Issey
Miyake and Jean-Paul Gaultier visit Lanka
The Parfumerie last Tuesday evening unveiled six exquisite fragrances
by Issey Miyake and Jean-Paul Gaultier at a ceremony at the
Trans Asia Hotel.
This is the first time that the Parfumerie, which is celebrating
its tenth anniversary this year, has launched fragrances by
these two internationally famous couturiers.
A spokesman
for this perfume store says that with this launch, the Parfumerie
enhances the exclusive bouquet of fragrances it offers its
many customers at its outlets at ODEL, Majetic City and the
JAIC Hilton.
Issey
Miyake focuses on life's basic elements: Water and Fire. All
the more symbolic when you know that Issey means 'Life' in
Japanese. Only water has the qualities of simplicity, singularity
and universality. Water which purifies and creates. L'Eau
d'lssey (water in French) is Issey Miyake's first feminine
fragrance, a blend of East and West, of here and there, a
studied harmony and creative purity.
Le Classique
is Jean Paul Gaultier's first feminine fragrance. For him,
it was obvious that this fragrance has to be the representation
of a woman's body, upon which he works daily and to which
he decided to pay tribute.
He interpreted
this tribute to femininity by dressing the woman's body with
a flesh-coloured corset. The same corset, which can be found
in each of his collections, is a souvenir from his childhood,
and a tribute to the eternal woman. To protect this woman's
body, he created a provocative "case" resembling
a metal can.
The launched
of this new fragrances and the show was handdled by 'Adahas'
Horse
Riding in Beruwela beach
Horse riding on the Beruwala beach will be introduced for
the first time in Sri Lanka,by Confifi group of hotels.
This time
Confifi is offering its clientele a difference in hospitality.
'The holiday makers always want to experience something different
and the clients appreciate such innovative ideas said the
General Manager Sales, Anil Udawatte.
In addition
to many recreation and sports facilities available within
the Riverina and Club Palm Garden hotels, horse riding has
become a popular sport amongst European guests and Sri Lankan
and expatriate visitors. Stables have been put up at the Riverina
hotel and four Australian top pedigree horses have been brought
down for leisure riding.
These
horses are well trained and tamed and are extremely human
friendly. Amongst the domestic clientele, the kids have taken
a great delight in taking a horse back ride along the beach
or with in the hotel premises.
Each horse has a groomer who will assist every guest to settle
on the horse back and the riding center at Riverina Hotel
is well equipped to meet the required International standards.
Horse
back riding is a popular sport in Europe and the Confifi Group
Hotels proud to announce that so far this facility is only
available in their hotels in Beruwala. It is open for all
and any body could book a ride at Riverina Hotel in Beruwala.
In addition to Riverina Hotel and Club Palm Garden, the group
also manage, Eden Resort & Spa, Confifi Beach Hotel in
Beruwala, Club Horizon , Koggala and Aquarius Sports Resort
in Marawiala.
Gold
FM & Keells Hotels joint Valentine promotion
(L-R) Geethani Katugaha, Marketing Executive Gold FM, . Shimi
Fonseka (Winner) J. Kehelpannala D/GM Keells Hotels and Mani
Sugathapala, Manager Marketing & Sales, Keells Hotels.
The prises
were awarded for the winners of Gold FM and Keells hotel Valentine
promotion recently. Winner Shimi Fonseka receiving the Air
Ticket and Weekend voucher at Hakuraa Club Maldives, from
J. Kehelpannala Director/General Manager, Keells Hotel Management
Services Ltd.
Nature
Safari at Yala
By Sanath Weerasuriya
Yala Safari Beach Hotel is not a strange place to nature love.
The National Park  and
the hotel has a strong bond since its very inception in 1975.
Ideally
situated half a kilometre from the gates of the Lanka's most
popular wild life park, Yala Safari Beach Hotel (YSBH) offers
its visitors a quiet interlude with nature.
The hotel,
magically placed like a villa on the outskirts of the jungle
and the edge of the southern Indian ocean, blends into the
rustic charm and simplicity of its surroundings.
