Sunday observer EXTRA

'Belwood', a stepping stone to stardom

By Ananda KANNANGARA

A lthough Sri Lanka is a tiny island in the Indian ocean, no one in the country could boast of having travelled to every nook and corner.

Unlike many other countries in the world our country is blessed with bright climatic conditions. There are thousands of picturesque places all over the country, especially in the up country. Only a few people would have visited these places.

The Sunday Observer last week got a rare opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful places in the Kandy District. It is a small, but picturesque village called `Belwood', located about 17 kilometres from Kandy city.

If anybody goes to `Belwood' from Kandy he has to pass Ampitiya, Talathuoya and Moragolla towns. The village is surrounded by tea estates, thick jungles, pine trees and small water streams.

The `Belwood' tea factory was very popular during the colonial era. A number of employees had worked in the factory which was owned by a British couple. The factory was located on the top of a mountain.

The legend says the owner of the factory used a huge `bell' which was made of wood. The wooden bell was used to notify workers about their duty hours, lunch and the tea break. Later the tea factory was named the `Belwood tea factory'.

After the death of his wife the factory owner closed it down and left the country, never to return. As a result the factory was neglected and workers found employment at nearby factories.

Lalith Piyum Perera

Karunaratne Wijewardana

The then Government in 1981 was looking for an ideal place to establish a cultural centre to train artistes - dancers, singers, musicians etc. The Government was informed about this abandoned tea factory by local authorities.

The then Youth Affairs Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe took action to take over the factory and the surrounding small buildings which were abandoned by the factory owner. The Government converted the factory into a cultural centre.

Charitha Ratwatta was the first Chairman of the `Belwood Cultural Centre'.

Schoolchildren just after their secondary school education were recruited to train as singers, drummers, musicians and dancers.

The `Belwood' history reveals the entire administration system of the Belwood cultural centre was neglected due to various reasons and no one took any interest to develop the centre activities.

Girls perform a dance item

People in the Belwood village say that former President Ranasinghe Premadasa had also visited the place to see the talents of young artistes.

When President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power, he took prompt action to renovate the main building and other buildings, including the bungalow of the former British owner.

The present Chairman and Director General, National Youth Services Council and Belwood Aesthetic Centre Lalith Piyum Perera told the Sunday Observer that on the day he took over the management of `Belwood' he had one objective, that of renovating all buildings and recruiting more students to be trained in dancing, singing, music etc.

The Belwood Aesthetic Centre is now home to 260 students from various parts of the country including from the Northern Districts.

"Our certificates, given by the Belwood Aesthetic Centre are highly recognised and a large number of students are employed as music teachers in Government and Private schools. Students are also employed in other countries as music and dancing teachers,".

The Head of the Belwood Aesthetic Centre, Karunaratna Wijewardane said over 100 students are taken every year for various aesthetic study courses and they wish to increase the number by another 50 from next year.

When we advertise in the Government Gazette anybody could send an application. People could get more details on telephone numbers: 0812467398/0813826055.

He said each student has to follow a three-year course and after completing the third year he/she is given a diploma certificate which could be helpful in finding jobs in schools or any other place.

"During the training period we also send our music and dancing troupes to perform at various cultural functions, organised by private and Government institutions.

"A group of our artistes presently on a ten-day tour in Jaffna is performing at cultural events," he said.

Long-standing dancing teacher Piyadasa Pahalagedara said all students are given hostel facilities including free meals during their training period.

In addition they are given money for performing at musical events. He said a number of popular musicians such as Somasiri Medagedara, Chandraleka Perera, Chandana Liyanaarachchi and Chandrasena Hettiaratchchi were brought to the limelight by the Belwood Centre. Music Teachers W.J. Ramya Kumari, Achini Arambawatta, Dinesh Epasinghe, V. Sadanandan, Gamini Herath and Ravindra Walpola also aired their views on the Belwood centre and Music Advisor Dimuthu Sandaruwan called up on all interested people to visit the "Belwood' cultural centre to see children perform and also the different environment they live in.