• 'Laundry Service' from Shakira
• Ariyarante writes on pop music 
• Debut album from Akalanka
• Sathyangani thinks differently
• The Lord of the Rings to Colombo
• 'We are Ambassadors of Sri Lanka'

'Laundry Service' from Shakira

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Latin pop superstar Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 9, 1977, in the Colombian city of Barranquilla. Leaving her family at the age of 13, Shakira moved to Bogota to become a model and instead emerged with a recording contract for Sony. Her debut album Magia, released in 1991 when she was just 14, consisted entirely of self-written songs. 

Like its successor Peligro, the album wasn't very successful, so Shakira turned instead to acting; she appeared on the Colombian soap-opera El Oasis beginning in 1994, but returned to music the following year.

Shakila recorded Pies Descalzos in 1995, and its initial popularity appeared quite fleeting. Several months after the album's release, however, the single "Estoy Aqui" gained airplay around Latin America. It eventually hit number one on the Latin Music charts, as did its follow-up, "Donde Estas Corazon?" Four additional singles -"Antologia," "Pienso en Ti," "Un Poco de Amor," "Se Quiere, Se Mata"- reached the Top Ten and Pies Descalzos hit the top spot in eight different countries, selling over four million copies. Los Donde Eastan Ladrones? followed in 1998, and in early 2000 she issued MTV Unplugged. 

She was on her way in becoming an international celebrity during this time, but her roots were fully rewarded when Shakira won a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ojos Asi" at the first annual Latin Grammy Awards in fall 2000.

Latin pop star Shakira's first crossover album, titled Laundry Service reflects her feelings. She wanted to express her two passions — music and love — without leaving her Colombian/Lebanese roots. The album featured her first English-language hit, "Whenever, Wherever," and its successful Spanish version, "Suerte." After a few dancepop tunes, the power ballad "The One" arrives with unusual strength, taking listeners to the female side of the rock "en espanol" scene. 

The belly dance-inspired "Eyes Like Yours" came as its original, "Ojos Asi," once performed live at the Latin Grammy's ceremony. Singer/songwriter Shakira wants to captivate a new legion of followers with her passionate compositions, moving people to understand a simple message of loving care in her own way.

Listen to Shakira on M Entertainment listening stations at selected dealer outlets for a taste of Latin pop. To enter this contest, all you have to do is to answer the question on the coupon No 69 and send it to the address given below.

The address is "Listen to Original Music Contest, No. 69, C/o Maharaja Entertainments (Pvt.) Ltd., 330, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.

Tell: + 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 April 9, 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 contest no. 65 . The winners of two Sony original CDs are Dilesh Perera of Badulla and Janaka Abeysinghe of Colombo 6.

Two audio cassette winners are Paulene Jansen of Nugegoda and Chamila Unwin of Wattala.

10% off gift Vouchers go to Previn Batuwantudawe of Pamankada, F.S.Thaha of Kandy, S. A. R. Dissanayake of Gampaha,Janaki Chandrasekara of Kuliyapitiya, Lakshika Rajapakse of Malabe and Seuwandhi Tillekeratne of Kohuwala.

Posters winner are Biyanoa Jayasinghe of Mattegoda, Dina Refaie of Colombo 4, Mariyam Amirally of Colombo 8, S. Selvaraj of Mt Lavinia and Lawanya Samarasinghe of Kandy.

Ariyarante writes on pop music 

By Susitha R. Fernando

Following the book launch Dr. Ariyaratne will speak on the 'influence of the western music on the Sinhala songs and pop group music in Sri Lanka. Selected 20 songs will be sung by the earliest pop music groups La Ceylonians, Moonstones, Samanalayo (Butterflies), La Bambas, Dharmaratne Brothers, Mee Messo, Three Sisters, Gren Leonarods and Los Flamenco and today's leading singers like Latha Walpola, T. M. Jayaratne, Susil Premaratne, Rukantha Gunathilake, Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Athula Adikari, Harun Lanthra, Sohan Weerasinghe, Luke Henricus, Mariezelle Gunathilake, Raju Bandara and Jayantha Dissanayake. The music direction will be by Stanley Peiris. 

