• 'Everyday' with Dave Mathews
• Late night love with DJ Lewie
• 'Seasonal Breeze 2001'
• Christmas with Stars of 70's
• 'Romeo Juliet': tender love story
• 'Along Came a Spider' 
• 'Bopath Ella' new tele portrays social conflict
• 'Ambu Daruwo':Sudath Rohana's new creation
• Movies Under Stars at 9.30 pm
• 'British Heritage'at WTM :Boost for tourism

'Everyday' with Dave Mathews

By Sanath Weerasuriya

The South African vocalist/guitarist Dave Matthews formed the Dave Matthews band in Virginia in the early '90s. Featuring Matthews, Stefan Lessard, Leroi Moor, Boyd Tinsley and Carter Beauford, the group's music presents a more pop-oriented version of The Grateful Dead, crossed with the worldbeat explorations of Paul Simon and Sting. 

The band built up a strong word-of-mouth following in the early '90s by touring the country constantly, concentrating on college campuses. In addition to amassing a sizable following, their sell-released album Remember Two Things sold well for an independent release. 

Signing with RCA, the Dave Matthews Band released their major-label debut, Under the Table and Dreaming, in the fall of 1994. By spring of 1995, the record had launched the hit single "What Would You Say" and sold over a million copies.

A year and a half after the release of Under the Table & Dreaming, the record had sold over four million copies in the US alone. In April of 1996, the Dave Matthews Band released Crash, which entered the charts at number two and quickly went platinum. Also in 1996, Matthews launched an attack on bootleggers in conjunction with the Federal Government, targeting stores that were selling semi-legal discs of live performances. 

The efforts of Matthews, his band and his management resulted in an unprecedented crackdown on bootleggers in early 1997, where nearly all of the major foreign bootlegging companies were arrested by the United States.

The new millennium, however, saw the band back in the studio with Glen Ballard to record their fourth studio album. Everyday was issued in February 2001 and is available with Maharaja Entertainment . Look for this smashing album at all M Entertainment preferred music outlets.

To enter this contest, all you have to do is to answer the question on the coupon and send it to the address given below.

The address is "Listen to Original Music Contest, No. 60, C/o Maharaja Entertainments (Pvt.) Ltd., 330, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.

Tel: + 941672425-8, Fax + 941699070. E Mail: me@lgo.lk

All the entries must be originals from the TV Times and no photocopies or faxes will be entertained. All correct entries will be drawn by a panel of judges. 

The entries should reach the above address by December 12 , the latest. The decision of the judges will be final and the names of the winners will be announced in The Sunday TV Times accordingly.

Here are the winners of contestant no. 56. Winners of two Sony originalCDs areSarah Sherazarde Japper of Kottawa and Dilesh S. Perera of Badulla.

The two audio cassette winners are Treshan Perera of Yakkala and Nilantha Menerapitiya of Ja Ela.

The 10%off gift vouchers go to Udara N. Sanewirathne of Colombo 8, Enosh Jayawickrema of Moratuwa, H.M. Shaminda of Matara, P. Sivakumar of Colombo 13, Asoka Palliyaguruge of Kundasale and Atulya Meddegama of Peradeniya.

The Posters winners are Mrs. N. Cooray of Panadura, Lakshmi Chandrasekera of Kuliyapitiya, Amilani Nimesha Karunaratne of Katugastota, Tanta Silva of Moratuwa and C.L. Ratnasuriya of Kadawatha.

Late night love with DJ Lewie

'Late night love' is one of the most popular romantic programmes on Sun FM. Lewie has planned a few new things for the coming festive season on "Late night love" and the listeners are requested to send their questionnaire on time to Sun FM.

'Seasonal Breeze 2001'

Following-up on the successful presentation of the vintage musical show "Stars of 70's" recently in Kandy, this unique seasonal programme, too, is organized by Jan's Promotions in the form of an Open-Air Dinner Dance.

"Seasonal Breeze 2001", where revellers will have a truly conclusive evening-out: a choice of Chinese, Indian, Australian BBQ or Sri Lankan Dinner Menus, in addition to the inimitable entertainment provide by the Gypsies and Cool Tempo.

