• Swarnavahini lines up more programmes
• 'Bonsoir'
• Bliss-ful evening with Friends
• "Married with Children"
• 'Ghostbusters'come tonight
• Surf into 2001 with Ayesha
• Thilanka New year dance in Kandy
• 'Pepsi Millennium Talent Contest 2000'
• Eva Lanka Hotel: Garden of Eden relives

Swarnavahini lines up more programmes

Special programs to usher in the new year have been lined up for viewers by Swarnavahini.

Fifteen popular singers will participate on 31st night, in a musical extravaganza to be telecast from Ethukala.

"December 31st we plan to do something extra special," Creative Director Hema Nalin Karunaratne announced this week. The program 'Jaya Shri Swarna Vimanaya' is sponsored by the People's Bank.

Swarnavahini viewers can expect many changes in the program line up next year with new programmes being added on and the existing programmes developed to better suit the viewers.

A new program is on the cards, and will be launched in mid-January. This will be telecast on Sundays from 10pm to 11.30 pm.

The aim of Swarnavahini is to educate while entertaining, and towards this end, the most valued time slot has been set aside for an informative programme telecast from 8p.m. to 9p.m. Live at 8.

"We are taking a big risk in this experiment," Director Sydney Chandrasekera said.

From January 15 onwards live morning shows will be telecast on weekdays, and a half-hour weekly sports magazine will also be telecast.

'Bonsoir'

'Bonsoir' begins the New Year to the pulsating beat of French pop music. Catch the action and feel the excitement as 'Bonsoir' links up with you from the Trans Asia Hotel, one of our new sponsors for 2001.

Join Bonsoir when it heralds the new millennium in grand style!

"Bonsoir" 1 January on ITN

Bliss-ful evening with Friends

"CR Millennium Bliss" will come alive at the CR & FC grounds tonight with 'Friends'.

The band 'Friends' with DJ Pio will herald the dawn of the New Year under the stars.

This 'Millennium Bliss Dance' will have a carnival atmosphere with food and drink stalls, kids play section with merry-go-round etc. There will be fireworks at the dawn of the New Year. Tickets are priced at Rs. 1000/- per head and Rs. 2,500/- per family of two adults and two kids under 15 years.

"Married with Children"

Al and Peggy Bundy have an equal partnership in marriage - everyone suffers! How they survive their relationship is the basis for "Married with Children."

The less than lovable Bundys are a radical departure from the saccharine sweet television families. With offbeat humour and unflinching honesty, "Married with Children" paints a somewhat more realistic picture of middle class existence.

Married for sixteen blissful years, Peggy and Al have found that the secret to happy marriage is to accept one another's idiosyncrasies. They love sharing their hard-earned knowledge with their idealistic newly-wed neighbours.

A new comedy being introduced from Wednesday, January 3 2001 at 9.30 pm on MTV

'Ghostbusters'come tonight

When ghosts go on a rampage, only three men can save the world. It's Ghostbusters a maniacal band of parapsychologists specializing in psychic phenomenon - and supernatural hilarity! Fired from university research jobs Murray, Aykroyd and Amis set up shop as "Ghostbusters" ridding Manhattan of bizarre apparitions. But even the spirit exterminators are severely tested when beautiful Dana (Sigourney Weaver) and her neighbour become possesed by demons living in their building. Soon every spook in the city is loose and our heroes face their supreme challenge at a roof-top demonic shrine. If you want your spirits raised, who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!

On Sunday ,December 31 at 9.30 pm on MTV

Surf into 2001 with Ayesha

'SURF INTO 2001' the Gala Dinner Dance will come alive at the Grand Oriental Hotel, Lotus Ballroom on December 31.

SURF INTO 2001 will offer one of the best entertainment packages in town featuring Dreamteam with the hottest sensations Ayesha Gunasekera (back from US) and Natasha plus star attractions Bathiya and Santhush including popular DJ Manjula.

To set the ball rolling, the revellers will have the company of the evergreen compere Bevil Palihawadana, who will be the Master of Ceremonies.

The man behind the show will be Lanil Jayawardena, General Manager, Grand Oriental Hotel, ably assisted by his dedicated and enthusiastic staff.

Ayesha, who is in town now, will perform tonight at the Lotus Ballroom with her band Dream Team and as well as at the Blue Lepord discotheque.

"Farewell to Ayesha" will be on January 6 at the GOH with a galaxy of stars, as she has to get back for work from January 9.

Ayesha now residing in Arizona, USA is performing in a night club circuit with two other girl musicians.

Thilanka New year dance in Kandy

New Year's Eve Dinner Dance' at Thilanka Hotel will be one of the major attractions in Kandy tonight.

The band '4 Steps' and 'Cool Tempo' DJs are billed to rock the place and the Master of Ceremonies will be Trevin Ekanayake.

The tickets for the 'Thivanka New Year's Eve Dinner Dance' are priced at Rs. 1000/- per head.

A lavish spread of food and of course a wide range of entertainment, not forgetting the prizes and surprises are lined up at our 'New Year bash' said Roshan Perera, the GM of Thilanka Hotel.

'Pepsi Millennium Talent Contest 2000'

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Delorine Fernando, a young singer with a powerful voice walked away with the Pepsi Millennium Trophy, last week as the winner of the Pepsi Millennium Singer of the year. This success brought him an air ticket to Bangkok plus a four day paid trip and ten thousand rupees.

The grand finals of the 'Pepsi Millennium Talent Search 2000' was held on December 22 at the Millennium Park in the midst of a large gathering.

