Nominations invited for Premchand Fellowship from Sri Lanka

Sahitya Akademi, India has instituted a Fellowship named after the renowned Hindi writer Premchand during his 125th birth anniversary, which is offered every year to a person of eminence in the field of culture and literature from each SAARC member state.

The period of Fellowship is one to three months depending on the convenience and availability of the writer/scholar and arrangements for the boarding and lodging, international travel and travel within India are made by the Sahitya Akademi. An allowance of Indian Rs 12,000 per month would also be provided to meet incidental expenses. The visiting Fellow will have to deliver talks/speech on his works in India during his/her visit.

In 2011, poet and author Sumathy Sivamohan and in 2012 writer Yasmine Goonerathne was awarded the prestigious Premchand Fellowship by the Sahitya Akademi. Nominations are invited from eminent Sri Lankans in the field of culture and literature for the prestigious Premchand Fellowship 2013 (Publishers as well as literary institutions of Sri Lanka can also send nominations of the scholars/writers with their detailed biodata). The nominations could be forwarded to the Indian Cultural Centre, Gregory's Road, Colombo 7 on or before February 25, 2013.

Hearts in Harmony in Galle

Clouds floating in an azure sky, young rays of the sun drawing cartoons on fallen leaves, a yellow butterfly whispering sweet secrets to a red rose, the wind playing with the palm trees...these are the images that are bound to flit through your mind as you listen to the music and songs inviting you to a sublime world of peace and tranquillity, today at the Centenary Hall, Sacred Heart Convent, Galle.

One of the variety items

As you listen and tap your fingers to the rhythm of the hauntingly enchanting music, the past becomes the present... till you will surely hear, ever so gently the voice of Rev. Sr. Rosina Nanayakkara speaking those memorable, heart-rending words, "Just for today, I will do somebody a good deed and not get found out... if it gets found out it will not count."

Though it is two years now since the principal of Sacred Heart Convent, Galle, passed away, her kind and caring ways live on among the past pupils of the school whose lives were enriched in more ways than one by the exceptionally benevolent teacher.

The concert, Hearts in Harmony, which will go on the boards of the school today at 5pm, is the effort of a group of dedicated past pupils with the aim of raising funds for the charity established in Sr. Rosina's name, the Rosina Nanayakkara Charitable Trust Fund. The events lined up for the evening include Sinhala songs such as Walakulen Besa, a Kaffrinna dance as well as English songs and a memorial song written for Sr. Rosina Nanayakkara, by Dr. Wasana Mendis, a past pupil and Head Girl in 1990.

The guest of honour will be His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe and the chief guest will be Nishara Mendis, Attorney-at-Law and Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo; who was the Head Girl in the centenary year - 1996.

All proceeds of the event will go to the Rosina Nanayakkara Charitable Trust Fund, established in 2011 with the aim of continuing the yeoman services. She carried out in her lifetime dedicating her mental, spiritual and physical resources to help needy students and the voiceless masses regardless of race or religion. Sr. Rosina Nanayakkara's love and care for others, knew no barriers. Hers was a universal love that embraced all mankind.

A scene from the Muhurath ceremony

Ela Pambaya Muhurath ceremony

The Muhurath ceremony of Gunapala Karunapathirane's Ela Pambaya was held recently at the Buddhist Centre, Dehiwala.

The cast includes Deemon Hettiarachchi, Rupa Gomes, Mahes Hemachandra Perera, Dayasiri Hettiarachchi, Sugath Shantha Moragahakumbura, Nimmi Thennakoon, Sandun Sameera, Dilan Silva, Manori Sagarika, Shiromi Mangalika, Krishantha Athukorale, Nisha Rokshani, Nalaka Daluwatte, Swarna Priyadarshini, Keerthi Dissanayake, Ajith Priyantha, Kushan Chamara, Tharushi Navodya, Manisha Lakmini and Jagathi Kaushalya.

Nari Burathi at Tower Hall

Sarath Kothalawala's Nari Burathi will be staged at the Tower Hall, Colombo 10 on February 9 at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m.

The cast includes Sarath Kothalawala, Kumara Thirimadura, Pubudu Chathuranga, Mihira Sirithilaka, Sarath Chandrasiri, Hemantha Iriyagama, Chinthaka Peiris, Janaka Ranasinghe and Wajira Kodithuwakku.

Lake House journalist wins photography prize

Palitha Alakeshwara

Lake House provincial correspondent Palitha Alakeshwara of Kandy has won a prize at the Environmental Photographic Competition organised by the Central Environmental Authority to mark World Environmental Day at the Royal College auditorium, Colombo 7.

The theme of the competition was 'Aesthetic Environment'.

Alakeshwara won awards for two of his photographs.

While studying at Galahitiyawa Central College, Alakeshwara took to journalism, and in 1957, he won the first place in the Christmas short story competition organised by the Kumara Mandapaya of the now defunct Janatha.

In the 1960s, he drew caricatures to the Janatha and wrote short stories to Janata, Yovun Janata and Nava Yugaya magazine.