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It was a journey down memory lane listening to veteran journalist Somawira Senanayake at the launch of the commemorative volume on Wimalalsiri Perera by another veteran, A.D. Ranjith Kumara. He was reminiscing about the days when Wimal was editor of 'Sarasaviya'. We were contemporaries and for the few of us who were present at the launch, it was a nostalgic voyage.

That was the era when there were no 'media personnel', as today. We were all 'pattarakarayas' (newspapermen). Wimal had joined Lake House in 1948 having faced an interview in a pair of shorts! He was the son of the famous poet G.H. Perera from Boralesgamuwa. Having worked in the 'Silumina', Wimal was understudy to poet and editor Meemana Prematilleka when the latter started editing the new cultural weekly 'Sarasaviya'.

It didn't take much time for Wimal to take over when Meemana decided to concentrate on the 'Silumina' of which he was editor.

Somawira talked about the simple life Wimal led. Both were from Rattanapitiya. Somawira was a junior serving in the 'Sarasaviya'. Wimal used to give him a lift in his Morris Minor which invariably broke down and Somawira had to painfully push it. "He was quite happy with the small car even with the constant breakdowns. He never aspired for big things. He never asked for favours from anyone. He was contented with what he had," Somawira stressed.

The BMICH Committee Room A was packed. More than remembering an editor, it was Wimal's simplicity and genuineness that brought them to pay respect to a man who died 15 years ago.

Though Ravindra Randeniya spoke at the launch on behalf of the film stars, I spotted only two others - Joe Abeywickrema and Jeevarani - in the audience. I am not too sure whether others had not been invited but if they had been invited, more should certainly have turned up since it was during Wimal's tenure that most of them rose to fame thanks to 'Sarasaviya', the only newspaper promoting Sinhala cinema at the time.

As for the book, Ranjith Kumara had worked hardto turn out a massive 600-page publication. It is an interesting 'period piece' tracing the progress of Sinhala journalism at Lake House.

Ranjith has managed to get most of Wimal's fellow journalists to contribute. Most of them worked in 'Sarasaviya' although Wimal had the unique distinction of being the editor of three publications - 'Sarasaviya', 'Navayugaya' (the fortnightly) and 'Silumina' - at the same time. In his 30 years of journalism, he achieved much.

Being a poet's son, Wimal naturally had a flair for poetry. We knew Wimal as a gifted poet himself. The commemorative volume carries a fine selection of short stories written by him. As Ravindra Randeniya pointed out, they are "real short stories, not short stories which run to a number of pages".

All Wimal's writings - poems, short stories and feature articles - had been preserved by Wimal's wife in a couple of CR books.

Fast Publishing has done a good job in turning out a neat publication - one that is just right to remember a talented journalist, a gifted poet and a good man.

The Young Contemporaries Exhibition 2006, the eleventh in this annual series aimed at unearthing talented young artists will be held from July 25 to 30 at the National Art Gallery from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. each day.

'Flowers Bloom again' was the title of the first Young Contemporaries exhibition and over the years, the George Keyt Foundation which organizes these exhibitions has helped discover more artists from various parts of the country. The artists are 'young' in the world of art, below forty years of age. A record number of entries have been received this year, many of them from first timers which is very rewarding for the Foundation, a press release states.

The chief guest at the opening of this year's exhibition on July 24 evening will be Prof. Ashley Halpe and Mrs Bridget Halpe.

Every year there are memorable musical events globally celebrated to remember the lives of choral composers and their music. Choirs sing in exaltation of voices and song and pay homage to the divine nature and glory of music.

Cantate Domino is the programme planned by Cantata Singers for Sunday July 30, at the Ladies College Chapel at 7 p.m. The audience is welcomed to an opening exaltation in song- an Ode to Cecilia's Day. St. Cecilia was the Goddess of Music and Love. The music is a graceful tripping of the toes; it is a compendium of fascinating facets of dance rhythms which introduce an aura of majesty and mysticism. The scene is the splendour of royal opulence: the faces are cosmetized, the masks make it esoteric.

The ending is an exhortation to lift up voices to charm the troubled. What better welcome invitation to begin an exaltation to song.

Handel's exuberant Hallelujah follows. Almost all Handelian oratorias include a celebrating praise to God of which the Hallelujah of "Messiah" is undoubtedly the indomitable masterpiece. This exaltation is to celebrate the defeat of Antiochus after twenty four years by Judas Maccabeus and his limited corps of heroes and the restoration of Jerusalem. Those years of desolate abomination were prophesised by Daniel.

The Prologue ends with Buxtehude's cantata with words from Psalm 96 ‘Sing unto the Lord’ in English but more appropriately Cantate Domino in Latin. This Cantata was initially written for soprano alto and bass solos. Perhaps Buxtehude wanted the incomparable versatility of the human voice to express the exaltation and adoration of God. The perfect if not the glorious grace of geometric harmonies was the intent and wisdom that motivated Buxtehude. In most Psalms there is the invocation by the priest and the response by the people. Here there is the simple imperative Cantate Domino taken up universally ascending upwards into the celestial realms. This meticulous Cantata links the Prologue to the Interlude by two soloists, Prashalini Peiris (Soprano) and Tilanka Jayamanne (Flute).

The Finale is a presentation of excerpts from Mozart. Gloria from the Grosse Mass takes two forms complementary to each other; a Gloria to God in Heaven and peace to men on earth. The ending is dramatic, Benedictus which is a Quartet is a prayer for peace sung by Anushka Abhayaratne (Soprano), Peshali Yapa(Mezzo Soprano), Sanjeev Jayaratnam(Tenor) and Asanka Perera(Bass), Agnus Dei is the final sacrifice for salvation - Anushka Abhayarane (Soprano), with the jubilant and transforming Dona Nobis Pacem - God grant us peace! The Soloists in Ode to St. Cecilia’s Day will be Peshali Yapa (Mezzo Soprano), Dushy Perera (Soprano) Jaliya Senanayake (Tenor) and Asanka Perera (Bass). Guest Soloists will be Prashalini Peiris(Soprano), Tilanka Jayamanne(Flute) and Asitha Tennekoon (Organ). Entrance to this performance will be by programme available at the Lionel Wendt and at the entrance at Rs.100 on the July 30.