Wine is enjoyed by many, however, proper serving of wine by an experienced wine professional; a sommelier, adds to that excitement. Here we had ten sommeliers in a stiff competition of wine serving and wine and food matching to win the hearts of the guests.
An array of finest red and white wine varieties; Australian, French and Portuguese served with mouthwatering dishes turned out to be a remarkable dining experience for the guests at the recent Inaugural Jetwing Wine Sommelier Challenge 2011.
Hosted at the Jetwing Beach Hotel Negombo, the event saw the participation of sommeliers representing the Jetwing chain of hotels who contested for the Most Stylish Sommelier and the prestigious Jetwing Wine Sommelier of the Year awards where the contestants were adjudged on their wine knowledge, service and style.
The competition consisted of three segments - an oral test on wine knowledge, a practical on wine and food harmony, and taking and order, serving and style.
Following the written test on the first stage of the competition, out of a total of 30 applications, 21 contestants were shortlisted to take part in a three-day wine sommelier training with focus on wine history, wine knowledge, blind tasting, etc.
After the written test, 10 contestants were picked to compete for the finals of the wine challenge wherein they were judged on their style and service by adjudicators during the dinner hosted for the guests including the Chief Guest High Commissioner of Australia Kathy Klugman.
Addressing the gathering at the finals, Chairman of Jetwing Hotels Hiran Cooray said the objective of a novel competition such as this is to improve the standards of the staff to keep up to the expectations of the guests, especially at a time when the country is given an opportunity to come up in position among the rest of the countries in the world. "What we are doing is to make our staff ready to perform and serve the visitor who comes here. It is their performance that will be judged by the customer," he said.
The grand evening of wine, food and music ended with the awards ceremony. S. Indika Prageeth of Jetwing Light House bagged the two awards - the Most Stylish Sommelier and the Jetwing Wine Sommelier of the Year.
“Symphony for a Child” to be
held in Sri Lanka for first time
The AIDS Foundation of Lanka (AFL) and the Educate a Child Trust (EACT) will hold a charity concert, "Symphony for a Child" on May 20 at 7.30 p.m. at the Kularatne Hall of Ananda College.
The "Symphony for a Child" concert, is the brainchild of former Sri Lankan concert pianist and music teacher, Srima Jayasekera who lives in the UK and will be held in Sri Lanka for the first time. Mrs. Jayasekera has been organizing these concerts for 13 consecutive years and this annual event in London was eagerly anticipated.
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| A news conference to announce the event |
"A host of reputed artists including the Lanerolle Brothers, Voiceprint, Ananda Dabare, Ricky Bahar, Shyanne Bahar, Suleetha Nanayakkara, Thilanka Jayamanne and several others will perform free of charge in aid of these two worthy charities," said the founder and Chairperson of EACT, Dr. Pramilla Senanayake at a news conference held recently.
The overall objective of AFL is to support the Government to meet the challenges in the prevention and control of HIV in Sri Lanka. Registered under the Sri Lanka Companies Act, the AFL programme fosters culturally appropriate education programmes for youth and other vulnerable groups and provides financial assistance to people living with HIV for survival and for purchase of drugs.
The EACT gives the poorest children of Kalutara a path that leads from poverty to opportunityand provides education, health and enterprise for all. The project has housed and helped scores of families restore their livelihoods and rebuild their damaged homes in the aftermath of the tsunami. Dr. Senanayake said that EACT constructed 48 houses and a community centre, as well as equipped 17, 500 local children with school supplies to help them attend school.
The community centre provides after school instruction in English and IT. The EACT also provides nutritious meals prepared by villagers for the students, who would otherwise go hungry and be unable to concentrate on their studies. Special classes for 70 to 80 promising students are also arranged prior to their taking the A/L and O/L examinations as well as a host of other philanthropic activities.
The board of management of both AFL and EACT is seeking sponsorship at the following rates; Platinum Rs. 300,000, Gold 200, 000 and Silver 100, 000.
