Sirima’s mission continues through beautiful sounds
View(s):A charity concert ‘Symphony for a Child’ was presented by the AIDS Foundation of Lanka on June 29 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, under the patronage of the High Commiss-ioner for UK in Sri Lanka John Rankin.
‘Symphony for a Child’, an annual event in London since 1999, is a concept developed by Srima Jayasekera. The purpose of the programme is twofold: one is to give young artistes a platform to display their talents and two, is to channel the funds collected at these events to pre-nominated charities in Sri Lanka.
On the death of her husband, Sirima created the Brighty Jayasekera Endowment Fund. From this Fund she has been able to reach out to HIV positive children and children of families afflicted and or affected by HIV / AIDS to provide support for their medical, schooling and basic nutritional supplements. It is to Sirima’s credit that she has always chosen worthy causes to support. She has successfully won the patronage of a large number of individuals in their personal capacity as well as from the business community. Approximately three years ago Sirima gave a share of her profits to a blind school in Jaffna which was greatly appreciated by the people who were barely out of the war zone.
At 82, Sirima Jayasekera’s boundless energy spilt over to a highly appreciable level to make the event, “ Symphony for a Child” an enjoyable evening for the audience. The performers for the evening presented a varied selection that was greatly appreciated.
The concert started with Ravi Bandu Drum Ensemble” ‘Rhythmscape’ which was not only spectacular but was also beautifully coordinated amongst the large number of performers.
The three youngsters who participated were Sulara Nanayakara, violin, Joshua Asokan, piano and Rochelle Todd, vocal. Sulara and Joshua demonstrated their technical and artistic ability in no uncertain manner. The audience was delighted to find Sirima’s granddaughter perform with great confidence accompanied by Mary Anne David at the piano. Special mention is made of Rochelle because Sirima would now have confidence that her ‘interest’ will be carried through by another generation from her family.
All the other artistes need no introduction. Soundarie David, Tilanka Jayamanne, Asanka Perera, Merry-An Singers, Sureka Amerasinghe and the De Lanerolle Brothers are all professionals who have been performing for a long time to appreciative and enthused audiences both nationally and internationally.
Sirima has left to London to organise her next concert “Symphony for a Child” in The Regent Hall ,Oxford Street. The proceeds from this concert will be mainly in aid of The Children’s Unit of the Cancer Hospital, Maharagama. We wish her long life to carry on being a facilitator for artistes to entertain us as well as to continue her many charitable endeavours.
- Gnana Moonesinghe