Entertainment

Miss Tourism Pageant in Sri Lanka

Soon audiences in Sri Lanka will have the opportunity to witness the exciting Miss Tourism International Pageant with the participation of 75 Beauty Queens from 75 different countries. The pageant will be hosted by Sebastian A.C. Perera the Franchise Holder, who has successfully staged International Pageants in Sri Lanka in 1993, 1996, and 2002, and in India in 1997.

A leading name in the cosmetics trade Sebastian Perera is confident that the Miss Tourism International Pageant will undoubtedly boost the image of Sri Lanka since the 75 Beauty Queens when they get back to their home land will be interviewed on TV and they will tell the world that Sri Lanka is truly a Tourists' Paradise.

An excellent marketeer with an outstanding track record, Sebastian Perera's foray into the cosmetic business began when he was just twenty years of age, when Max Factor of Hollywood selected him as its exclusive representative in Sri Lanka.

Soon after he developed the local cosmetics industry by setting up a manufacturing operation for the Gala Cosmetics House of London and was the first Asian to be appointed as Gala's Far East Manager based in Singer/Malaysia for its brands Max Factor, Out Door Girl, Gala, Mary Quant and Miners of London.

His move to be a franchisee saw him becoming the Franchise Director for many International Pageants including Queen of the World, Miss Globe International, Miss World University, American Dream Festival, Miss Bikini International, Dream Girl of the Year, Miss Model of Models, Miss All Nations, Miss Model of the World, Queen of The Year, Miss Hawai Tropic, Miss Asia International, Miss International Pageant, Mrs. Sri Lanka for Mrs. Globe Pageant to name a few.

Sebastian Perera was the first Asian to sponsor a beauty pageant in the Far East as 'a black man doing an Englishman's job,' met Charlie See from Hollywood who later offered the Franchise of Miss Tourism International to him and the pageant was for the first time hosted in Sri Lanka in 1993.

Since then this Beauty Pageant has given a lot of exposure to Sri Lanka internationally and audiences can expect a fabulous show that will unfold on our stages with mini pageants to take your breath away.

Extraordinary musician

by Mahes Perera

The Sangeeth Samaroha (Felicitation Concert) for the legendary tablist Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan, a prestigious concert, was held at Lucnow recently.

The only Sri Lankan tablist who was invited to perform at this renowned concert was Upula Madushanka who returned to Sri Lanka a few days ago from Lucknow.

Many distinguished and famous artistes took part in the concert and Madushanka tells us he played solo tabla for forty minutes to a capacity packed audience comprising respected musicians and music scholars who appreciated and applauded his performance. "It was a great honour for me to play at this concert with distinguished pundits in music," says Upula Madushanka.

A fluid tablist and an electric bass guitarist Madushanka hails from a musical family. He is the son of the late renowned tablist/vocalist Kalasuri Sri P.V. Nandasiri. His mother Ranghabimani Sujatha Kumarihamy was a dance exponent.

Upula studied the tabla under his father and later under the late great Khalifa Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan and Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan. His sister Vadya Nipun Manomanjari a violinist and a vocalist graduated from the Benares Hindu University with a Master of Music Degree.

It has to be mentioned that Upula's father was privileged to study and associate closely with the late greats Khalifa Ustad Vajid Hussain Khan and Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan.

A memory Upula will carry with happiness throughout his life will be the moment when at the young age of twelve years he played solo for Ravi Shankar and Ustad Alha Rakha when the two virtuous were in Sri Lanka for concert performances.

These are unspoken moments that every musician treasures. Rated as a Super Grade Artiste at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Upula has scored music for the short film Brew directed by Jin How which was sponsored by the Singapore Film Commission, Singapore.

He is also the Chairman of P.V. Nandasiri Kalakendraya dedicated to his late father who had a successful forty year career at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies. Along with his sister he nurtures and educates young talent in oriental music at the Kalakendraya.

Madushanka has in his capacity of a tablist and a bass guitarist, opened a here to fore unimagined world of resources for the two instruments. With his extraordinary control and imaginative use of the harmonics, he has burst upon the scene with a wholly mature and successful playing ability that keeps you rooted.

"My father used to always tell me that the type of music I get involved in is irrelevant, as long as it is good music be it classical, pop, rock or jazz. He told me to enjoy to the maximum the moments of my performances. Mastering techniques is not enough.

How technique can be used in producing good music is what matters," reflects Madushanka. Referring to the music scene, Upula commented that "sadly Sri Lanka does not get to see many quality classical programmes simply because sponsorships, people, media are all on one track - they are on the side of glamour, lights, dance and action.

What classical music lacks is marketing and presentation. Basically it is for the serious listener. Sometimes established classical musicians borrow features from easy listening music to embellish mix and attract the masses.

Some call this fusion. Personally I feel that there are far too many music ideas put into one piece without a concept and this makes it into an acharu. I believe in less is more and more a bore!"

A professional chartered architect, Upula prefers playing with a trio combination "Because then it is a challenge to get your music statement through. Sometimes when the combination increases the result is the embellishment of various sounds and the music gets side tracked" comments Upula who has toured with instrumentalists, accompanied visiting artistes in the capacity of a tablist and bassist and performs regularly as a bassist with other musicians at the JU jazz sessions.

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