He also won the "Kist Award" for the most innovative cocktail. His winning cocktail was named "Ceasefire" and dedicated to the current cessation of hostilities between the government forces and the LTTE.

This competition was organised by the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates association and Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by Free Lanka Trading Company Pvt Ltd.

Having won the National Competition, Janaka becomes eligible to take part in the Annual Asia Pacific Region's Cocktail Competition which will be held in Singapore in August 2002. Nishadha Periyapperuma, Director Operations, York Hotel Management and the trainer of Janaka is confident that he will do well to earn a place in Singapore.

In the year 2000, Lakshan Dandeniya of Club Palm Bay won the National Championship and Subsequently, became the 2nd runner of the Asia Pacific Competition.

Sweet smell of 'Weralu' flowers
By Ramesh Uvais

Kumari Munasinghe's maiden soothing anthology -Weralu Mal Pipila- is like a splash of sunshine after a cloudy weather.

The album launched last week at the John de Silva Theatre amidst a massive gathering of stars of all shapes and sizes, dishes out 14 marvellous gems or tuneful delicacies if one may call it.

Though the album is titled 'Weralu Mal Pipila', the stress is indeed on Kumari Sandalatha Munasinghe's singing aptitudes.

Kumari, is the better half of multi-talented artiste Jackson Anthony, widely known as the 'Jack' who has mastered all trades in the glamour world . Jackson who has ably supported his life partner in bringing out her creative talents in the form of this album, has also offered vocal support to her together with their daughter Madhawi Wathsala.

Having pushed her way into limelight in 1977 with Neville Dias Subasinghe's Waruwen Yana Minissu', Kumari has acted in several popular stage plays, radio dramas and is also an SLBC A grade singer. Though her songs are not being repeatedly played over radio , she has dozens of songs to her credit.

Weralu Mal transports us to another plane of enjoyment with sensitive lyrics based on historical events and basic human emotions. And those words which were waiting in the lyricists' hearts have come out in a melodious spill in the album.

The bulk of these songs that pursue your senses were rendered at the cassette launch, backed by impressive dance performances handsomely presented by Channa Wijewardene's troupe.

While Ratnasri Wijesinghe, Jackson Anthony, Kelum Srimal, Bandula Nanayakkarawasam, Yamuna Malani Perera, Wasantha Dukgannarala and Prasad Siriwardene have penned their feelings into words, the music scores are by top talented musicians in the scene today.

Weralu Mal Pipila was produced by Samanpriya Marasinghe under Salithaya creations.

If I was asked to single out the pick of the album, I'd end up mentioning a few sentimental songs like the title song Weralu Mal, Ahasa Polowa Uhulanawalu, Kawi Mal Pipena Tharaha Wela Yanna Giyath and Pipilada Sunimal.

In her songs, Kumari Munasinghe has not only added true emotions to the lyrics but has also stored those feelings in wonderful shapes which could be sliced and treasured in our memories forever.

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