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| Sunday, 27 February 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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'Crowning glory' in the heart of Colombo
Colombo's discerning and appearance conscious are to be provided the ultimate in hair styling and grooming, with the newly opened ultra plush hair and beauty salon, located in the heart of the city. Named 'Crown' it is a first for Sri Lanka, and comes equipped with the latest technology in hair and beauty care and a team of beauticians and hairstylists who have been in the international fashion and beauty arena. Designed on the lines of some of the world renowned salons and set on a 5,000 sq ft floor area, it has furniture from Milan, the fashion capitol of Italy, with certain units used for long hours having their own in-built plasma TV screens. The floors are a combination of timber and tiles, adding to the ambience of ultra sophistication.
'Crown' is the brainchild of 26-year-old Raquel Yaseen Yatewera, whose family has been in the fashion industry (Apparel Exports) for more than three decades. Even though the family diversified into many other businesses later, Raquel, having grown up in an environment where 'fashion' was the key word, plunged into the family business at the tender age of 18 years. With her passion for fashion and having first-hand knowledge of the very latest trends, one would expect her to open up a trendy fashion boutique, but Raquel thinks otherwise. She believes that 'the market for a truly sophisticated fashion boutique with designer labels, or clothes of international standards and repute is very limited in Sri Lanka". She also believes that Hair design and Beauty industry are inextricably linked, and thus felt that there is a requirement for a truly professional sophisticated Hair and Beauty network in Sri Lanka to provide the best what is offered internationally. Her extensive travels abroad gave her the opportunity of seeing this first-hand an she says 'Even though we may not be 'with it', trendy or 'in' as some may call, it in 'fashions' as in clothes. Sri Lanka has a good market for good hair design and beauty. We have a very hair fashion conscious society, and a good market for keeping to the world trends. Having seen the hair salons around the world I feel there is definitely a dire need for service that is available to the top end of the market, offering the same standards one gets abroad. Scent for a woman Swadeshi Industrial Works, Sri Lanka's pioneer herbal-based personal care products manufacturing company has introduced Sri Lanka's first range of nature fresh fragrance for women. Six perfumes in two ranges - 'Premium' and 'Lady' have been introduced under the company's popular brands. The premium range consists of three classic variants - Apsara, Khomba and Rani - three of the flagship brands of Swadeshi. They includes sandalwood, margosa and a combination of unique, refreshing nature's ingredients, a spokesman for the company said. The 'Lady' range consists of three floral variants - Lavender, Jasmin and Rose. Delicately perfumed with real floral fragrances, the 'Lady' range is expected to attract the interest of teenagers and working women. The new perfume range is supported by a novel packaging concept with a transparent panel in front of the casing, which allows buyers to see the bottle within. Established in 1941, Swadeshi Industrial Works Ltd., has many firsts to its name including the country's first locally produced beauty soap - Rani Sandalwood, first herbal beauty soap - Khomba, the first herbal baby soap - Khomba Baby, the first laundry soap with lime fresh fragrance - Perlwite, the first toothpaste with a mix of eastern and western ingredients for total oral care - Protekt. The Company's other products include, Lak bar soap and Sportsman Plus. MTV Asia Aid tsunami From Dirk Tissera in Toronto TORONTO - After placing Sri Lanka firmly on the world music stage on February 3, 2005, to millions around the globe, Sri Lanka's only international recording pop artist Alston Koch, returned to Melbourne, Australia from the MTV Asia Aid Tsunami Concert at the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. As more than 11,000 fans gathered to show their support for tsunami recovery efforts, Grammy superstar Alicia Keys hosted the event with the key message of the evening being to urge viewers to keep contributing to the relief and reconstruction efforts by supporting UNICEF and other charities. Presenters included Sri Lankan cricket legend Aravinda de Silva and singer Alston Koch, Bollywood stars Fardeen Khan and Bipasha Basu, Vanness Wu (of F4) Chester Bennington (of Linkin Park) as well as UNICEF's executive director, Carole Bellamy. Koch and De Silva were introduced on stage by Alicia Keys who said: "Would you please welcome Asia's King of Pop Alston Koch and cricket legend Aravinda de Silva from Sri Lanka," to thunderous rounds of applause from the high energy IMPACT Arena. I spoke to Alston Koch after he arrived in Australia from a successful MTV ASIA Aid show that was shown in all the countries around the world on MTV and CNN. Alston said: "This would have to be the best 'Live to Air' presentation. I have not only been a part of it but also witnessed. I have been at the Australian Aria's, the Academy Awards when Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' (filmed in Sri Lanka) was nominated and the Grammys many times in America..but this takes the cake... "Mishal Varma, vice president of programming and talent at MTV Networks Asia and his team put together an amazing show. It is one thing doing a show in a country of origin and having guest entertainers like the above overly rated shows, but putting together a show where you have to deal with singer-songwriters and entertainers from across the globe is really something to scream about.".. "Not just foreign artists with foreign languages but in a foreign country like Thailand, where it is not really a London or Hollywood, the production team was pushing coal uphill to deliver this to the world waiting in earnest but Mishal and his team came out on top with an amasing production that should be commended.. "It was emotional, tearful and so hot with Rock, Pop and the best the World had to offer", Someone said, Music is a universal language and MTV Music Aid, was it. If music be the food of Love then. Play on my friend...." Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Anchorman, is proud to present Koch in Toronto, Canada in a Tsunami fundraiser on May 7 and Washington on May 14, 2005. Also performing are Sri Lanka's top musicians Tony Samaranayake, former Jetliners - Sherwin Jayah, Raja Jalaldeen and Clarence Corera Chanaka Viswakula. Koch and the band members are pumped up about the two shows, which are expected to be a sell out in North America. It will also be Koch's debut appearance in North America and his fans have already lined up to see this Lankan legend in action. Koch has captivated audiences and dignitaries from around the globe. Another new Sinhala Karaoke by Mahes Perera The latest Sinhala Karaoke VCD and DVD was released recently by The songs in the first three sessions include favourites like Kirilli, Rauvla Kapanne, America Buncha, Podi Kale Jeevithe to name a few. Desmond de Silva's top hits Kollupitiya Junction, Mamma No, Wally Bastian and Nurse Nona have been included giving the VCD a great deal of variety. The fourth session concentrates on English songs. In medley form, the songs chosen are Tipperary, Tavern in the Town, Roll Out the Barrel, Get Me To Church on Time, Sugar Bush, Auld Lang Syne and more. Interestingly edited it's an ideal home entertainer when the weekend comes around and you are caught up with that - 'do we go out for Karooke' feeling. Flame and folk rock at UGB by Mahes Perera Folk music will never die, come hip hop or rap. And the only band that is keeping it alive and performing regularly today is the acknowledged group Flame who over the years have made their music into a distinctive style. You can enjoy their vocal folk-rock harmony at the Union Grill Bar at the Hilton Residence this Friday and make your returns weekly.
A quick spool back to the early years of Fame who carried off the Golden Clef Award for Folk in 1994, will reveal that the trio comprising Rienzie Pereira, Naushad Rasool and Roshan Premasinghe made their mucical impact. With the exit of Roshan who migrated after six years in the group the front line singers changed. To name a few of the new faces there were Suranga Fonseka, Primal Liyanage and Joe Lappen. Today the pioneers Rienzie Pereira and Naushad Rasool still carry the Flame while the new comers on vocals and guitar are Chris de Alwis, Alan Outschoorn, Ranjan Josiah with Niroshan de Silva sitting at the drum stool giving that added thrust to the band. "When we play for private functions, we augment the group with Lal de Silva of Arabesque fame who plays bass and of course joins in the vocals. A recent addition to our gigs is performing at weddings which has become quite popular for us, we have what they call a 'wedding repertoire' too", says a smiling Naushad. If you are a folk freak then an evening with Flame and folk rock is your best bet. Catch them on Fridays at the UGB whilst savouring the new menu that will satisfy your search for that 'spice of life'. A new look Heist It's a new look at the Heist, Inter-Continental Hotel and new entertainment too, specially designed for music lovers with different tastes. Today Sunday the new young group 2 Together who remarkably became popular in just a year of their launch, will be in action with a wide selection of contemporary hits and evergreens. It's a whole week of entertainment at the Heist 'cos on Mondays Chandimal's group 2nd Connection will be performing without Chandimal. Music of a different vibe comes from Crossfire led by the popular saxophonist Gavin Senn on Tuesdays, while on Wednesdays the duo Yohan and Honorine are featured. The latin hip-hop and funk Phase 3 moves in on Thursdays to delight music lovers who enjoy Latin sounds. The weekend begins with the pop group Kings who take over with their special kind of music on Fridays while Warren and Rozette wind up the week of entertainment on Saturdays with their now acknowledged performances. Besides music, the weekends will feature fashion shows presented by leading fashion designer Sharmini Seneviratne of Silkwrap fame. Besides on Fridays singer Anne Nathan and her band Familiar Faces will take you through a musical journey at the Barbecue Garden - a happening not to be missed. - MP |
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| Produced by Lake House |
The nucleus of the Salon is of course the Chief hairstylist from New
York, Seth Lombardi, who has made a name for himself working with GHQ,
Olympus fashion Week, Fashion TV and on several famous movie sets that
include celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Vanessa Williams and Paris
Hilton. Famous for his head turning styles, Lombardi is here to make heads
turn. He is backed by a very experienced team who have worked in salons
abroad.
Torana
for home entertainment of music lovers and families. This is the tenth in
the series and is interesting because the VCD contains four 'sessions' as
they are termed with appealing and appropriate visuals. Each session
contains more than ten songs - all of them popular ones, in fact they have
become evergreens in the Sri Lankan music scene.
Watching the group perform at the recent Country Roads concert as they
sang the covers of The Eagles and Crosby Stills Nash & Young, you had
to admit that they haven't lost that dedication and enthusiasm since they
started off as a trio, fifteen years ago. Their vocal harmony has never
failed them and now as a six piece group their harmony is stronger and
more intricate.