YSBH is
a member of Jetwing group of hotels and now comes under the
Jetwing Research Initiative, as the hotel hosts the leopards
and the conservation researchers. The hotel has 63 rooms including
21 A/C rooms.
Upali
Weerasinghe, the General Manager of the YSBH said, though
it has been recognised as a eco friendly hotel since lately,
the property was a part of nature from the very begining.
Upali,
a veteran of the hospitality trade, joined the hotel in 1987.
"We mainly cater to the nature lovers . Our European
market too is based on nature tour groups, bird watchers,
people who are keen on game drive and researchers. Even Sri
Lankans too are now becoming more and more bird and nature
lovers" he said.
Follow
the shrill trumpeting of elephants into thick jungle on a
excursion into the natural world and observe majestic tuckers,
peacock unfurling its kaleidoscopic fan in a ritual dance,
the graceful strides of the deer, the strange customs of a
variety of birds and a lucky glimpse of a leopard in its entire
glory are some of the activities offered through the hotel.
'We arrange
all types of safaris to the guests on request. Debaraweva,
Palutupana Lunugamvehera. Kirinda, Kataragama, Sithulpawwa
and Bundala are some of the places to mention" he added.
'Lagoon
view' restaurant offers a typical authentic Sri Lankan cuisine
as well as international dishes. "And You'll discover
that the very best in service and dining, is equally a natural"
Upali said.
The restaurant
is too ideally located facing the natural lagoon, which is
filled with migrant birds during the season.
YSBH has
constructed a 'mud hut' for birders, the very first hut with
all facilities to watch the birds at close range,on the other
side of the lagoon.
"Probably
it could be the very first of its kind in the world "
said Gihan de Silva Wijeratne,the brains behind this project
and the director of the Jetwing Eco Holiday.
Yala Safari
, which supported the Leopard Research Project, is offering
a special discount for wildlife enthusiasts to take advantage
of the Leopard sightings, which are being reported at present.
A 50% discount is offered on half and full board rates, for
room nights from Sundays to Thursdays inclusive.
The offer
is valid till April 30. This special offer is mainly to subscribers
of Sri Lanka Wildlife News (SLWN), members of the Wildlife
& Nature Protection Society (WNPS), Field Ornithology
Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) and the Sri Lanka Natural History
Society.
'No
more drama' for mary
By Sanath Weerasuriya
New Yorker,who popularly known as new alternate for Aretha
Frankline, Maey J. Blige is the the star of this week's 'Original
Music Competition'. The 'Original Music Competition' is organised
by M- Entertainment in collaboration with TV Times.
When her
debut album,What's the 411? , hit the street in 1992, critics
and fans alike were floored by its powerful combination of
modern R&B with an edgy rap sound that glanced off of
the pain and grit of NY childhood Mary J. Blige.
Called
alternately the new Chaka Khan or new Aretha Franklin, Blige
had little in common stylistically with either of those artists,
but like them helped adorn soul music with new textures and
flavors that inspired a whole generation of musicians. With
her blonde hair, self-preserving slouch and combat boots,
Blige was street-tough and beautiful all at once, and the
record company execs who profited off of her early releases
did little to dispel the bad-girl image that she earned as
she stumbled through the dizzying first days of her career.
Her 1995
follow-up, My life, again featured Combs' handiwork, and if
it stepped back stylistically from its urban roots by featuring
less of a rap sound, it made up for it with its subject matter.
My Life was full of ghetto pathos and Blige's own personal
pain shone through like a beacon. Her rocky relationship with
fellow Uptown artist K-Ci Hailey likely contributed to the
raw emotions on the album.
The period
following the recording of My Life was also a difficult time
professionally for Blige as she severed her ties with Combs
and Uptown, hired Suge Knight as a financial advisor and signed
with MCA. 1997's Share My World marked the beginning of Blige's
creative partnerships with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The
album was another hit for Blige and debuted at number one
on the Billboard charts. Critics soured somewhat on its more
conventional soul sound, but Blige's fans seemed undaunted.
By the
time her next studio album, Mary, came out in 1999, the fullness
and elegance of her new sound seemed more developed, as Blige
exuded a classic soul style aided by material from Elton John
and Bernie Taupin, Stevie Wonder, and Lauryn Hill. Mary made
it obvious that the ghetto fabulous style and more confrontational
aspects of her music were gone, while the emotive power still
remained.
