• Ten Lankan students for Future Leaders Summit
• 'Rajya Sevaya Pinisai' shows a political crisis

Ten Lankan students for Future Leaders Summit

For the first time, Sri Lanka will send a team of 10 young student leaders between 16 and 19 years of age, for the future world leaders summit in Washington, U.S.A to be held from 8 to15 July 2000. A powerful chemistry results when the world's top students engage in a rigorous thought-provoking curriculum. The future world leaders summit brings together student leaders from around the world to explore international relations, diplomacy and the changing world economy. This programme was developed by the American academy of diplomacy and the forum for young Canadians.The Rotary Club of Colombo metropolitan known for their international youth exchange programs for students will select the team. The future leaders summit participants need to be between 16 and 19 years, active in school or community organisations and have the written approval of their parent. Application forms are available free of charge from rtn. Ananda Rajapakse, tel 074-515253 or e-mail futureleader@eureka.Lk. Applications close on 5 March 2000.

This program is for young leaders of tomorrow to experience the spirit of international relations in the back drop of the worlds largest democracy. During the summit the students receive unprecedented access to Washington's halls of power and the people shaping international relations.

Students from all over USA and many foreign countries participate in this week long study tour program organised by American presidential class room a non profit organisation. Most American universities and colleges recognize the academic quality of this program for admission. In particular, the Georgetown University and the university of Virginia offers credit hours and preference for students who follow this programme.

The selected students need to pay a registration fee to cover the cost of return airfare from Colombo to Washington. Accommodction will be provided for a week at the Georgetown university centre (a marriot hotel) in the campus.

Local transport, official text books and lecture notes, airport transfer from Washington Dulles airport and the graduation banquet. During their stay in Washington these future leaders will participate in the world trade game, visit their country's embassy, tour renowned sites in the U.S. Capital and meet face to face with influential world leaders. They will meet and speak to senators of their choice, White House staff, US legislators representing all political ideologies, federal judges, foreign diplomats, military officials and international media correspondents.most importantly these students study and live with other student leaders from around the world.

In doing so participants gain cross-cultural insights into the important issues facing a global environment. All students who participate in the future leaders summit return home more confident and ready to take on increased responsibilities in their homes, communities and schools.

'Rajya Sevaya Pinisai' shows a political crisis

By Sanath Weerasuriya

'Rajaye Sevaya Pinisai? the latest film on the late eighties terror period, will be ready for the screen soon.

"Rajya Sevaya Pinisai" is written and directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya. The cast includes Joe Abeywickrema, Sanath Gunathilake, Geetha Kumarasinghe , Linton Semage and other popular actors in the Sinhala film scene,

'Rajya Sevaya Pinisai' (RSP) is based on some true to life incidents that happened in the country about ten years ago.

The political crisis that prevailed in the country during this period and the politicians of the day are portrayed in the film of which K.D.Dayananda is the cinematographer.

The story revolves around a powerful Minister, Janaka Situbandara (Sanath Gunatilleke). Mahesha Upamali (Geetha Kumarasinghe) is a middle aged widow. She loves music and dancing.

Her second marriage with an old man named Sumanasekera (Joe Abeywickrema) is almost a failure. Sumanasekera is only a namesake husband and doesn't mind living a henpecked life as long as his desires are fulfilled.

Mahesha Upamali succeeds in getting around the Minister to get favours done for her own benefit.

The Minister exercises unlimited powers to move the machinery of state terrorism.

Then comes political cut throatism and the people become helpless. Utter chaos prevails in the country.

Craze for power, desire to accumulate more and more wealth, nepotism and favoritism among the power hungry rulers finally end as those involved are destroyed like moths around a fire.

Director Warnasuriya said the most difficult part was the shooting of the sequences about ' unofficial curfews' which were a very common thing during that era.

Creating the atmosphere for a day time curfew is not that easy specially in Colombo which is a always packed with action which was the final scene of the film" director Warnasuriya said.

According to Udayakantha the movie is now almost finished and waiting for its relese date.

'I am making some copies and most probably by April I will be able to release it' he added.

The only song in thefilm is rendered by Nirosha Virajini set to the music of Dilup Gabadamudalige.

Director Warnasuriya is thankful to the Defence Ministry and the Police Department for the cooperation extended in producing the film.

Ranjith Jayasuriya produced the film for Ureka Films.

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