December 11 at the Ladies' College Hall. The concert will be conducted by Eshantha Peiris.

Soul Sounds and Revelations two acknowledged and popular choirs will join the Symphony Orchestra to open the Concert with Bachs' Christmas Oratorio, and to sing the opening chorus Rejoice, exult and this undoubtedly will set the mood for the festive evening.

The programme of the Symphony Orchestra will include light classical music from Suppes' "Light Cavalry" and Bizet's "Farandole" to popular favourites from the Beatles and Broadway. Also included in the orchestra's programme will be Leroy Anderson's sparkling 'Buglars' Holiday, the rhythmic 'Blue Tango' and the expression of a memorable 'Christmas Festival' which will include a wide selection of Christmas Carols.

In the second half the two choirs Soul Sounds and Revelations will sing an excerpt from Handel's Messiah, the celebrated Hallelujah Chorus, and 'Unto Us a Child is Born'. The well loved 'White Christmas' will light up the evening for the audience who have the opportunity to join the choirs in a sing-a-long of seasonal classics like 'Once in Royal David's City', 'Angels We Have Heard on High. The evening of song will end with the toe tapping 'Jingle Bell Rock'.

Seminar on the life and times

of Jayasena Jayakody

A seminar on the life and times of Jayasena Jayakoday to mark his 75th birthday will be held on December 17, at 3.00 p.m. at Library Services and Documentation Cetre's auditorium, Colombo.

Ikibidina Tharakava

The teledrama " Ikibidina Tharakava" is telecast on Rupavahini on every Wednesday. The teledrama was directed by Sanjaya Mahavitana and the script was by Manuka Pavan.

'Hope'

Wasantha Namaskara's 80th Exhibition of paintings entitled 'Hope', will be held from December 5to 19 at Visual Art Gallery,Uva provincial council library, Badulla.

Balloth ekka be

Two special shows of the comedy "Ballalloth Ekka Be", written and directed by Ravindra Ariyarathna will be staged at the Maradana Elphinstone' on December at10 3.30 and 6.45 p.m.

The cast include Wijaya Nandasiri, Roshan Pilapitiya,Gihan Femando.

Sarath Kothalawela, Sarath Kulanga and Anusha Dissanayake With music of Shantha Peiris, stage set designed by Luvolin Vandervol and stage

Arrangements by Asoka De Zoysa and Shantha Udaya Kumara.

Memories

The launch of "Memories" , the 17th anthology of poetry by an internationally published and award winning Sri Lankan poet in Canada, Asoka Weerasinghe will be held on December 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Namel Malani Punchi in Borella.

Asoka will read from "Memories" and from "Welsh Lovespoon Poems" his work in progress followed by an autographing session of 'Memories' and other collections.

"It has been said that a poet is a teacher, an advocate and a prophet, the sensitive conscience alive in any human being. In this anthology Weerasinghe has successfully combined all these" -

Jide Uwechia, Posibilitiis, Literary Arts Magazine

Exhibition of paintings

Exhibition of paintings by Piyaratne Hewabatage will be held on December 7 at 5.00 p.m at the Lionel Wend Art Gallery. The exhibition will be held on December 8 and 9.