The organizers believe that the presence of such professional musical entertainers and performers at the show, as well as their securing the services of Chef Tony Bohoran of Raffles Catering Company to spread the evening menu for their guests.

The organizers plan to make this an annual event and it is expected to be an evening that most will find unique and amusing with many prizes on offer in the form of The Entrance Ticket Draw, Dancing Competitions, as well as few other surprises.

A percentage of the evenings ticket sales will be donated to the Lt. General Denzil Kobbekaduwa Trust for assisting the under-privileged families of the disabled soldiers of Sri Lanka.

Christmas with Stars of 70's 

Although it's a X'mas show, the usual hit songs of the Stars of 70's will be sung as usual. There will be a few X'mas songs like "Bethlehem Pure" by Anil Bhareti and "Kalakata Pere e Bethleheme" by Dharmaratne Brothers. Even the dances by Channa Wijewardene's troupe and the stage decor will be in keeping with the festive season.

"I have done a few changes for this show where artistes are concerned, there will be no Interval and the show will go on without a break and will finish at 10.00 p.m. with the final medley of some hit songs of the 70's where all the artistes join in. This time there will be both western and oriental songs of the 70's," Annesley Malawana said.

The star studded line-up will feature Annesley Malawana, Indrani, Irangani, Sunil and Piyal of Gypsies, Rajiv Sebastian, Joe B. Perera, Errol and Maria Fernando, Anil Bhareti, Dharmaratne Brothers, Merril Fernando, Roy Fonseka, Stanislaus and Milroy of Los Flamingos, Sohan Weerasinghe, Dalreen Suby and Priya Pieris. Musical backing will be by Mahesh and Simple and the Emcee for the evening will be Vijaya Corea.

'Romeo Juliet': tender love story

The mini-play directed by Sunil Costa to the production of Samanmali Hewamanne is a love story between a girl and a boy coming from two powerful families and continues amidst much opposition from the parents.

The young couple, Nirmal and Samudini fall in love meeting at a computer class. Born in to two well to do families the affair of the couple proceed with the support of everyone in the class. The relationship of the well-suited young hearts continues with the blessings of everyone in their class.

But the parents of both the parties who were business rivals disapproved the combination and took every step to break it. In addition the two parties were also fighting with each other to obtain a tender. Meanwhile Samudini's brother assaults Nirmal and this causes a dramatic turn in the affair. As a reply Nirmal's father employs his subordinates to beat Samudini's brother.

When the two families were fighting with each other the helpless young couple run away to a remote village with the help of a friend they met in the computer class. The parents of both the parties come in search of them but fail to persuade them to return home. Would the end of love story between Nirmal and Samudini be another "Romeo Juliet"?

The special feature of "Romeo Juliet" is that seven youngsters are introduced to the small screen. And the seven songs in the teledrama are sung by Luxman Wijesekara,Neela Wickremasinghe, Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Raju Bandara and Indika Upamali to the lyrics written by acclaimed lyricists Dr. Sunil Ariyaratne, Kapila Kalinga Kumara and Bandula Nanayakkarawasam. Music is directed by young music director Navaratne Gamage.

The cast members in the stellar lineup include Nipul Thewarapperuma, Awanthi Wickremaratne, Ishan Gammudali, Roshana Ondachchi, Chamika Weerasinghe, Asela Jayakodi, Shashika Jayakodi and Pramood Thevarapperuma.

'Along Came a Spider' 

By Sanath Weerasuriya

"Along Came a Spider" is directed by Lee Tamahori.

Adapted from James Patterson's best selling first novel in the acclaimed Alex Cross series, "Along Came a Spider" finds three-time Academy Award nominee Morgan Freeman reprising his role as criminal profiler Alex Cross.

Monica Potter star opposite Freeman and Michael Wincott as the main criminal.

Penelope Ann Miller, Michael Moriarty and Mika Boorem too star in this film.

In "Along Came a Spider", a psychological suspense thriller, Morgan Freeman reprises his role as the Washington, D.C. police detective and psychologist who is through playing mind games with criminals - that is until a methodical predator, Gary Soneji (Michael Wincott) commits a daring kidnapping and lures Cross into the case.