Tickets will be available at the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), 6 Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7, priced at Rs. 1000, 1500, 2000 and 5000.
New Yorker Royalist old boys
continue to help country and school
NEW YORK – The Royal College Old Boys' East Coast Association (RCOBECA), based in the Greater New York area, is continuing to channel funds to charities in Sri Lanka and also financing a slew of new projects at the school.
The contributions so far include $8,000 for the installation of a public address system and an additional $8,500 towards the construction of a new hostel providing educational opportunities at Royal for students from various parts of the island.
In August 2003, responding to a request from Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative Ambassador C. Mahendran, RCOBECA donated $1,000 towards helping families that suffered losses from floods that year.
In addition, it contributed $4,900 (the entire net profit from its annual dinner dance in 2004) towards reconstruction of schools affected by the tsunami. RCOBECA also facilitated the transfer of over 60 computers, monitors and printers obtained from the United Nations to the college computer lab.
Last month's annual Royal Ball was one of the most successful social events, says RCOBECA President Chandana Mutucumarana, who has worked at the UN for the last 15 years and spent over 12 years at Royal.
He said this year's Royal Ball made "record breaking profits" which will be used on a project he is currently collaborating with the 1990 group in Sri Lanka.
RCOBECA was formed in 1993 by a small group of Old Royalists living in the Greater New York area.
The association has since grown and organizes a number of annual social events in which both Royalists and non-Royalists have participated.
Berlin Vihara commemorates Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi
The Berlin Vihara will be commemorating the 2600 Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi (2600th Anniversary of the Buddha's Enlightenment) through a series of religious programmes.
Ven. Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva Thera, Chief Preceptor and Deputy Chief Monk, Mitirigala Forest Hermitage, a monastery in the strict forest tradition in Sri Lanka, visited the Berlin Vihara (Das Buddhistische Haus) at the invitation of the German Dharmaduta Society, which owns and maintains the Berlin Vihara. Ven. Dhammajiva was at the Berlin Vihara from April 23 -May 5 where he conducted a programme on Buddhist meditation and led a meditation retreat.
The 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Commemoration Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Vesak Maha Pinkama over a period of two days at the Berlin Vihara on May 14 and May 15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ven. Kongaspitiye Santharakkhitha Thera, resident monk, and Ven Kusalagnana Thera from Sri Lanka will conduct the programme.
A public meeting on the afternoon of Sunday May 15 will be held in the Library of Das Buddhistische Haus. A number of speakers including Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Germany T.B. Maduwagedera, Trustee and Vice - President of the German Dharmaduta Society, Tissa Weeraratna, Representatives of German Buddhist Associations, among others, are expected to address this meeting.
Book launch
Retired Senior Superintendent of Police Tassie Seneviratne launched his book 'Human Rights and Policing- Reminiscences of my police days' on Thursday, May 5 at the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) auditorium, Colombo 7.
Here Mr. Seneviratne is seen presenting his book to former Inspector General of Police Ana Seneviratne.
With Mr. Seneviratne at the head table were Major General Lalin Fernando, retired IGP Dr. Frank de Silva, head of Transparency International J.C. Weliamuna, Deshamanya R.K.W. Goonasekera and Editor of the Sunday Island Manik de Silva.
CBB holds English Teacher Training Project awards ceremony
The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) held its annual English Teacher Training Project awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 4 at the British Council, Colombo, to present the University of Cambridge Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) certificates to 153 English Language teachers from across the country.
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| Some of the participants at
the event |
The TKT examination comprises three modules which focus on the core knowledge and skills needed by English teachers.
The ceremony is the yearly culmination of the CBB's corporate social responsibility initiative, an in-service teacher training programme for English Language Teachers carried out in association with the Ministry of Education.
