TV Lanka launched for global reach
'TV Lanka', the latest satellite TV transmission from Sri Lanka was launched
last week.
TV Lanka can be viewed from Europe, the Middle East and Far East, 24
hours of the day.
"Our primary goal is to reach Sri Lankans living worldwide, in the Middle
East, Europe and other regions of the world with our own TV programmes
culture, art and while giving them current information about the country,"
said B.A.C. Abeywardana, founder and CEO of Electroteks Global Networks,
on the occasion of successful commissioning the transmission centre of
TV Lanka, the first ever Satellite TV transmission centre in Sri Lanka.
"This is a landmark achievement for the country that shows the maturity
of communication technology we have achieved through our own expertise
since 1991, the year the government granted approval of Electroteks as
a Fully Authorized Telecommunications Operator under the Telecom Act of
that year," he said.
Already Electroteks is one of the largest bandwidth provider in South
Asia, serving many high capacity data communications users in the region.
Recently this service was made available to corporate and ISP users within
Sri Lanka as well for Internet and other applications at relatively very
competitive prices for exceptional price/performance.
"Very soon, the Optical Fiber Network spanning Colombo City, and will
provide the infrastructure needed to make our commercial capital, Colombo,
the cyber-city of choice in the region. The company is ready to provide
the best of data communications infrastructure. What we need now is global
marketing and government encouragement for Sri Lanka based global enterprise
such as Call Centres, Software Development Centres, Multimedia Development
and Editing Centres and so on that could compete on par with the best in
the world.
"One of the major benefits of our TV Lanka Satellite TV Transmission
will be the facility of commercial advertising and promotion worldwide
for any produce. Also this will be a reach out for our commercial and financial
sectors via an interactive communication engagement with the world", he
added.
Maurice in 'one man' show
Maurice Dahanayake, reputed radio and film artiste, will hold his first
'One Man' song recital on March 1 at the Tower Hall Maradana.
Maurice the present Chairman of the 'Jathika Kala Sansadaya' said, he
will sing about twenty old hits which include duets with Lata Walpola,
Angeline Gunathilake, Rupa Indumathi, Daya Hemantha Abeysekera and Irene
de Alwis.
Maurice is a veteran singer who has sung for many films and TV shows,
radio and record labels.
'But this is the first time I am singing for such long hours and I'm
excited about it,' he said.
This was proposed and organised by B. Siritunga Perera, TV director,
Rohana Siriwardena, W.S.M. Gunathilake, deputy general secretary of 'Jathika
Kala Sansadaya' and Director General of Tower Hall Foundation Mrs. Indika
Chandratilake.
The music is provided by Sunith Chandrasiri of Tower Hall Foundation
Orchestra.
Comperes will be former Rupavahini, Director General, H.M. Gunasekera,
Tilak Kumara Ratnayake, Kusum Perera and Chitra Kumari Kalubowila.
The programme will be under the distinguished patronage of Ministers
Karunasena Kodituwakku and Karu Jayasuriya.
Tickets are available at the Tower Hall Maradana and Tower Hall Theatre
Foundation "Sausiripaya".
A teacher's tale of woe
By Susitha R. Fernando
"Kinduru Nadiya" depicts the life of a devoted teacher who works against
many odds. It comes on every Sunday at 7. 30 pm on the ITN channel.
'Ananda' is a devoted school teacher who gives all he has to his pupils.
But is forced by his own relations, who did not appreciate his noble act,
to leave his kith and kin and face numerous difficulties in his life.Ananda
is hated by his own brother, Jagath who is a tuition teacher for sharing
freely his wide knowledge with his students. Jagath conspires to couple
Ananda's name with one of his students, 'Pavithra'. Disheartened by this
he seeks a transfer to a remote village. Believing that he too was responsible
for the humiliation brought on the girl, Ananda is determined to take Pavithra
with him, her parents oppose this move.
His transfer to a very outlandish place named "Endirikale" which is
a small island he wins the hearts of the people there and becomes one among
them when he gets married to "Badra", a girl from the village. But this
marriage does not make everybody happy in the village; 'Dharmasena' a boy
in the area who was interested in Badra becomes hostile towards Ananda.
However wedded bliss is denied them as the girl meets with an untimely
death bitten by a serpent. Though faced with repeated misfortunes, Ananda
is determined to serve the poor villagers despite all his mishaps. He bids
good bye to teaching in the hope of bringing a better life for the poor
villagers. His efforts bear fruit when he starts a dispensary with the
help of a doctor whom he knew. But the doctor one day meets with an accident
when some unknown person attacks him. But the Doctor recovers and returns
to the village.