That power
also helped carry the more modern-sounding 2001 release, No
More Drama, a deeply personal album that remained a collective
effort musically yet reflected more of Bilge's song writing
than any of her previous efforts. The Mary J. Blige on No
More Drama seemed miles away from the flashy kid on What's
the 411?, yet it was still possible to see the path through
her music that produced an older, wiser, but still expressive
artist.
Listen
to Mary J. Blige on M Entertainment listening stations at
selected dealer outlets for a taste of R&B. To enter this
contest, all you have to do is to answer the question on the
coupon No 70 and send it to the address given below.
The address
is "Listen to Original Music Contest, No. 70, C/o Maharaja
Entertainments (Pvt.) Ltd., 330, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo
10. Tell: + 941672425-8, Fax + 941699070. E Mail: me@lgo.lk
All the
entries must be originals from the TV Times and no photocopies
or faxes will be entertained. All correct entries will be
drawn by a panel of judges. The entries should reach the above
address by April 16, the latest. The decision of the judges
will be final and the names of the winners will be announced
in The Sunday TV Times accordingly.
Here are
the winners of contest no. 66 . The winners of two Sony original
CDs are Meera Algama of Colombo 5 and Gomida Jayasinghe of
Colombo 5. Two audio cassette winners are Krishanthe S. Widanagamage
of Mahiyangana and Upul D. Dissanayake of Pitakotte.
10% off
gift Vouchers go to Ramesh Sivapalan of Colombo 06, Asiri
Rodrigo of Andiambalama, Wendy Fernandez of Colombo 5, Annette
Miranda of Mount Lavinia, S. Selvaraj of Mount Lavinia and
Pauline Jansen of Nugegoda.
Posters
winner are Ranil De Silva of Moratuwa, Mithila Nilathrie Lambert
of Kurunegala, Dinesh Cooray of Panadura, Athuliya Meddegama
of Angunawela and Dilesh Perera of Badulla.
Mignonne
magic still in power
Having won Radio Ceylon's Talent contest at the age of seven,
a year later Mignonne wrote her first composition. Her father
Arnold Rutnam, was renowned for his mathematical skills and
her mother, Marie, was a devoted and much loved teacher of
music.
As a student
of St. Bridget's Convent, Mignonne scored first position in
her class throughout, except the one term when she took ill,
and was placed second. She particiapted in Theatre Productions
and played Goal For the School Netball Team with equal enthusiasm.
Her interest in Law was overtaken by her passion for Music,
and thanks to her mother, she received her formal training
in Western Classical Music, Speech & Drama. This proved
to be her greatest strength and an excellent foundation to
her musical career that was to follow.
Once South
China Morning post, a Hong Kong based newspaper reported -
"Her 'firsts' in the history of Popular Music in Sri
Lanka and her many musical achievements internationally have
proved that Mignonne is a rarity by any standard."
She joined
The Jetliners in 1965 and the band renamed as "Mignonne
& The Jetliners" the group was an instant success
and their popularity grew from strength-to-strength, performing
in many countries.
She is
the only female composer/performer in the world, to date,
to have ben selected for three consecutive years (1971, 1972
& 1973) into the Finals of Yamaha's World Popular Song
Festival with award winning songs. This achievement has been
recorded in America's Billboard Magazine.
Also she
has become the only Asian Artiste selected to perform at "Split
72", Yugoslavia, 12th International Song Festival in
Poland, and the 5th Olympiad of Song Athens in 1972.
In 1974
she has been selected by the Asian Composers League (ACL)
to represent Sri Lanka at their conferences the first by Mrs.
Imelda Marcos in Manila where Mignonne made a presentation
on the Drum Rhythms of Sri Lanka and in 1978, with her musical
work 'Images' presented by her for ACL in Bangkok, she became
the first to introduce ethnic fusion of Western Music idioms
with Sri Lankan Music.
Her song
"Mangala Mohotha" was the first song in Sinhala
to be televised for the inauguration of TV in Sri Lanka, on
the July 1, 1979.
