Plus

Plus

Kala Korner - by Dee Cee

'The uncivilised natives'
A renowned name in the arts circle, Harold Peiris well deserves Neville Weeraratne's rather extensive reference in 'Applause at the Wendt'. Neville has dealt with Peiris' contribution to the arts and his pioneering role in establishing the Wendt Theatre.

After tracing his early days and the relationship built with the Wendt brothers - Lionel and Harry , Neville discusses the mood of the times. "It was a time when anything native was scorned, when the middle class perception of the vernacular was that it was uncivilised and barbaric. So it isn't surprising to learn that it was Wendt who had taken Harold Peiris to his first viewing of the Kandy Perahera, a spectacle not held in great regard by the bourgeoisie but from which he grew his enthusiasm for the Kandyan dance.

“The Peirises organised many performances in their spacious house in Kandy, bringing the dance to a wider audience and to greater appreciation. They went further: Harold, Lionel and George Keyt all contributed towards the establishment of the school of Kandyan dance started by the great drummer Suramba in Sirimalwatte, Gunnepane."

Neville describes how Harold Peiris (named beneficiary by the Wendt brothers) devoted himself to creating the Wendt Art Centre "with all the energy at his command, using the resources left to him by the Wendt brothers, urging public contributions and adding freely to it from his own coffers." He says: "It is impossible to assess the extent of his munificence. A cursory reading of the minutes of the board of trustees shows the unending frequency with which Harold came to the rescue with vast and varying sums of money as the need arose."

Few may remember the names of the original board of trustees who held the first meeting at 'Alborada' on July 27, 1946. They were Stanley and Trevor de Saram, James Naidoo, Dr. Paul E. Pieris, B. G. Thornley, L. C. van Geyzel and Harold Peiris who was to remain its sole life-trustee.

To have compiled such an extensive publication as 'Applause' from distant Melbourne shows that Neville has not lost the drive and initiative he always had from the days I knew him, when both of us worked on the Observer in the sixties. The design is simple and attractive. The text is well laid out in a most readable manner.

D.Litt from Peradeniya
It was Peradeniya University which conferred the Honorary D.Litt on Lester James Peries recently. Colombo University had given him a D.Litt 17 years ago. In his citation, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Y. R. Amarasinghe stated that Dr. Peries, the doyen of Sri Lankan cinema has pioneered a new era in the field of performing arts that has emerged hand in hand with the new developments in the fields of scientific, technological and electronic progress apparent in most spheres of life.

After tracing the numerous awards he has received both locally and internationally, Professor Amarasinghe said: "It is the opinion of the Faculty of Arts that the University of Peradeniya as a premier seat of learning and a centre of creative activity that led to the cultural revival of postcolonial Sri Lanka, should acknowledge his momentous contribution to the cinematic art of Sri Lanka. The most fitting way to do so is to confer on him the Degree of Doctor of Letters at this General Convocation of 2003".

He described Dr. Peries as the foremost figure in the Sri Lankan cinematic landscape and one of the most distinguished personalities in the field of Sri Lankan performing arts over a period of two millennia. "Today we Sri Lankans salute him again, this time through one of the centres of excellence in social sciences, humanities, natural and applied sciences in this country, the University of Peradeniya,” he said.

What a show!
How pleasant it was to see the re-enactment of that unforgettable scene of Piyal teaching English to Nanda in 'Gamperaliya'. After four decades, Henry Jayasena and Punya Heendeniya met on stage the other day to recreate the situation. Physically both had changed but their charm was still very much there. We were then shown the original scene from the award-winning classic. Henry and Punya then left inviting the audience to enjoy a star-studded evening of re-creations from the Sinhala film world. What a disaster it turned out to be! Less said the better of the Rupavahini treat to TV viewers on new year's eve.

Back to Plus