50 years of Professional Trust
Hubert Z. Fernando JPUM completed 50 years as a lawyer. To
celebrate the occasion a dinner was hosted by Fernando at the Taj
Airport Garden Hotel, Seeduwa recently. His lordship Raja Fernando was
the chief guest.
****
Sri Lankan painting exhibition in Paris
To mark the 60th anniversary of independence, an exhibition of Sri
Lankan painting titled Expressions of Independence organised by the Mona
Bismarck Foundation and the University of Visual and Performing Arts in
collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in France is being held at the
Mona Bismarck Foundation in Paris.
The Chief Guest at the inaugural function was Susil Premajayanth,
Minister of Education of Sri Lanka. Ambassador Chitranganee Wagiswara
hosted a reception at which the acting President of Mona Bismark
Foundation C. Rajakaruna, Director of Mona Bismark Foundation Christina
Didouan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Visual and Performing Arts
Dr. Sarath Amunugama and the Dean Susiripala Malimboda participated
****
ICES presents The Namesake
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Jhumpa Lahiri,
beautifully adapted for the screen by Sooni Taraporevala and directed by
the accomplished and acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, The
Namesake covers three decades in the life of the Ganguli family. After
surviving a horrific train crash, Ashoke Ganguli (Irrfan Khan) agrees to
an arranged marriage with lively singer Ashima (Tabu) in 1977 Calcutta,
before relocating to New York to start a family. Years pass and the
Gangulis’ son Gogol (Kal Penn), named after Ashoke’s favourite author,
grows into a promising architect, married to a rich American girl (Jacinda
Barrett). However, Gogol struggles to come to terms with his Bengali
heritage, neglecting his parents and even going so far as to hide his
given name from his wife and her family.
In her most personal film to date, Mira Nair brings to the screen a
poignant and transporting version of Lahiri’s novel, which won reader’s
hearts across the world with its exploration of the ties that can both
tangle and bind global families as they brave the modern vicissitudes of
change, conflict and disaster. At the heart of the film is the
astonishing performance by Tabu, a beautiful Indian actress who conveys
Ashima’s long-suffering adaptation to life in America and her growing
and steady love for her husband. She struggles with her children’s lack
of respect for Indian tradition and is somewhat hurt by their
selfishness during adolescence (114 minutes).
The film will be shown at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies,
No. 2, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8 on Tuesday, April 29, at 6:15 p.m.
*****
Smart Ease, the pre school and
day-care with a difference
A unique pre-school and a day-care centre, with all modern
facilities, equipment and the required environment for early childhood
learning and development has been set up in, Colombo 5, recently.
Smart Ease, a pre-school and day-care centre with a difference is
managed by its Directress, Sonali Perera who is well qualified in many
pre-school education related disciplines. She holds a Diploma in AMI
from Sri Lanka and a Diploma in Children’s Community Services from
Australia. She also carries local and overseas experience including a
four year stint at Elizabeth Moir. Sonali is well experienced in working
with children with special needs too.
The staff members of Smart Ease pre-school and day-care centre are well
trained, professionally qualified, experienced and caring individuals,
thus ensuring total protection to the children and peace-of-mind to
their parents.
}
“Smart Ease contains the facilities as well as the friendly environment
which is vital for early childhood development. Indoor learning areas
with interesting and attractive learning aids, outdoor play areas with
required equipment, a library and an audio visual room are some of such
facilities through which we carry out a balanced education programme. In
addition, the programmes conduced are structured to suit children of
different age groups.
These are some of the features that make Smart Ease a unique pre-school
and a day-care centre,” it’s Directress, Sonali Perera said.
“The prominent features of the day-care section are the availability of
cot beds and a trained day care teacher. The day-care students too have
full access to all the pre-school toys, library, and TV aides on a
structured curriculum. During the early evening, the day care provides
children with light refreshments too,” she concluded.
****
Imthiaz to launch
“My Pulse”
Former UNP MP and Minister Mass Communication Imthiaz Bakeer Markar
will launch Mage Hadagesma (My Pulse), a compilation of his speeches in
the Sri Lanka Parliament, in book form.
The launch will be held at Kularathne Hall at his alma mater Ananda
College Colombo on May 6 (Tuesday) at 4.30 p.m.
Markar, an exceptional orator, was a member of Parliament from 1988 to
2004.
*****
ABRSM’s Tim Arnold to visit
Sri Lanka
Tim Arnold
Director International Operations Royal School of Music Tim Arnold
will visit Sri Lanka for the first time. He is expected in the island on
May 8, 2008. The ABRSM Sri Lanka Representative Mano Chanmugam and his
team Neomal and Pam De Alwis have arranged a tight schedule of events
which include a discourse with teachers to acquaint them with the latest
developments and techniques employed by the Board to achieve the highest
consistent standards in assessing musicianship. The theme of the
teachers’ meetings will be ‘A View From the Examiner’s Chair’ and will
consist of an opportunity to meet and ask questions from Arnold in his
role both as a Director and as an examiner for the ABRSM. Tim will be
accompanied by Sarah Berman, Tours Coordinator for Sri Lanka.
He is also scheduled to meet the print and electronic media.
After the devastating Tsunami, in 2004, the staff of ABRSM London
selflessly donated a considerable sum of money to enhance musical
education in the Matara environs. Arnold and Sarah Berman, Tours
Coordinator, will travel south to meet the Director and Coordinator of
Healing Hands Children Trust and some of the recipients of the musical
scholarship programme.
The highlight of Arnold’s visit will be the annual High Scorer’s Concert
and Distribution of Awards for 2007, where he will be the Chief Guest.
The High Scorer’s Concert is the Boards annual show piece of excellence,
where our young high achievers display their skills in singing and
playing a multitude of instruments which include Piano, Violin, Cello,
Flute, Recorder.
Over a period of 110 years in Sri Lanka, ABRSM exams have imparted the
broadest education in music designed to motivate and encourage high
standards of performance; the result is a vast galaxy of concert
artistes who have enthralled audiences the world over.
*****
Grand Hotel in full bloom
Grand Hotel, which has continuously won the prime awards at the
flower competition known as “April Blooms” and held during the Nuwara
Eliya season in April, has again dominated the flower show in the
commercial large category. The hotel has won the following awards.
Commercial Large Category
* Best garden
* Best lawn
* Best fences and hedges
* Best flower arrangement
In the entire Commercial category the hotel has won the following awards
* Best Collection of Roses
* Best Collection of Potted Plants
* Best exposition of cut flowers, i.e. Overall winner of the cut flower
category
****
Dr. Jayantha receives praise for providing free
meals
Dr. Jayantha de Silva, member of WPC and founder of the concept “Pragna
Pradeepa”, distributed cooked meals among kids at 66 Watte, Baseline
Road, Colombo 09 recently.
More than one hundred kids were fed. Dr. Jayantha de Silva was highly
appreciated by the residents of the area for the charity campaign he
organised.
****
A
meeting with Ranil
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, Opposition Leader
Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ravi Karunanayake, MP, at a meeting held on the
April 28th, 2008 at opposition leader’s office
****
A stamp to commemorate Commonwealth Youth Ministers
Meeting 2008
The 7th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting – 2008 First Day
Cover was issued at Temple Trees. The first copies handed over to
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Commonwealth Secretary General by
Minister of Youth Affairs Pavithra Wanniarachchi. Ministry of Post and
Telecommunications Secretary, Piyasena is also in the picture
****
|
