Events diary

A 25-minute documentary by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation on the story of Mount Lavinia Hotel will be telecast on Saturday, December 23 at 8 p.m. on Channel Eye.

A book titled "Mount Lavinia - the Governor's Palace" by Shevanthie Goonasekera was released earlier this year. Shevanthie will anchor the programme, describing all the events that have taken place in the mansion in the past 200 years.

‘House-to-house carolling’ by the Burgher Association choir will take place on December 20 and 21. The carollers will arrive at the Home for Elders, Darley Road, private residences, Keells supermarkets and other places on invitation, in a specially designed and decorated "Sleigh" mobile, accompanied by 'Santa Claus'.

The Burgher Association will also usher in the New Year 2007, amidst the sounds of ship sirens, fireworks and a magnificent view of the Colombo Harbour, at a 31st Night Dinner Dance entitled "Harbour Lights", at the Flag & Whistle Restaurant, (Setmil Maritime Centre) 5th Floor, 256, Srimath Ramanathan Mawatha Colombo 15, from 9.00 p.m. onwards.

For more details contact Molinaux David on 0773187858 or Yvonne Don Paul on 4737796/ 4741329.

In collaboration with the Committee for Popularization of Science of SLAAS, the Astronomical Association of Lanka will hold a meeting on December 20 at 4.45 p.m. at SLAAS, 120/10 Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7.

The first two episodes of Carl Sagan's award winning television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, will be screened with plans to screen the rest next year.

The Sri Lanka-China Society will hold an essay competition in association with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and China.

The competition will be conducted in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Students studying for O/Levels and A/Levels are invited to participate in the competition. The theme of the essay competition is "Fifty years of Diplomatic Relations between Sri Lanka and China". The essay should not exceed 2000 words or four foolscap pages. It should be written on foolscap or A4 size papers. A separate sheet should have the name of the student, school address and private address. The principal of the school should certify that the essay has been written by the student.

The essays should be sent to the following address on before December 30, 2006.
The Sri Lanka China Society Essay Competition
No. 4, Weera Mawatha,
Sri Subuthipura,
Battaramulla.

The first three selected winners in each medium will be awarded cash prizes, certificates and a gift from the Chinese Embassy.
The next 15 winners will receive consolation prizes and certificates.

The annual festival of Christmas carols will be held at St. Anthony's Church, Kollupitiya on December 17 at 6.30 p.m. The Chief Guest will be Rev. Fr. Stanley Abeysekera of St. Joseph's College, Colombo.

'Peace on earth and goodwill among all our communities' is the theme. Carols will be sung by the English, Sinhala, Tamil and Children's Choirs of the parish. There will also be a nativity play by the children of the parish. The Guest Choir will be from St. Michael's and All Angels Church, Polwatte, Colombo 3.

Soon after the indoor programme the outdoor entertainment will take place, with Oriental dancers, a 4-piece band and a hamper draw. There will also be food stalls, kiddies’ corner etc. and Santa will make a surprise visit to entertain the little children.