Certificates were handed over by the Guest of Honour, Minister of Education, Bandula Gunawardena. Also present were British High Commissioner John Rankin, Director of the British Council Sri Lanka Tony Reilly, Chairman, ELT sub-committee of CBB and Vice Chairman of the CBB Mohammed Ziauddin, and Managing Director of MAS Active (Private) Limited Shirendra Lawrence.
The overall goal of the programme is to upgrade the English skills of pupils and this is achieved through improving the quality of the teaching practice in their schools. The project has trained a total of 57 mentors from the Ministry of Education's Regional English Support Centres (RESCs), ensuring a wide geographical coverage across Sri Lanka. The mentors deliver in-service teacher training to teachers in their areas using a distance learning course (branded as 'the CBB English Teacher Training Project') which leads to the internationally recognised University of Cambridge Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT).
The "Sponsor a Teacher" campaign was launched by CBB over a year ago to sustain and encourage contributions towards the CBB English Teacher Training Project from more companies within and outside the CBB membership. Interested companies or individuals can sponsor an individual teacher who is participating in the project or as many teachers as they wish and may decide to select teachers who work in parts of the country with which their company has a particular link.
Tony Reilly, Country Director for the British Council said, "The British Council is delighted to be involved in such a fine example of a private and public partnership achieving national impact. The fusion of the corporate sponsorship of the Council for Business with Britain and the state support and infrastructure of the Ministry of Education creates a synergy in the development of vital English language skills nationally.
"The British Council's vision globally is to reach millions of teachers and learners of English and provide them with access to the best resources and latest approaches to English language teaching and learning from the UK. ,” he said.
Teacher and student at
festival in Ireland
Janadari Salgadu, dance teacher at Alethea International and her student Isuri Dilangi Fernando from Musaeus College took part in the 85th Feis Maitiu festival in Ireland on April 8.
Having seen them at the Sri- Lankan Festival of Dance, Music, Speech and Drama Janadari and Isuri were selected by the Chairman of the Cork Feis institution Timothy McCarthy along with the Directress of the Sri Lankan Festival of Dance, Music, Speech and Drama Joy Ferdinando, to represent Sri Lanka at the festival.
"I was surprised, when they invited us to welcome the chief guest John Kelleher, the Mayor of Cork City Council," said Janadari recalling the moment.
They performed Nrichya Puja (a duet) a fusion of all traditions, Indian Kathak etc and Ganapathi Varnana (a solo) one of Janadari’s own creations.
Danger of
invasive species - Lecture
An illustrated lecture on invasive species (plants and animals) and their adverse impact on Sri Lanka's fauna and flora will be delivered by Dr. Devaka Weerakoon, senior lecturer, University of Colombo, author and president of the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka on Thursday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at the Institution of Engineers,(Wimalasure-ndra auditorium), 120/15, Vidya Mawatha, off Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. The lecture is under the auspices of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka and is open to all.
Bakeer Markar Commemorative speeches on SLBC
Commemorative speeches to mark the birth anniversary of former Speaker M.A Bakeer Markar will be aired on Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation on May 12.
The speech by Gemunu Abeysundera, former Member of Parliament, will be aired on the Sinhala Swadeshiya Service at 9 a.m. while the speech by Thilak Karunaratne, also former Member of Parliament, will be aired on the English Service at 6.30 p.m.
The Tamil Service will broadcast A M Nahiya’s speech at 10 p.m. while A.M. Wais will speak on the former speaker on the Muslim Service at 7.05 p.m.
Shramadana in Borella
Jayantha de Silva, chief organizer for Borella participated in a shramadana campaign in the T20 garden in Borella.
Ex Servicemen appeal for funds
The Ex-Servicemen’s Association has launched an appeal for funds for the upliftment of its home for elders at Bolagala Katana.Donations could be channelled to : Standard Chartered Bank, No. 37, York Street, Fort Colombo 1, in favour of Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen Home for Elders Ac number- 01 - 3019209 - 01
Bank swift code - SCBLLKL - XXIXX
Cheques can also be drawn in favour of Sri Lanka Ex- Servicemen’s Association Home for Elders and sent to the Secretary General Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen's Association, 29 1/1 Bristol Street Colombo 1.