Soneji's not out for ransom, he wants something much bigger - a place in the history books. His every move is planned with the precision of a spider spinning his web, and Cross and Secret Service agent Jezzie Flanningan (Monica Potter) are in a race against time to stop him, until Cross finds out Jezzie is double crossing him.

"Along Came a Spider" is for a limited engagement only and "Flingstone" will be at Liberty for the Christmas.

'Bopath Ella' new tele portrays social conflict

By Susitha R. Fernando

The story is woven around the family of 'Anura Malwenna, an executive in a private company and his wife 'Sama' who plays a role of a beloved wife and a responsible mother to her two daughters "Himaya" and "Hashini".

Anura carries on with his wife's only sister, Inoka and Sama is clueless about the drama being enacted in the background.

The drama centres on an incident involving the family's elder daughter Himaya who with some of her friends including her boyfriend 'Tharindu' goes to Bopath Ella on a picnic. 

Unexpectedly a fight breaks out between Himayas group and another which had some political influence. The fight ends with Himaya falling unconscious after being injured in the scuffle. She is rushed to the hospital and her mother, Sama gets disturbed by the incident. 

But Anura, Himaya's father who had gone to Nuwra Eliya on a business trip returns to hospital hurriedly. This rouses Sama's suspicion as to how her husband could have returned from Nuwara Eliya so soon.

Upset by her husband's conduct and daughter's critical condition Sama looks helpless but Tharindu, Himaya's boy friend, distressed by the events Sama begins, to treat Tharindu as her own son. Using the relationship between Sama and her would be son-in-law, Anura and Inoka ridicules Sama.

Meanwhile the leader of the rival party who fought during the picnic being the son of a powerful politician in the area had threatened Tharindu several times even after the incident. One day Tharindu and one of his friends were assaulted by some unknown gang and this resulted in his being too admitted to hospital.

Disheartened Sama meets one Piyaratne on her regular visits to the temple to hold 'Bodhi Pooja' to invoke blessings on her sick daughter.

Meanwhile Inoka, influences Anura' to leave his family to live with her. And Piyaratne's counselling helps Sama to get rid of her distressful situation.

But Anura gangs up with Akman to settle scores over the previous incident.

Sama realising that her daughter and fiancé were affected by what his ex-husband was doing seeks the support of Piyaratne to get the youngsters away from the dangerous trap they were caught up in.

The principle roles in 'Bopath Ella' are played by H. A. Perera, Rangana Premaratne, Priya Ranasinghe, Janak Premalal, Myuri Samarasinghe and Anusha Sonali.

Chandraratne Mapitigama, has written the script and directed the teleplay. Jagath Wickremasinghe handles the music score.

'Ambu Daruwo':Sudath Rohana's new creation

Directed and scripted by the award-winning Sudath Rohana, a veteran of 17 teledramas, "Ambu Daruwo" is the second major presentation to television viewers this year by Swadeshi Industrial Works Limited, the pioneer herbal-based personal care products company.

Showcasing the talents of one of the biggest casts in local teledrama history, "Ambu Daruwo" is based on the popular 1973 novel by Jayasena Jayakody. 

Its story spans four generations and 50 years of Sri Lankan life in an era when the country was being overtaken by "modern" conveyances like the bicycle and the automobile.

This transformation of rural Sri Lankan life between the 1920s and the 1970s makes for imagery that will be evocative and nostalgic for older generations and educating for the younger, Director Rohana says. Skilfully juxtaposed with this imagery is the simple, but strong message of Jayakody's story, that the bonds of marriage are even strong and more enduring than filial ties.

"Ambu Daruwo", which was shot over 102 days on location in Sandalankawa, Nikweratiya, Galle and Panagoda, stars Malini Fonseka, Champa Sriyani, Indrajith Nawinna, P.R. Perera, Palitha Silva, Damitha Abeyratne, Damayanthi Fonseka, Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Kanchana Mendis, Roshan Pilapitiya, Milinda Perera, Lakshman Mendis, Menike Attanayake, Manori Fonseka, Malkumari Geetharani and several other accomplished actors.