Her band
"Mignonne and The Jetliners" was holds to perform
for the opening of the Regent Hotel, Hong Kong in 1980. The
initial Contract which was for three months, was extended
consecutively for over 16 years. This has been reported by
The South China Morning Post as a "veritable record"
for an 'expatriate' Resident Band.
During
these years, The Regent Hotel was selected BEST HOTEL IN THE
WORLD for 3 years in polls conducted by The Institutional
Investor.
Her composition
"Island Song" was the Runner-Up in the Song Writers
1981 Contest, conducted by Radio Televison, Hong Kong. She
was thereby elected a member of the Composers and Authors
Society of Hong Kong (CASH).
Recently,
become the first Sri Lankan Vocalist to have her song broadcast
simultaneously worldwide via the Seatellite Network of VOA
- The Voice of America on November 11, 2000. Her Version of
"Over the Rainbow" was selected for broadcast by
well-known host and Music Director of VOA - Judy Massa and
the Programme was is heard by some 91 million people all over
the world.
Roger,
Maureen and Damitha in a scene from teledrama 'Kulawanthayo'
Benette
bags 'best director' award
Benette Ratnayake has once again brought international attention
by being adjudged the Best Director for outstanding talent
displayed at his maiden effort  "The
Compensation" (Aswesuma).
The director
was presented with the Golden Reel award for the Best Director
at Tiburon International Film Festival held at the Tiburon
Playhouse Theatre in USA from March 22-28.
Having
won Don Quikoti Special jury award at the 7th Dhaka Film Festival
in January, this was the second international award achieved
by this film for this year.
Aswesuma
earlier won Platinum Award for the Best First Feature at the
34th Houston I.F.F. and Special Jury Award (Fipresci) by Federation
of International Film Critics at the 4th Mumbai I.F.F. and
was a entry at other world renowned international film festivals
including Moscow, Montreal, Singapore, Kerala and Mumbai.
While
Benette was awarded the Best director, Iranian film Maryam,
Directed by Ramin Serry became the Best Picture at the international
festival.
And the
other awards were Best Documentary: Our House in Havana, Directed
by Stephen Olsson Best Short Film: Sweet, Directed by Elyse
Couvillion Best Children's Film: Amy, Directed by Nadia Tass,
Australia Best Student Film- Imagination, By Danica DeCosto
Best Comedy- Do It for Uncle Manny, Directed by Adam Baratta
Best Innovation- Hypocrite, Directed by David Chalker Best
Screenplay- Surfacing, Written by Warren Skeel Audience Award-
Returning Mickey Stern, Directed by Michael Prywes.
After
over a decade of directing award winning television dramas,
"Aswesuma" represents Benette's debut feature depicting
an old man's struggle to overcome his own guilt and tries
to punish him self for some of the happenings for which he
was responsible during his youth.
The main
role played by veteran actor Joe Abeywickrema as old Guneris
and on his way from the funeral of his beloved wife he goes
directly to the police station to make a confession.
Demanding
that he be imprisoned the old man narrates the story of how
he committed the triple murder he committed fifty years ago
of some thugs who came after a precious gem Guneris found
in his dead child's grave.
Meanwhile by the popular public demand the English subtitled
copy of 'Aswesuma' is screened at Empire Theatre in Colombo.
The internationally
acclaimed film also was the highest record collected at Regal
cinema, Colombo ever.
'Aswesuma'
released by Cinema Entertainment Limited(CEL) circuit earned
Rs 34,62,882 for 85 days with the participation of 49,821
patrons.
'Gone
with the Wind' at Russian Centre'
Popular
Movie "Gone With the Wind" will be screened at the
Russian centre on April 27 at 5.00 pm.
"Goen
With the Wind", the greatest love story of our time,
the story of Scarlett)' Hara and Rhelt Butler. It is a lavish
and grand romance set against the Civil War.
Academy Award winning 'Gone With the Wind' features a legendary
cast the includes Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, Leslie Howard
and Olivia de Havilland.argaret Michell's 'Gone With the Wind
is one of the most popular books ever written and the film
is one of the most popular motion pictures of all times.
For further
details please contactt Chandi on 685429/685440. Russian Centre,
No. 10, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7.
