Reunion in Colombo

Sri Lanka’s first pop up bar is due in Colombo and promises to be an epic event.

The theme behind the innovative concept is to create Colombo’s first large scale Reunion; ensuring that old friends, and new friends have a place to relive their good times in the past, share memories and moments with friends.

The first annual Colombo Reunion will be held from December 19-23 from 6 p.m. at the CH and FC grounds with chain, ‘O!’.

To relive their glory days, the organisers have also set up a Facebook page:www.facebook.com/colomboreunion and appealed to all the past pupil networks to share their old photographs and memories on it.

The Event Organisers are confident that the pop up bar will have the same casual ambiance of their other two bars, at the CH and FC as well as at the Dutch Hospital.

“We are excited to be a part of this event, it has a fantastic line up of Sri Lankan artistes, including top DJs and live bands”, said the event partners. Attendees can also look forward to live music from popular bands, such as Wildfire, Black, Dee Zone and Mirage and the musical styles of DJs Tariq, Dhanushka, Bonnie, Naushad, Bunty and Wendell.

The Event organisers have also brought on a number of high profile partners which include CH and FC, SriLankan Airlines, Mount Lavinia Hotel and YES FM.

Sunset Music Festival 2012

Sunset Music Festival 2012 will spotlight the world's No.7 DJ Dash Berlin in an unforgettable performance at the Havelock Sports Club on December 22 from 3 p.m.

The audio set up is straight from the ASOT 550 stage at Ultra Music Festival 2012. Also sharing the stage will be DJ Mag Top, and Stereosonic 2012 Sydney Mainstaye opener Helena. The festival is one-of-a-kind experience.

Nari Burathi at Punchi Theatre

A scene from the play.

Sarath Kothalawala's Nari Burathi will be staged at the Namel-Malini Punchi Theatre, Borella on December 23 at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m.

The cast includes Sarath Kothalawala, Kumara Thirimadura, Pubudu Chathuranga, Mihiri Sirithilaka, Sarath Chandrasiri, Hemantha Iriyagama, Chinthaka Peiris, Janaka Ranasinghe and Wajira Kodithuwakku.

Acting and meditation

The Drama and Theatre Workshop will hold the ‘Acting and Meditation’ program at the Sinhala Cultural Institute, Sudarshi Hall (opposite BMICH) today and on December 23 and 30 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Documentary on puberty rites

Puberty rites have played a very significant role in the Sinhala and Tamil communities from very ancient times. Sinhala people living in different areas of the island observe distinctive practices and rituals on the occasion of the puberty of a girl.

Childhood to womanhood:puberty rites of Sri Lanka is a documentary film scripted and directed by Ariyaratna Vithana and produced by Lasantha Chulananda Gunawardana for Docufilms International.

The English narration is voiced by Sharon Mascrenhas, and the washer-woman, the major role in the puberty rituals is played by Melani Asoka.

This film depicts the similarities and dissimilarities of the rites and practices performed by different regions of the island from the instant of a girl's first menstruation unto the auspicious bath and the grand celebration.

Dangamalla at the Lionel Wendt

A scene from the play.

Award-winning children's play Dangamalla will be staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on December 22 at 6.30 p.m.

The cast includes Kusum Renu, Maureen Charuni, Ramani Siriwardane, Nilmini Sigera, Sanjeeva Upendra and a host of child artistes.

Ini-Avan from December 21

Asoka Handagama's latest movie Ini-Avan will be released to the Sri Lankan cinema audience on December 21. Having been screened at prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes, Toronto and Tokyo the film will be released islandwide including Jaffna.

Ini-Avan will be the first movie made in Sri Lanka to be released to theatres without a language distinction; Sinhala-Tamil. The film has been critically acclaimed at the festivals where it was screened.

The cast includes Darshan Dharmaraj, Niranjani Shanmugaraja, Subashini Balasubramaniun, Raja Ganeshan, Malcolm Machado and King Rathnam, Cinematography is by Channa Deshapriya, music by Kapila Poogala Arachchi, art direction by Sunil Wijerathne. For E-Culture Productions, Ini-Avan is co-produced by Jagath Wellawatte and Anusa Fernando.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released yesterday at the Savoy 3D

The film follows Bilbo Baggins, a curious young Hobbit, as he journeys eastwards with the wizard Gandalf and a troupe of 13 dwarves. Their goal is to reach the Lonely Mountain and reclaim a stolen treasure guarded by Smaug, a cruel and terrible dragon.

The journey leads them from Bilbo's home in the Shire through Rivendell, an Elven colony, and then into the Misty Mountains. There “they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum.” Seemingly by coincidence, Bilbo acquires a golden ring that was previously owned by Gollum. This ring, although unobtrusive, is a “ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities”, by rendering its wearer invisible. As they continue eastward, the travellers eventually reach Mirkwood, the realm of the Silvan Elves.

The carte includes Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis.

Meeyo Nathuwa Be at YMBA, Borella

A scene from the play

Keerthi K. Rathnayaka's Meeyo Nathuwa Be will be staged at the YMBA, Borella on December 22 at 6.45 p.m.

The cast includes Ravindra Yasas, Madini Malwatte, Sudharshana Bandara, Wasantha Wittachchi, Keerthi K. Rathnayake, Mahesh Umagiliya, Ishara Wickramasinghe, Sumith Warnakula, Chamari Nisansala, Nayana Malithi, Ruvini Dilanthi, Devran Levera, Aruna Sri Kasun and Chanidu Theniya Rathnayake.

Expressions 09 at Gandhara Art Gallery

Jayantha Silva's exhibition of paintings titled ‘Expressions 09’ now on at Gandhara Art Gallery, Stratford Avenue, Colombo 5 will conclude today.

Jayantha is a naturalist and believes in recreating an image by memory. He always strives for excellence and his observation of the environment, together with his keen sense of perception makes every painting an expression of art.

His style is one of realism as opposed to abstract art and the human figure was one that created much interest in his art work. “Expressions 09” is for connoisseurs of figurative art.

In October Jayantha strayed into a completely unknown field and excelled by winning the best Cartoonist Award at the competition conducted at the American Center. In November 2009, he gifted a portrait done with charcoal to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. As a child prodigy Jayantha Silva won many awards and accolades in art competitions. Mudliyar Amarasekara offered Jayantha a one year scholarship to learn art at his school.

Sethu - an evening of music and dance by Ravibandhu Vidyapathy

Celebrity drummer and dancer Ravibandhu Vidyapathy and his dance ensemble presented a musical and dance performance titled Sethu recently at the Indian Cultural Centre, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7.

Ravibandhu Vidyapathi, hails from a long line of traditional dancers and temple painters, had his traditional graduation at the Chitrasena School, where he studied Classical Kandyan dance under the legendary dancers Chitrasena and Vajira and drumming under the renowned Piyasara Shilpadhipathi and Punchiguro.

Sihinaya launched

by Priyan de Silva – Matara Sports Correspondent

Six years after being selected as the most popular band at the 2006 edition of Rantharu conducted by the Independent Television Network (ITN) ‘MATARA C’ led by Lanka Niroshan released its first music DVD, Sihinaya (Dream) at a ceremony held at the Nildiya Hotel, Matara recently.

The album consisting 12 Sinhala songs composed by Jagath Jayawardena, Shehan Galahitiyawa, Chandana Pradeep, Chaminda Gamage, Dilki Maneesha, Samantha Deepani, Nilar M. Kassim, Kasun Namaldeniya and Thilanka Mallikarachchi. Sihinaya was produced by Ranjith Devaraja for DRS Audio, presented by Roshan Jayathilaka of Studio Helens Maharagama and is distributed by Ransilu Enterprises, Nugegoda. Matara C is led by Lanka Niroshan (Lead guitar/vocals) and the other members are Chandana Pradeep (Base guitar/vocals), Suranga (Rhythm guitar/vocals), Nalin Mannage (Drums/vocals), Chanaka Janith (Keyboard), Eranga Sanjeewa (Octopad), Sameera Sandaruwan (Vocals) and Kasun Namaldeniya (vocals).

Scampi lives

As gently sweeps the traversing wind
Across the fields of flowers and green;
I still see you romping amongst ‘em
Chasing butterflies as in life you did.
And see the same tenderness in your eyes,
Though you are gone far far away...
Ten summers you shared its abundant joy;
But left me all in disarray
And then, followed two sad Summers
Since that awful, sorrowful day.
You bid me goodbye forever and ever
Tho’ vibrant hangs your memory...
But most of all I miss you, Scampi
My bundle of joy and tender care;
The endless love you showered on me
Unstinted, unconditional and unlimited
Tho’ you were my dumb precious child
I saw the whole world in your wondrous eyes...

Gwen Herat