The many roles of a unique personality - Tribute to Dr. Mirando Obeysekere
By Ranjani Ratwatte
Dr. Mirando Obeysekere's life is simple and varied; every visit to him, every conversation with him is an enriching experience. This is the feeling of most people who meet him. I have seen university Dons, foreigners and people of all walks getting the benefit of his knowledge at his home "The Obeysekere Ashram" of Madiopola, Matale.
Scholar, poet, writer, freethinker, anthropologist and researcher of distinction into the Pre-historic Megalithic era, he has produced 46 books and some 100 research papers for our country and foreign institutions.
Dr. Obeysekere is not a man who believes in modern ways. He shuns modern electronic communication systems such as telephones, and mobile phones as he considers them a hindrance to his research and meditation. Believe it or not, he never uses a tooth brush to clean his teeth, but a caster stick as his brush to clean the mouth along with medicinal herbs. Not surprisingly, he is a vegetarian and teetotaller.
Born in Rassagala of Sabaragamuwa to Samuel Sykes Obeysekere and Cicey Kumarihamy Galagoda of Nilgala Walawwa-Udapottuwa, Dr. Obeysekere is always clad in national dress and tries his best to safeguard our cultural heritage and especially the villagers and their way of life. "We had a very illustrious culture prior to all other western nations" he says.
Many influences mould his personality. He says meditation is the only way to liberation.
The inspiration of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's doctrine, and the liberal and democratic philosophies of oriental sages have influenced his life.
He has an inquiring mind not an accepting one. Dr. Obeysekere says that the "Ramayana Kavya" is the only historical book which discusses the truth regarding ancient Sri Lanka, and the kingdom of Lankapura. His firm belief is that the present Sinhala nation is a combination of four ancient ethnic groups - Yakkha, Naga, Deva and Gandhabba. The ritual of worshipping "Sathara Varam" gods is a clear example of that, he says. The fortress of Sigiri, the ancient cemetery of "Ibbankatuwa" Sthreepura caves" and "Isurumuniya" are the remains of the ancient Yakkha kingdom of Sri Lanka.
Mirando Obeysekere began his career as a poet with the publication of "Ranhamy" in May 1960. This book was given an enthusiastic reception by Sinhala and English critics such as Doric de Souza, Prof. K.N. Jayatillake, Prof. Tilak Ratnakara and Sita Jayawardene.
'Ruwan Yathra' was written and published in 1970 and provides an interesting study of the spiritual life with God. It was translated into English by Prof. Gibson of U.S.A.
His last book was released in May 2006.
Some years ago, there was a proposal to appoint him as a National List M.P. but he declined. Now, he has organized a new movement called "Sadachara" to fight against illegal drugs, liquor and other bad elements in society.
Playing the role of poet, author, researcher, counsellor and Sai devotee has not been easy but Dr. Obeysekere has made a success of it. He is also the Hony. President of the All Ceylon Patriotic Arts and Cultural Front having 28,000 members all over the country.
I wish him all success in the years to come.
Walking for Malaria
A walk to commemorate World Anti Malaria Day on April 25 was held in Kurunegala on April 29. Organized by Sarvodaya Community Health Unit together with the central and provincial Malaria offices, the walk also marked the inception of the Anti-Malaria Movement in Kurunegala 100 years ago.
Health Minister of the North Western Provincial Council, Ashoka Wadigamangawa and Dr. Lalith Chandradasa, Director, Sarvodaya Malaria Project also joined the walk, with volunteers of the Sarvodaya Movement, officers of the regional Anti-Malaria office, representatives of other governmental and non-governmental organizations and journalists.
Walks and other awareness building programmes in other malaria-prone areas will be held - on May 13 in Polonnaruwa, on May 20 in Kilinochchi, on May 24 in Batticaloa and on May 27 in Monaragala.
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