Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2009 Semis:

Off to a glittering start!

You should have been there last Thursday at the Cinema Lounge of the BMICH if you ever wished to have a glimpse of tomorrow's fashion experts today itself! Over 60 contestants irrespective of age had gathered there along with their design sketches to the grand-semi finals of The Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2009 presented by well known fashion designer Ms. Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne.

The contestants presented their design sketches under four themes- Evening Wear, Saree Wear, Sports Wear and Office Wear. It was indeed no easy task for the panel of judges to select the 20 semi finalists who will present those selected designs using their own models at the Grand Finals which is to be held on October 17, 2009 at the BMICH.

The twenty finalists are: Dharmakeerthi Thinika Nuwangi Silva, Upekshi Kasturiarachchi, Viroda Godamunne, Gihan Ediriweera, Sachini Nimasha, Roshitha Madurapperuma, Dimuthu Siriwardana, Samudra Semasinghe, Fathima Sharika Hanan, Charith Wijesekera, Shenali M. Perera, Mahoshadi de Silva, Subashini Perera, Nichola Dilhani Uralagamage, Nilipa Piumi Fernando, Madushi Kalpana Perera, Thinka Ganegoda, Mariame Gnanapragasam, Kshyahla Pinto Jayawardena and Sheruka Shanali Mahakumarage

Ms. Nanayakkara Ariyaratne, in high spirits as usual was seen walking around briskly, giving a pep talk to her contestants. "I am happy to experience such a overwhelming response." She told The Sunday Observer the main sponsor of the event for years. "My aim is to provide a platform for budding fashion designers to showcase their talents. It is quite heartening to note that winners of the past 'Sunday Observer fashion Designer of the Year' contests are doing wonderfully well in this trade, both in the local and international arena," she noted.

For the pleasure of all, Ashoka Duminda, the winner of Fashion Designer of the Year 2008 contest too was a member of the Panel of Judges. The chairman of the Panel of Judges was Mr. Kiran Atapattu.

Other members included Ms. Ishitha Mannapperuma (representing Mannapperuma Traders-Sponsors for Sports Wear), Ms. Samangie Wettimuny, Features Editor, The Sunday Observer, Dr. (Mrs.) Kumeshin Liyanapatabendy, eminent hair dresser Ramzi Rahman (Also the official hair dresser of the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the year 2009), Ruwan Wicramasinghe, artiste, Ms. Cleopatra Wijesekera, Beautician, and Ms. Saroja Anthony, beautician and culinary expert.

Await the grand finals on October 17, 2009 at the BMICH.