'Kulawanthayo'
has a social impact
By Susitha R. Fernando
"Kulawanthayo" as the title suggests has much to
do with the upper-caste mentality and the class claims for
a bigger share of wealth. This noveau-riche mentality pervades
the film in which the family of Romanis is entangled in. The
 miniplay
is telecast every Thursday at 9 pm on Swarnavahini channel.
Romanis
is a multi millionaire businessman. Rathna (Maureen Charuni),
Sudarma (Ananda Wickremage), Pradeep (Roger Seneviratne) and
Thakshila (Kanchana Mendis) are his beloved children. His
wife died suddenly leaving him and in a state of suspense.
Her death caused him immense pain of mind.
His loneliness
could never be fulfilled by any other but Piyawathi who brings
greens to his boutique begins to draw his attention. Romanis
had to be very careful in dealing with Piyawathi as he did
not want the children to know about it.
However his secret short-lived affair with Piyawathi leads
her to get conceived, but Piyawathi who died at child birth
makes Romanis more desperate and unhappy.
Romanis
being unable to face further hardships seeks happiness in
"the bottle". This new companion brought disaster
to his life.
His clerk
Sumathipala made best use of the opportunites and persuaded
Romanis' eldest daughter to take his side. Sudarma and Pradeep,
old Romanis' two sons were very worried over all this. But
they could not do anything as Sumathipala became a better
businessman than their own father. Sudarma is an executive
who did not see eye to eye with Sumathipala at all.
Romanis
in desperation ascribes all that happens to misfortune or
bad luck. Romanis and his children had to depend on Sumathipala
who was once his subordinate.
His youngest
daughter Thaksila becomes mentally ill. Jayantha her boy friend
was a servant at Sumathipala's stores. Sumathipala made use
of Jayantha, who was his 'pet', for her sickness.
Meanwhile
Pradeep another son of Romanis tried to buy Jayantha but it
fails because of Pradeep's behaviour. Pradeep had become a
victim of so-called 'open economy' and he was in love with
the watcher's daughter. She has plans for a better future
but she was a mis-match to Romanis' family.
'Kulawanthayo'
is directed by G. Nandasena to the production of Sampath Palitha
De Saram.
'Salalihini
Wasanthaya'; for New Year
'Salalihini Wasanthaya" a special New Year programme
will be telecast from Bandarawela on National Rupavahini Channel
during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
The initial
programme will start from 7.00 am on April 12 at the play
ground in Bandarawela Town Hall, which would conclude with
a musical show at night and it will be aired live. The programme
to be held on April 14 will include traditional games and
other age old events.
The Bandarawela
Divisional Secretariat is the organising arm of the show and
would be ready to answer any inquiries made regarding the
events. Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation invites those living
in and around Bandarawela to participate in the New Year celebrations
by taking part in the competitions.
Research
on Lester
The indigenous features of the films of doyen of the Sri Lankan
cinema and internationally acclaimed film maker Dr. Lester
James Peiris has been chosen as the subject of a research
paper by young film critic, Ajith Galappaththi. Ajith writes
on Dr. Lester and his films for his Masters Degree.
"The
Indigenous of Sinhala cinema and the cinematography of Lester
James Peiris" will be the title of the research, which
was approved by the Post Graduate Committee of Kelaniya University
and Head of the mass communication department of the University,
Dr. Ariyaratne Athugala has been appointed as the adviser
to this work.
Speaking
to the TV Times, Ajith Galappaththi said that he had found
many important details relating to the history of Dr. Peiris'
cinematography.
New
play: 'Husband Call'
"Husband Call" Martin Gunadasa's maiden effort will
be staged at Tower Hall on April 11 at 3.30 and 6.30 pm.
Martin
plays the role of an elderly husband who is married to a young
girl. The plot deals with all the problems that come up in
such a marriage. The couple parts ways. The old husband moves
onto politics while the youthful wife runs away with another.
When dejected husband achieves a major political victory he
does not forget to share it with his unfaithful wife.
The cast
includes Jayantha Rupasinghe, Jayathilake Herath, Ashoka Kumara
Mahawatte and Rupa Gomes.
Musical
score is by Sri Lal Liyanage and "Husband call"
script is by Martin Gunadasa.
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