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Mirror Magazine

All-rounder Nalin shines in Arizona
Sri Lankan Nalin Ratnayake has done Sri Lanka proud by winning full scholarships to follow two degree courses at the Arizona State University - a B.Sc in civil engineering and a B.Sc in aerospace engineering.

This prestigious award caps 17-year-old Nalin's stellar high school career at Centennial High School in Idaho State where he gained second place nationwide in the 22nd U.S Academic Decathlon. The USAD is a national examination in 10 subjects including science, mathematics, history/geography, lierature, public speaking etc. Nalin was co-captain of the school's academic decathlon team which won the Idaho State University in 2002.

Space travel and science have fascinated Nalin since he was young and together with a friend he once built a small electro-magnetic gun that shot an AA battery across the street and dented a neighbour's mail box.

Nalin also has a passion for film-making and has won state-wide high school competitions for his drama scripts. He also writes poetry and was editor of his school's literary journal.

The Dialog force
In this modern world, many of us would be lost without the gadgetry that technology has provided us. And most of us are slaves to this small device, none other than the mobile phone.

The basic concept of cellular phones began in 1947, when researchers looked at crude mobile car phones and realised that by using small cells (range of service area) with frequency re-use, they could increase the traffic capacity of mobile phones substantially.

What's interesting is that it is not only young people who find mobile phones indispensable! From busy professionals to housewives and mudalalis, the mobile phone has become a part of their lifestyle.

And in Sri Lanka, this is the need that Dialog GSM caters to.

MTN Networks (Pvt) Ltd which operates the flagship Dialog GSM network, the pioneer digital mobile communications provider in the country, is Malaysia's largest investment in Sri Lanka. It has proved to be a potent force in providing mobile communications technology on par with the developed world. Backed by a US$ 90m investment from Telekom Malaysia, MTN Networks has led the country's burgeoning cellular industry to globally competitive levels.

Always at the forefront of revolutionary technology and ground-breaking products and services, Dialog GSM has propelled itself into the South East Asian marketing platform as a dynamic and innovative service provider with a cutting-edge product portfolio. In addition to its rapidly growing local network, the company operates one of the largest international roaming networks in the region, with Sri Lankan consumers having the convenience of automatic roaming to over 100 countries across the globe.

Dialog GSM recently took another innovative step with respect to its network coverage, pioneering cellular telecommunications in the Jaffna peninsula and Trincomalee. Thereby, it has succeeded in delivering the convenience of low cost cellular communications to the citizens of the north and the east of Sri Lanka to whom hitherto, they were a scarce luxury.

The company's most recent pioneering extension to its state of the art services was the launch of Satellite Mobile Technology Services, available for the first time in Sri Lanka and the region under its newest power brand Dialog SAT. Dialog SAT brings with it extensive coverage of the Thuraya Satellite Mobile Technology Service which is now available throughout Sri Lanka and its territorial waters in addition to all areas covered within the Thuraya footprint which extends to 99 countries across three continents (Europe, North Africa and Central Asia).

The reality of how important mobile phones have become in Sri Lanka is evident by the fact that Dialog GSM supports over 350,000 subscribers through a network of over 225 base stations.
-Thiruni Kelegama

Christmas on Fifth Avenue
Christmas brings good cheer to many people and veteran director Jith Pieris plans to make it even more memorable with a feast of good music and vintage theatre fare this season.

Jith's offering of music and dance, Christmas on Fifth Avenue (featured on our cover this week) goes on the boards at the Bishop's College auditorium on December 7 and 8. Joining him in the spirit of Christmas are performers Penny Ferdinand, Shanelle Fernando, Angela Seneviratne, Samantha Ferdinand, Krishan and Sanjeev Jayaratnam, Dyan Fernando and others.

On the programme are well-loved Christmas carols like 'O Come, All Ye Faithful' and 'Joy to the World', popular Christmas songs such as 'I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus' as well as some entertaining dance sequences from the Oosha Garten School of Ballet. Shohan Chandiram will present a Hyperactive Santa Claus while Natasha performs a modern dance sequence. And then there's more from keyboard maestro Beverly Rodrigo. Mumbai on Broadway is Jith's special offering, a special fusion music treat from Channa Wijewardene.The electronic media sponsor of the show is TNL Lite.

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