• Stars on fire
• Swiss Lotus Flower blooms in Wadduwa
• 'Mahaweli Reaches' the top
• 'Artlink 2000 Workshop at Culture Club

Stars on fire

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Dream Team will perform along with Natasha, Chamari, Shean, Mihiri and rappers R &T, bands 'Dejavu' and 'Independent Square', Serala Athulathmudali, Shanika Marcan Markar and Keith de Silva at this show.

Shalika a leading young performer in the contemporary music scene in Sri Lanka, has recently returned from here international debut in Hongkong with Mignonne and the 'Jets 2000'.

The 'Stars On Fire' is organised Colombo Central Jaycees. Junior Chamber International (JCI) is the world's largest leadership developemnt organization. JCI has local branches spread throughout the globe with members working towards creating positive changes withing their locality.

Colombo Central Jaycees (CCJ) is the most outstanding chapter of the Junior Chamber Sri Lanka, consisting of young professional set of members.

The current board of CCJ is lead by Jc. Kumudu Thayakontha and the main project for the year 'Stars on Fire', is organized by Jc. Dhaneesha Abeyratne. The profits of this project will be donated to the social facilities for the disabled combatants through the Ranawiru Sarakum Ekakaya (Human Intervention Unit) of the Presidential Secretariat.

The tickets for 'Stars On Fire' is available at the Trax, GOH; and at the gate.Tickets are priced at Rs, 500/-, Rs.300/-, Rs.200/- and at Rs.150/-. 

The Rs,500/- ticket holders will have free entrance to the 'Blue Leopard' at GOH.

Swiss Lotus Flower blooms in Wadduwa

By Sunil Jayasiri

The chief guest at the ceremonial opening was Board Of Investment Chairman Thilan Wijesinghe. The 3 Star Hotel, designed according to plans of famed archetect Geoffrey Bawa was built by Otto Mueller, Chairman/Managing Director of Lotus Flower International (Pvt.) Ltd.

At the opening ceremony Mr. Mueller said after having travelled all over the world. I finally came here to put up a hotel as I was highly impressed with the friendliness of the Sri Lankan people and the country's wonderful climate".

"Fascinating beaches and the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka impressed me a lot. All these factors put together convinced me to invest in this project", Mr. Mueller said.

The project was started in 1998, with the approval of the Ceylon Tourist Board. This 28-roomed exclusive hotel has been sub-divided into four areas. Ayurveda Beauty Parlour, Lambada Pool Bar, Multiple Holiday Homes, Windsor & Oliver Twist Penthouses, Grace Helana Restaurant, Papagallo Club Bar & Chicca Chickeria Restaurant are some of the special features of the hotel.

The guests, planning to leave the hotel for hide-outs to outstations will be supplied with a special dish prepared by the Chicca Chickeria Restaurant. It will be specially wrapped for the convenience of the guests and the price will be affordable and reasonable. 

"The exclusively built swimming pool is an added attraction. The unique banquet hall will be open for weddings and exclusive parties. The management hopeful of getting down 'Wedding Couples' from England and will keep the door open for wedding ceremonies of the locals too, Mr. Mueller said. 

Mr. Mueller has already taken steps to generate a wide marketing campaign in the European Union and other western countries to sell this exclusive product to the affluent, high spending tourists. An experienced hotelier himself Mr Mueller has been able to master the print and electronic media in Switzerland to place the hotel on a wide screen to boost the image of Sri Lanka to an unprecedented level. "At present I have received a number of clients from Switzerland, and already booked half the rooms of the hotel" he said.

Mueller pays a glowing tribute to the officials of the BOI, Tourist Board and other state agencies for the co-operation and assistance they have extended to make his dream a reality and is also mindful of extending his heartfelt thanks to the National Development Bank and Seylan Bank for the prompt financial assistance granted in the final stages of the project. Finally he said: "I have faced many difficulties while the hotel was being constructed. However I have taken the right decision, I am proud to say, that Sri Lanka is my home".

'Mahaweli Reaches' the top

By Sanath Weerasuriya

The hotel situated on the banks of the Mahaweli in the ancient capital Kandy is surrounded by velvety mountains.

Complementing the natural beauty of its unqiue location, each of the luxurious 115 air conditioned rooms open out to the mighty Mahaweli river, or the lush garden adorned by the swimming pool. 

The two magnificent suites, and all rooms are equipped with a telephone with IDD facilities, TV., Mini bar, 24 hour room service, piped music, wall to wall carpeting and private balcony.

Mahaweli Reach is an owner managed hotel, belonging to Panabokke family and sticks to gracious Kandyan traditions, hospitality and authentic cuisine.

The small guest house started by the Panabokke family blooming into a five star hotel within just 20 years was a great achivement.

Jayantha Panabooke, the Managing Director and his brother Mahan as Director/General Manager of the hotel were the two main characters behind this success story.

'It was built as a family enterprise and still it is? Mohan said.

Mahaweli Reach Hotel reached its top form in 1993 with the opening of new 115 luxury rooms. 

The main restaurant - dine amidst elegance on exotic Sri Lankan cuisine and excellent Table d'Hote choices, complemented by fine wines and liquors from the bar.

Other facilities include a bar, lounge, sauna and health club, squash and floodlit tennis courts, an elegant billiard room and in-house entertainment.

Everyday, in-house entertainment features traditional dance troupes, live music, barbecues under star-lit skies, romantic river cruises, exciting boat picnics and fishing trips.

'We hope to add a new restaurant, a gym and a shopping arcade are the priorities in line for near future' Jayantha said.

Though, the stick to local cuisine, international dishes and food are major attractions at the hotel.

We have theme nights. Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese, Italian, Fisherman's Night, International Night are some of the popular themes. Through this we promote various dishes and it has been a great success,' Mohan said.

Rodney Armstrong, the ex-chef of the hotel is the live wire of this series of events and has years of experience in the trade.

The spacious Conference/Banquet Hall and Convention Room are serviced by sophisticated Audio Visual Equipment which make these elegant rooms the ideal venue for any type of gathering.

Baby Sitter, Doctor on Call, 24 hour Laundry and Dry Cleaning, Safe Deposit Box, Valet Parking Vehicles on Hire, Secretarial Services, Travel Information, Florists, Jewellery Shop are the other facilities available.

The excursions to the Botanical Gardens, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Elephant Bath at Katugastota, Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya, Embekke Devalaya, Udawatta Kelle, Lankathilaka Viharaya, Degaldoruwa Cave Temple are some of the attractions for foreigners as well as Sri Lankans.

'Artlink 2000 Workshop at Culture Club

"The Artlink 2000 Workshop" is scheduled to take place from September 25 to October 4 at the Cluture Club, Kandalama, Sri Lanka. 

Hosting of the 'Artlink 2000' Workshop is co-sponsored by the Connaissance de Ceylan Ltd. International travel for participating artists is sponsored by Sri Lankan Airlines Ltd. The exhibition following the workshop is hosted by Gallery 706. The sponsorship for the Australian artist Franz Ehrmen is provided by Queensland Art Gallery, Queenland, Australia. 

The organizers have invited 12 artists from Sri Lanka and 7 International artists from the UK, Germany, France, India, Australia and Thailand to meet and live for 10 days in one place. 

The objective of the workshop is to provide an experimental art laboratory in which artists from different countries can set up a co-operative working situation that will enable exchange and transfer of knowledge, energy and skills. 

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