Dr. Ariyaratne had earlier written award winning experimental books describing certain musical traditions prevailing in Sri Lanka like Baila, Kaffringa and Gramaphone songs some of are heard no more. Speaking on the latest work the author said " these were traditions that lasted just about 15 years starting in 1960 and ending in 1975". "The person who was instrumental in introducing this tradition with certain qualities evident in Spanish music was Neville Fernando". 

"Most of these musical groups had Spanish names and played Spanish musical instruments like guitar, shakers etc.. And Noel Brian Ranasinghe later gave a local flavour and a colour by introducing short sleeves batik shirts and sarong and caps'. 

"But the most talented man who played this variety of music was Clarence Wijewardena who formed three musical groups namely, Moonstones, Golden Chimes and Super Golden Chimes" he said speaking on the history of the local pop music scene briefly. 

Dr. Ariyaratne who has devoted much of his time and energy to the study of all aspects of musical love said "Though there were hundreds of groups following this style the only musical group remaining up to date are the "Gypsies".

Comparing the difference between musical groups now and then he said there were clear differences between times and that musical groups of this era never backed other singers but came up with their own melodies and lyrics where as today almost all of the musical groups back singers and copy, sung into a nonstop or distort the originals by so called rapping. 

Another point of interest in the event was that in the absence any individual invitations he had invited all music lovers to participate in this work. 

Debut album from Akalanka

Lyrics of the songs in this audio/CD were composed by Sunil Ariyarathna, Kularathna Ariyawansa, Dharmasiri Gamage, Mahinda Dissanayake, Saman Athaudehetti, Kumaradasa Saputhanthri, Samantha Herath, Thranga Weerasinghe and Ajith Nishanta; and the melodies were composed by Rohana Weerasinghe, Nawarathna Gamage, Samantha Perera and Sidath Somasundara.

Two songs titled "Jeevithe Pudumai" and "Degodathala" are already on air and very popular.

Many of the songs of Akalana were visualized by the two veteran movie makers Parakrama Niriella, Sudath Devapriya. The visuals of those songs will be screen at the ceremony.

Saman Athudahetti and Dulakshi Perera will be the resenters of this launch.

Minister Imthiyaz Bakeer Markar, Minister Karunasena Kodithuwakku and the Principal of Royal College H. L. B. Gomes will be the chief guests at this ceremony.

Sathyangani thinks differently

By Susitha R. Fernando

Apart from the two human voices used in the attempt no musical instruments have been used in the entire work. Talented musician Navaratne Gamage who is the music director as well as the male singer together with Indika Upamali have sung for the film.

"This is definitely the first such attempt in Sri Lankan film history and it also could be internationally as well." Inoka told the TV Times speaking on her bold attempt. 

Dwelling on the new experiment she said "this was my own idea which I introduced to my music director Navaratne Gamage who is making his entry to the cinema who I think is a very creative person".

"After having finished the filming I went through my rough copy to see what little omissions there were to be filled but to my surprise found the gaps filled with drama" Inoka explained.

While speaking she implied that she did not want to follow tradition. 

Sathyangani further said she learnt the art by seeing other films and that she was greatly influenced to do something new after seeing the films made in other countries. 

She has not only introduced a new music director in her maiden effort but also have used the opportunity to bring in some new faces and names which have been seen or been heard of earlier. 

Responding to a question why she relied so much on new comers Inoka said "people do their best in their very first attempts." "Apart from that the main reason was that I am a perfectionist and a dominating character. I want to be the best in my chosen field," she emphasised. 

"This need to be a perfectionist I learnt from my previous head D. B. Suranimala," she said revealing some aspects of her past. "At times some people have found it difficult to work with me hence I made it a point to do the film with new people whom I can mould according to the way I wanted," Sathyangani said enthusiastically. 

"Sulang Kirilli" unfolds the story of Rathie a young girl from a remote village working in a suburban garment factory. She befriends a young soldier and falls in love. They start enjoying each other's youthful warmth quite freely and most unexpectedly, Rathie realises she has conceived. Grappling with this unexpected new realisation, she gets carried away into a world of her own. A simple and beautiful dream of a world that any young woman would want to build for her with a marriage and then a family. She immerses herself quite happily in this elusive world, but is made to face the realities of the world that is around her which are harsh and cruel. 

Sulang Kirilli which is based on a true event opens up with a scene where Rathie enters a reputed Medical Centre in the city to obtain a urine report. The report is positive proving she is pregnant. 