A feature of the teledrama is that the same actors played the role of the young as well as the aged characters assigned to them. This was a challenge to the actors as well as to the make-up artists, since some of the characters had to age 50 years as the story progressed, Director Sudath Rohana added.

The 37-episode teledrama by the herbal soap pioneer will be telecast over Rupavahini at 8.30 p.m. every Monday, commencing December 3.

Movies Under Stars at 9.30 pm

The time change also reintroduces the much-loved 9.30 p.m. show to Sri Lanka.

"Pearl Harbour" will be screened by popular demand on December 15 and "Doctor Zhivago" will come alive on December 8.

Sri Lankan Cultural Show (above) and Promotion Team at WTM in new Cricket attire (right)

'British Heritage'at WTM :Boost for tourism

A strong contingent of tourism industry members including Sri Lankan Airlines together with Sri Lanka Tourist Board promoted Sri Lanka with this theme at the World Travel Market 2001 at Earls Court London, which was held from November12-15.

WTM is considered the global event for the travel industry promoting domestic, inter-regional and international travel throughout the world. It is held annually in London as one of the main global series of travel market events.

A total of 53 companies participated including 3 regional hoteliers associations. A special encouragement was given to the regional hoteliers to represent the Beruwala, Ruhuna and Hikkaduwa regions. Sri Lanka Tourism made a stronger representation than ever before with a delegation of 120 representatives which was the highest represented to-date at WTM.

Sri Lanka Tourism featured a Cricket Pavilion with a floor area of over 275 sq. mts. with an upper deck serving as the balcony lounge. Each day of the trade fair, Sri Lankan representatives featured an unique attire drawing much attention to Sri Lanka brand. Sri Lanka 'A Land Like No Other" T-shirts, Cricket T-shirts and national costumes were featured adding much colour and vibrancy. Tea was served by courtesy Dilmah Tea to all visitors.

Sri Lanka Tourism Awards Night held at Churchill Intercontinental, London on the second day of the trade fair, 13th November presented a spectacular celebration of awarding top performing tour operators and airlines in UK. The event was held for the forth consecutive year and attracted key industry personalities of travel and tourism industry. H.E. Mangala Moonasinghe, The High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in UK graced the occasion and presented awards to top performing UK Tour Operators. A total of 23 awards were presented. The evenings programme commenced with an audio/video presentation. "Sri Lanka Beyond Beaches: Nature, Culture, Adventure" followed by a traditional Sri Lankan dinner. Key personalities of the British tourism industry representing Association of British Travel Agents and Pacific Asia Travel Association UK Chapter were present together with UK Tour Operators.

A new consumer brochure by Sri Lanka Tourist Board UK branch was launched especially for the UK market. Sri Lanka Travel Manual, a new reference tool to provide information to front line marketing and sales staff of tour operators and travel agents was launched at the WTM this year. This initiative supports SLTB's efforts to strengthen the education and awareness level of Sri Lanka as an attractive holiday destination. The Hoteliers Association of Sri Lanka introduced a comprehensive and a colourful hotel directory featuring Sri Lanka's best products on offer.

To draw more visitors to the Sri Lankan pavilion a competition, "Win a holiday like no other" carried out and this drew as much as 750 entries to the Sri Lanka booth. Four offers of a dream trip to Sri Lanka flying SriLankan Airlines from any of its direct ports worldwide with all ground arrangements for 5 nights and 6 days holiday including hotels provided by a local company were awarded to 4 lucky winners from Switzerland, UK and Spain.

Entertainment provided by Channa-Upuli dance troupe and local musician Jagath Wickremasinghe kept the audience enthralled at WTM stand and at Sri Lanka Tourism Awards Night Dinner. Special cultural performances at WTM Centre stage was twice carried out.

Currently, Sri Lanka is registering a strong come back and has been cited as the 'Come Back Country' in TTG Asia in its early October issue. The Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation provided additional support to the industry members participating at WTM and offered grant assistance to cover participation costs. A total of Rs. 10 million was made available for this purpose.

WTM delegation was led by the , Sri Lanka Tourist Board Chairman Renton De Alwis and included Ananda Liyanage, Board Member of the SLTB and Ms. Charmarie Maelge, Director Marketing of the SLTB.