Delorine, who sang Leo Sayers 'When I Need You' stole the limelight of the show and the hearts of the audience, no doubt the maximum points from the panel of judges as well.

Delorine also received a gift pack from Dialog GSM, 'a Walkman from Hayleys at Millennium Park and and a gift voucher from 'Arena'.

A young group from Moratuwa calling themselves "Rainbow' stole the Junior Section of the contest.

Rainbow, consisting of Rebecca (9), Brenda (7) and Natalia (6) won the Junior Championship of the 'Pepsi Millennium Talent Search 2000' and walked away with the TV Times trophy. They bagged three months' computer course at Gateway International, Rs. 5000/- in cash from Millennium Park and gift vouchers from 'Arena' and Dialog too.

'Rainbow' sang an original kids song "Have Loads of Fun" composed by their musician father Channa Monnakulama.

The duo Angelo and Naveen came second in the senior category with their version of 'You Sang To Me" by Mark Anthony.

They got Rs. 5000/- in cash, Pepsi Trophy and a gift voucher from 'Arena.'

The second runner-up. Elvis lookalike Janaka Palapathwala from Kandy sang the King's Wonder of You. He too received a trophy, Rs. 3500/- in cash and a gift voucher from 'Arena.'

In the Junior section, Christina Welikala selected the first runner-up for her song 'Hit Me Baby' sung by Britney Spears. Christina got the 'Pepsi-runner-up Trophy', Rs 2500/- in cash and other gift vouchers. Followed by Shehana Jainudeen, who sang Vengaboy hit 'Ibitza'.

Shehana too received a Pepsi Trophy, cash gifts and other gift vouchers.

All cash gifts were donated by the Millennium Park, the organisers of the event.

Dalreen Suby, the organiser of the talent search was supported by veteran Claude Fernando in all musical arrangements.

The popular band Ebony was the one and only music provider of the contest, who encouraged the young singers and backed them from the preliminary rounds in October to the finals.

The chief organiser Dharshani Varna of Millennium Park told TV Times, this could be an annual event and she is determind to do this contest in a bigger way next year.

'TV Times & Entertainment' was the main print media sponsor and Sirasa TV and radio were the electronic media sponsors. Pepsi was the main sponsor of the event.

Eva Lanka Hotel: Garden of Eden relives

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Whatever said and done, the leisure tourism in Sri Lanka is set to expand and those visiting the beaches are increasing in numbers.

This point is proved with the number of new resort hotels opened during the past twelve months.

The latest addition to the Southern coastal resorts hotels is 'Eva Lanka Hotel ,The Italian Village' in Tangalle.

Eva Lanka Hotel, The Italian Village is a Rs. 180 million Sri Lanka-Italian joint venture project with a number of new additions specially designed for the hotel itself.

Situated about 190 km South of Colombo on unspoiled Unakuruwa beach frontier in Seenimodera, Tangalle, is not far from the picturesque Tangalle Bay.

The hotel is constructed on the 30,000 square metre slope of the Tangalle hill, which is the only hill in Sri Lanka by the beach, overlooking the fascinating coral reef in the Indian Ocean.

Eva Lanka Hotel comprises 23 luxury chalets and six deluxe suites with all modern facilities including split type air-conditioners, elegant living room, spacious bathroom, private terrace facing the ocean and IDD telephones.

Some of the attractions in the Hotel are three swimming pools three water slides in different elevation, Talassotherapy in sea water pool and specially designed passage of movements for disabled persons.

Central and Belvedere are two of the main swimming pools with sea water. The other pool is natural pool to relax in water specially treated by aquatic plants.

Water polo ,safe sea bathing, deep sea fishing, snorkelling, excursions in catamarans and motor boats , wind surfing and indoor games are a few major attractions of the Eva Lanka Hotel.

"We have a large Gourmet Restaurant , which serves Sri Lankan and Continental cuisine from a-la-carte menu. The open air restaurant serves buffet menu and the Pizzeria specialized for pizzas and Italian dishes." said Vithanage Kumarasiri Perera, the Sri Lankan partner of this joint venture.

Mr.Kumarasiri had lived in Italy for more than a decade and he is very fluent in Italian. His Italian counterpart comprises two brothers Ettore Vizzolini and Achille Vizzolini, who live in this resort with their families and parents. The name EVA came into use from the first letters of the names of the directors Ettore, Vithanage and Achille.

According the Kumarasiri, they hope to add another 27 chalets by the end of next year to make the total number 50.

" We mainly target the high spending category to visit the resort because our prices are little bit on the high side . But we always encourage Sri Lankan clientele to enjoy our hospitality." Kumarasiri explained.

The rates range from US$ 100 per double per day on full board to US$ 85 and US$ 65 on half board and B&B respectively.

Eva Lanka Hotel offers day excursions for foreign and Sri Lankan visitors. The other most noticeable thing in this hotel is the lack of Tv and radio in the rooms giving the guests utmost peace and tranquility.

Coral reef ,Blowhole, Mulkirigala Buddhist Temple (13km), Kalamatiya the ornithological Park (20km), Dondra (24km), Nilwala River Safari, Udawalawe Elephant Park (60 km), Yala Safari, Kataragama (60 km), Tea Plantations and Gem mines (120 km), are some of the day excursions available at the Hotel. The Eva Lanka Hotel is designed according to the requirements of their disabled persons and for families. Children are therefore one of the main targets with their parents. Children under 12 years are admitted free.

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