She attempts to cross the road with this in her mind and making dreams on it. The films unfolds itself thereafter through this dream. While crossing the road she escapes a near fatal accident. And this shock awakens her from her dream, which brings the film to an end. 

Asked about the theme of the film Sathyangani said " I tried to depict the dilemma of a young couple who became victims of ignorance in trying to enjoy their youthful life, in a society that underplays the importance of integrating sex education in the schools' curriculum and carries social taboos even in the new millennium."

"The tragedy I wanted to voice here was that the young girl who had been deprived of systematically or formally learning what sex was, finds herself pregnant, but has neither the right to abort her pregnancy nor can she face the world with an "illegitimate" child", she said philosophically. 

Linton Semage, Damitha Abeyratne, Jayani Senanayakeand Grace Ariyawimal play the stellar roles in Sulang Kirilli. 

Inoka was supported behind the camera by Channa Deshappriya in the direction of the camera, Ravindra Guruge was responsible for and editing, Kumara Karawdeniya was the art director. 

The Lord of the Rings to Colombo

Fantasy film which entered into this year's contest with a leading 13 nominations and scored for Best make-up, Cinematography, Visual effects and Musical score is a Newline Cinema Entertainment presentation. 

In a time before history, in a place called Middle-earth, a dark and powerful lord has brought together the forces of evil to destroy its cultures and enslave all life caught in his path. Sauron's time has come and he needs only one small object — a Ring that has been lost for centuries — to snuff out the light of civilization and cover the world in darkness. 

Though he has put all of his power into the search for it, fate has put it in the hands of one — a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), who inherits the Ring and steps into legend. With the help of a loyal fellowship comprising of hobbits Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd); Gimli the dwarf (John Rhys-Davies); and humans Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and Boromir (Sean Bean); and with the guidance of the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), and elves Arwen (Liv Tyler), Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) and Elrond (Hugo Weaving), Frodo must journey to the Mount of Doom to destroy the Ring. If he doesn't find a way, no one will. 

The Fellowship of the Ring stars (in alphabetical order) Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Marton Csokas, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, and Elijah Wood. 

The film is directed by Peter Jackson and produced by Barrie M. Osborne and Jackson, Fran Walsh and Tim Sanders. The screenplay is by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Jackson based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. The executive producers are Mark Ordesky and Bob and Harvey Weinstein. Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne also executive producer. 

The movie earlier won the AFI (American Film Institute)"Movie of the Year" at the AWARDS FOR MOTION PICTURES -2001

'We are Ambassadors of Sri Lanka'

Member associations of the FCCISL, representatives of the Board of Management of the SLCB, SriLankan Airlines and the approved Professional Conference Organizers of the SLCB attended the workshop.

In his welcome address, R Sivaratnam Chairman of the SLCB explained the importance and the opportunities the Federation had in promoting Sri Lanka as a destination for prestigious events such as Intemational Congresses.

President of FCCISL, Macky Hashim also stressed that the Federation had a key role to play in generating interest and enthusiasm for the world to visit Sri Lanka, and this would also benefit the economy which in turn benefits all people of the country.

Title we are Ambassadors of Sri Lanka an informative presentation by the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau informed the audience of the importance of MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Exhibitions/Events) Tourism, the facilities available in Sri Lanka and infrastructure in place for Sri Lanka to be promoted as a venue for conferences and meetings.

In the year 2000, 10% of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka were MICE tourists, in the year 2001 this figure rose approximately 2.68% to 12.68% As at February 2002, Sri Lanka would be hosting 78 nos. Meetings and Conferences, 7 nos. Exhibitions and 55 nos. Incentive Groups in the current year. Active support is needed to increase the level of awareness about Sri Lanka as a MICE destination.

The role the Convention Bureau as the National Tourist organization promoting MICE and the role of the Professional Conference Organizers in organizing such events was explained further explained. Ms. Shyana Wijayaratne Manager Marketing and Promotions of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau made the presentation.

Kumar Mallimaratchi Council Member of FCClSL and President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka delivered a speech on the aspects of Tourism. 

SriLankan Airlines with its own MICE unit in place is poised to be one of the bigger players in the MICE arena. Their presentation by Chinthaka Weerasinghe educated the audience on the special services and facilities that could be given to Conference delegates.