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| Sunday, 6 February 2005 |
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Happenings / Places The balladeer is back on stage by Mahes Perera Billed as the singer and musician for the whole family, Keerthi Pasquel returns to the regular music scene with his Keerthi Gee - solo concert - a series that escalated his fame in the past years.
This will give the opportunity for all my fans, those who grew up with my career, as well as new fans to be with me on that day and enjoy my programme. Since invitations will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis, I'd be happy if fans could email me at [email protected] to obtain their invitations." A bassist/vocalist with the Galaxies, Keerthi started off his musical career in 1976 and it was not very long thereafter that his popularity made him record his original debut song followed by his maiden audio cassette which in those days was considered a major achievement in the Sri Lankan music industry. "To date" continues Keerthi "I've sung over 300 songs and released twelve audio cassettes and CDs including Neela Ahase, Nil Upulee, Keerthi Gee, Rasata Rasa Kandula to name a few. My Keerthi Gee concert series I started off in 1988 and without exaggeration performed more than 100 shows in Sri Lanka and abroad." His tours abroad were certainly landmarks in his career. He has captivated audiences in all the Middle Eastern countries, Japan, Singapore, the States, Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand. In fact after he returned from New Zealand, he was there for four years, Keerthi Pasquel formed a new band called Sonic. His earlier group was the Super Fortunes, the backing band through all the halcyon days of his career. At the show Sonic will be the band in action. "Rupavahini Corporation will telecast live the concert on that day and I intend singing about 26 of my popular hits both old and new. That's not all. I have invited Deepika Priyadharshini, Dhammika Bandara, Chandralekha Perera, Charitha Priyadharshini Pieris and Duleeka Marapana to sing duets with me. There will be choreographed dancing created by Jerome de Silva the dancers being from the schools of Channa Wijewardena, Rajini Selvanayagam, Sudev Abeysekera and Theresa Jayawardena. It's going to be an interesting evening of entertainment for all my fans" concludes Keerthi Pasquel, for whom Keerthi Gee 2005 will be another musical landmark in his career. Whilst attending to all details of his forthcoming concert, Keerthi has been busy launching a praiseworthy project called 'The Child' collecting sponsorship funds by visiting orphanages and performing for the children. These funds will go towards rehabilitation of the orphaned children from the Tsunami devastation and to give them a future to look forward to. "This will be an on-going project by me and I'm happy to organise not only music shows, but also dramas, films and amateur talent shows for them" comments Keerthi. The Beli lena caves : Journey into the past by Arundathie Abeysinghe There have been human settlements in Sri Lanka dating back 25,000 years, according to archaeologists.
The ape man known as Balangoda Manawaya had lived in caves in many parts of Sri Lanka; Beli lena, Batadomba lena, Bellanpendipellessa and Pahiyangala are some of these. The Beli lena caves (cave of shells) also known as Balangoda Manawaya's caves reveal an important landmark in the history of human paleontology as they reveal remains of primitive man. About 15 years ago, archaeologists found the skeleton of a child dated as being 28,500 years old. When viewed from the foot of the hill, the caves seem a long way up, surrounded by giant stones and a pure rockface. But there is a comfortable path of stones to reach the caves without much exertion. The caves go way back inside and for those who like adventure, the exploration of the dark caves is a must. As we went there a few days after the rains, we were drenched by the sheet of water which fell across the front of the caves as we clambered up the rocks to the entrance. The view from here is simply breathtaking. Situated within the Kitulgala estate, these caves were discovered in 1969 by the then Director of National Museums P. E. P. Deraniyagala, father of present archaeological Commissioner Shiran Deraniyagala. At the time of discovery, the caves were occupied by some monks (there are some monuments of a monastery within the caves even at present) but they left the place when the Department of Archaeology decided to excavate the site to find evidence of pre-historic human habitation. During the excavation, shells, (this is why the caves are thus named), pieces of bones of various shapes and some stone tools were found at the site. As these caves are situated about 85-kilometres away from the sea, there is speculation that these shells would have been used for trade. Smaller shells with deposits of rock salt (found within the site even at present) proves that salt was brought from the coast. *** How to get there: At Kitulgala town turn left (there is a board indicating the direction) and drive about 9 kilometres and walk about 3 kilometres through a tea estate. Journey has to be in a four-wheel vehicle. Aid tsunami Classical concert Tomorrow Monday February 7 one of Holland's most talented concert pianist David Mannesse will give a classical concert at the Galle Face Hotel, Ballroom at 5.00 p.m. His concert will mark the Silver Jubilee Year of Worldview Sri Lanka and will raise funds to assist tsunami affected children in Sri Lanka. The concert is open to all, no gate will be charged, instead Worldview will have a charity box to collect your contributions. David Mannesse's concert programme will include works by Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Herman Strategier whose Six Preludes are dedicated to the pianist and a performance of this was released on CD with Globe Label. Tutored by leading names in Holland, Mannesse has performed several
times at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and at the Grachten festival.The
concert at Galle Face Hotel tomorrow is sponsored by the Child Rights (The
Netherlands) Fox Vakanties, (The Netherlands) and Visit Lanka (Sri
Lanka).| *** Musical fund raiser A special concert to raise funds to help academic and nonacademic members of the University of Colombo affected by the tsunami, will be staged on Sunday, February 20 at 6.30 pm at the New Town Hall, Colombo 7. Friends - in-Harmony a group of professional musicians and famous artists of Channa Upuli Art Foundation have agreed to perform at this concert entirely free of charge. Furthermore even the compere Clifford Richard, an engineer by profession and all others who are providing service for this concert have joined up with the artists to offer their services free. The entire proceeds of this concert will be given to the University to spend on selected tsunami related projects with the concurrence of the Alum ni Association, organisers of the concert. Tickets priced at Rs. 750 and Rs. 500 are available at The British Council bookshop, and the University bookshop, Kumarathunga Munidasa Mawatha. For further details contact [email protected], phone 2368821, 2501412. *** Lankan fashions in Australia A Sri Lankan fashion show, will be presented by Feel for Life Organisation in Sydney, Australia on February 12. It will feature all Sri Lankan Ethnic Fashions. Make-up will be handled by Ramzi Rahaman. This show will not only bring financial aid to the tsunami Fund but will also promote Sri Lankan tourism by displaying all Sri Lankan Traditional Ware, Music and Choreography, says the organiser Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne. |
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He was a household name, a balladeer who won the hearts and admiration
of many music lovers. This Keerthi Gee concert will be held on Saturday
February 26 at the BMICH. "This year" says Keerthi "my
concert is definitely something different. I'm not selling any tickets,
instead it will be strictly an invitees only show.