Meanwhile Dharmasena, who was interested in Ananda's late wife invites
a politician in the area to the village in the hope of settling account.
But Dharmasena is furious when the politician gets friendly with Ananda.
Dharmasena plans to kill Ananda. It fails leaving Ananda on a hospital
bed. But surprise awaits him when his mother visits him accompanied by
Pavithra.
With the sudden arrival of Pavithra, Ananda's interest in her is rekindled
enabling him to look at life again with hope and courage.
The main roles here are played by Roger Seneviratne, Kanchana Mendis,
Thamara Dilrukshi, Senaka Wijesinghe and introduces Shalika Edirisinghe
and Sumedha Chandrasekara.
The mini-play directed by V. Shivadasan has been scripted by K. B. Herath,
camera in handled K. A. Dharmasena.
Asoka's new film gets final touches in India
By Susitha R. Fernando
Acclaimed film maker Asoka Handagama set out to India to attend to the
final touches of "Thani Thatuwen Piyabanda" (Fly With One Wing).
The young film director is popular for giving the Sinhala cinema a new
dimension with his earlier award winning attempts.
Having directed three films namely "Chanda Kinnarie" (Moon Lady) being
the debut attempt he won several awards including one for Most Promising
Director in 1994 and the OCIC award for Best film, Best Director and Best
screenplay. Secondly "Sanda Dadayama" (Moon Hunt) which has not been screened
yet and "Mey Mage Sandai" (This is My moon) which represented Lanka at
over ten international film festivals winning several awards including
one in Korea and the Bronze Remi award for the Best Feature film at the
Houston International Film Festival.
The latest attempt of Mr. Handagama tackles the subject of ideas and
a girl. Sixteen days of filming was done in and around Galle, with final
shooting being done at the Galle Fort last week.
Asoka said the latest technology had been used for the film.
The cast of the "Thani Thatuwen Piyabanda" (Fly With One Wing) include
Anoma Janadari, Mahendra Perera, Wilson Gunaratne, W. Jayasiri, Jagath
Chamila and Gayani Gishanthika.
Asoka Handagama entered the big screen via the theatre and small screen
starting with the stage play "Thunder" in 1985. He won several awards at
the State Drama Festival and his second attempt on the stage "Magatha"
(Don't Kill) too won the awards for Best script and Best Director in 1988.
He had written and directed four award winning television dramas and another
tele-film to his credit.
Japanese Nihonbashi at JAIC Hilton
A new Japanese Restaurant - Nihonbashi with Sushi & Tempura Bar has
opened its doors at the Hilton JAIC Shopping Mall last week.
Main aim of the restaurant is to give the Sri Lankans, Expatriates and
also the tourists a taste of authentic Japanese cuisine which is becoming
very popular in this country. Managed and owned by Dharshan Munidasa, an
expert in Japanese cuisine himself also owns the restaurant in Galle Face
Terrace and has recently opened an outlet in Odel.
Most of the ingredients are freshly flown in from Japan, ideal for all
weight-conscious people. Items like Sushi (Funa Mori, Ran, Take, Zen),
Tempura (Moriawase), Shashimi (Funamori, Kiku) are some of the things available
on the a la carte. Take-aways could also be arranged.
This elegant 40-seater restaurant open daily for lunch and dinner is
the ideal place to entertain your clients or relax the evening with your
family.
'Moratuwa.. Match It If You Can'
The Moratuwa Arts Forum has embarked on a mini fund raiser cum public relations
venture by producing two car stickers.
While one sticker projects the expression "MORATUWA FOREVER!" the other
is worded "MORATUWA.. MATCH IT IF YOU CAN!"
Every Moratuwite could proudly display these stickers which proclaim
the glory of their beloved home town. Both are printed in the colours blue
and white and also feature four emblems - a guitar, cricketer, carpenter
and a sailing boat which depict the four main traits of Moratuwa, namely
- music, sports, woodwork and fishing, respectively.
The stickers have been designed to be used as car stickers (to be pasted
from inside) and as prints to be displayed on any surface.
Stickers are priced at Rs.50/- each and will be available for sale from
mid-February."We hope to utilize the proceeds of this project to fund a
youth leadership training workshop in the near future," said a MAF spokesman.
Meanwhile "Pun Sanda Paaya", the musical cum variety entertainment show
featuring MAF talent will be held in March while "Gayamu Eda Gee" (the
Sinhala equivalent of 'Dowm Memory Lane') will follow in June. |
