Sunrise: A lively read for those golden years
Sunrise Foundation chairman Feizal Samath presenting the ‘Sunrise’ Magazine to Minister Eran Wickramaratne
Sunrise, “the magazine for inspired seniors”, was re-launched by the Sunrise Senior Foundation at an event that was graced by present and former leaders from the business, political, education, media and sports communities.
The new magazine, catering exclusively to the senior citizen community, is a revamp of the Sunrise that was briefly published in 2016 by another organization, very well received but, due to unavoidable reasons, not proceeding beyond four issues. The new version is a bi-monthly, brighter and bolder- in brief a high quality publication offering top-notch editorial content and edited by a senior Sri Lankan journalist.
The launch of the magazine was attended by a number of dignitaries, including State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Razia Pendse, former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Michael Tissera, former Chairman of John Keells Holdings Ken Balendra, dance veterans Vajira and Upeka Chitrasena, educationist and social activist Dr. Jezima Ismail and educationist and former Principal of Ladies’ College Nirmali Wickremesinghe.
Serving as an information tool for senior citizens, Sunrise presents a compendium of stories pertaining to policy issues by the state concerning the country’s 60 years+ community, insurance and investment advice, health and medical care, infrastructure in public spaces like banks, government departments, shopping malls, hotels, and apartments, to ensure minimum inconvenience to readers. Also with shopping tips, gardening for leisure, games, jokes and emergency institutions to contact, the magazine meets a largely-unfilled need for information for senior citizens.
The editor of Sunrise magazine is senior journalist Kumudini Hettiarachchi. The Sunrise Senior Foundation (SSF) is headed by Feizal Samath (chairperson), directors Kumar Nadesan, Tissa de Alwis, Tilak de Zoysa, T. Someswaran and Dr. Pramilla Senanayake.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Board of the Sunrise Senior Foundation, Feizal Samath, said, “the foundation and its magazine will serve as a useful tool of information not only to Sri Lanka’s growing community of senior citizens but also to policymakers and governments in addressing this important segment of society.”
Minister Eran Wickramaratne and Dr. Razia Pendse spoke on the importance of publications like Sunrise catering to the growing population of senior citizens.
Sunrise Magazine is priced at Rs. 200 and available at all Vijitha Yapa bookshops.
Special guests (from left): dance legend Vajira Chitrasena, Guest of Honour Dr. Razia Pendse, Dr. Nilmini Hemachandra of the WHO and Upeka Chitrasena. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi