The countdown has begun once more, for the selection of the winner of the much coveted Geoffrey Bawa Award 2010/2011 for Excellence in Architecture. The final judging is now in progress, which leads upto the grand finale that culminates with the announcement of the winner, at a gala awards ceremony to be held on July 23, the birth anniversary of Geoffrey Bawa, at the Park Street Mews.
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| The Shortlist (left to right) Thisara Thanapathy, Yudish Ganesan,Sheran Henry, Sanath Liyanage, Palinda Kannangara. Absent - Richard Murphey Architects |
The winner will receive the Geoffrey Bawa trophy and a substantial cash award of Rs one million. Michael Ondaatje will be guest speaker at the awards ceremony and a special violin performance will be given by Mandira De Saram with Eshantha J. Peries accompanying her on the piano.
The following eight submissions from six participants were short-listed:
Udayapuran School, Periyakallar,Kallar, Batticaloa - submitted by Archt. Yudish Ganesan,
Tsunami Housing Payagalawatte, Kalutara - submitted by Sheran Henry Associates; Lion Museum, Biyagama - submitted by Sheran Henry Associates; Holiday Bungalow, Avissawella - submitted by Archt. Palinda Kannangara; Kalundewa Retreat, Dambulla - submitted by Archt. Sanath Liyanage; The new British High Commission, Colombo 7 - submitted by Richard Murphy Architects, Scotland , UK; Holiday Bungalow, Ulpatha , Matale - submitted by Archt.Thisara Thanapathy and Sarath Abeyrathne House, Colombo 5 - submitted by Archt.Thisara Thanapathy,
An exhibition of their work will be held at the Gallery Café from July 19 onwards and at the awards ceremony on July 23.
Designers Ena de Silva and Barbara Sansoni - Lewcock will receive a special Lifetime Achievement award for their contribution to the Arts and Architecture.
In the words of one of the judges Suhanya Raffel, “The Geoffrey Bawa Awards bring together architecture that ranges from the traditional to the post-modern. The judges are privileged to see how vernacular domestic projects sit next to international tourist resorts, how diverse materials blend in with urban and rural landscapes and how the vibrancy of Sri Lankan architecture manifests itself through both established architects and practices, and new, up and coming practitioners blend local exuberance with a knowledge of global trends.”
Architect Jayantha Perera confirms that, “The majority submissions were from the younger generation of architects and was found to be searching for a modern architectural language unique to Sri Lanka. The influence of the Grand Master’s work, was evident in the submissions. This I think is a tribute to the legendary ‘Geoffrey Bawa.”
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Virakesari celebrates 80th annivesary with “Rhythm of Nature”
"Rhythm of Nature" , a dance performance by Indian artist Rama Vaidyanathan was one of the events held on Wednesday to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Virakesari, the widely circulated Tamil daily in the country at the Ananda College hall.
Rama Vaidyanathan is considered one of the leading exponents of Bharata Natyam in India. She was accompanied by Vidya Srinivasan, Viju Sivanand, Arun Kumar and K. Sivakumar on vocal, violin, Mridangam and Nattuvangam respectively.
Managing Director of Express Newspapers Kumar Nadesan and the High Commissioner of India Ashok K. Kantha were present on the occasion.
Exotic embarkations
Devanshi Mody checks out some of the latest promotions on offer
North Indian Food Festival at Spices (Hilton Colombo): Indian Master Chef Iqbal Ahmad from New Delhi's Hilton Janakpuri was flown over to cook for the President's nephew's wedding. And why wouldn't he be when he has worked at Indian culinary institutions like Bukhara and with Indian Michelin-starred chefs in London.
Over a fortnight Spices undulated with a myriad masalas as Chef Iqbal and his two young colleagues stayed on to lay out expansive feasts. And Colombo (even those unrelated to the President) embarked on an exotic escapade. Last weekend, throngs invaded Spices. And if waiters hectically turned tablecloths as one set of diners replaced their predecessors (the restaurant was sold out) then Chef Harsh Kant, who dashed out chaats, had no respite as surges of chaat fanatics assailed him pitilessly.
Some guests formed an impregnable bastion around the chaat counter, refilling themselves with about fifty helpings of fresh mango and strawberry lassis and tongue-tickling paapdi chaats, paani puris, bhel puris, aloo tikkis, dahi ballas and kachoris, all in a suffusion of vibrant and piquant chutneys (velvety mint, tangy tamarind etc). Amidst the mayhem Chef Iqbal mused, "And we almost didn't have a chaat counter..."
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| Blueberry fondant croissant at Goodies |
Whilst Chef Iqbal was immensely impressed that they re-created the authentic exoticism of Indian chaats in Colombo, Chef Pawan Singh, Hilton Colombo's resident Indian chef, was impressed with the youngest visiting chef, Ravindra Singh. Ravi, presiding over the tandoor and kebab counter, peeped from behind a curtain of arrayed skewered kebabs, surprising me with his youth.
But he has been cooking for seven years (since he was 18) and Chef Pawan doubts not that the youngster has all the ingredients of a great chef. I concur as Ravi smiles sweetly and tosses another impeccable roti into the tandoor and chops up a fabulously fluffy naan.
Accompanying the Indian breads (including spinach roti) were countless curries and dhaals, Moghully mellow and creamy, and a salad counter of entirely Indian creations including devilled chick peas salad and teasing masala potato. For dessert Chef Harsh Kant, who also happens to be the halwai (confectioner), spent two days preparing eight exotic sweetmeats, including Bengali delicacies like chum chums, mawa sandwich bedewed in ruby droplets of pomegranate and soft saffron ras malais. If your zip bursts after gluttonous excesses (as has happened to guests...), the ultra efficient staff pin you up in perfect style.
Hilton Colombo distinguishes itself with an entire buffet dedicated to the particular cuisine promoted (instead of a few "festival" items interspersed amongst the standard buffet as elsewhere) which makes their food festivals mindfully orchestrated, interesting and unmissable. Chef Iqbal appreciates that buffets offer plenitude but somewhat sacrifice perfection, so he asks me to come to Delhi, promising dhamaka dhal makhani. I ask him to remain in Colombo and extend his hugely successful festival. But Chef Iqbal is much in demand and needs to rush away for yet another promotion back home.
Alas...
Goodies: Colombo blissfully disregards temporal conventions concerning croissant consumption and Goodies bakes fresh croissants even after noon for this month's promotion. Oh goody! They mightn't be the flakiest croissants, but we aren't in Pairs and Paris hasn't croissants curled creatively over troublingly yummy blueberry fondant, effusing with molten chocolate, showered in crisp almonds and encasing almond paste or stewed apple. Savoury croissants include smoked beef and ham and cheese but the adventurous can compose the eccentrically exotic playing with fillings from the sandwich bar. Discover spicy vegetable. If you're wondering about the legitimacy of a spicy croissant, I'm wondering why the French didn't think of it!
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| Desserts at the Taj |
Mango Marvels: The Taj saves you embarkations to India for those legendary Alfonso mangoes with a celebration of KC mangoes churned into lush lassis, fantasy mango faloodas and paradisiacal mango milk shakes containing chunks of fresh mango and ideal proportions of ice cream. Do try the drinks. The plethoric pastry selection is punctuated with savoury seafood quiche with mango rhubarb chutney, prawn and mango pie etc.
Mango velvet cheese cake feels like rubber, but relish juicy mango cubes wonderfully warm within waffles or pancakes zig-zagged with chocolate sauce. However, the elegant mango-filled éclair is the cherry on the cake.
English Day - Rural children showcase their talent
English Day 2011 which showcased the skills and talents of the John Keells English language scholarship winners of 2010/11 from across the island was held recently at the Bishop's College Auditorium, Colombo 3. The English Day is an annual event organized by John Keells Foundation (JKF) in collaboration with the Gateway Language Centre.
The winners displayed their talents in drama, poetry recitation and speeches with much enthusiasm, while over 126 Honour students also received certificates for the "English for Teens" course they had completed in 2010/ 2011.
Among the highlights of the programme was a humorous play titled "Robots on Rampage" performed by the students of the Ampara branch, a Greek play titled "Ion" performed by the Habarana students, "O Captain, My Captain' performed by the students of the Trincomalee branch and 'Unity" performed by the students of the Negombo branch.
The Chief Guest at the event was educationist and human rights activist, Jezima Ismail.
Workshop for pharmacists
Dr. Ajith C.S. Perera interacts with pharmacists about helping disadvantaged persons at a participatory workshop on 'Supporting health services for an enabling society' at the Galadari hotel recently.
Susan George Pulimood Memorial Oration
The annual Susan George Pulimood Memorial Oration will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 5 p.m. at the Jeremias Dias Hall of Visakha Vidyalaya.
The oration will be delivered by Prof. Preethi de Silva, harpsichordist and fortepianist, Professor Emerita, Scripps College, Claremont, and Doctor of Music, Yale University on the subject 'Why Music matters'.
A past pupil of Visakha whose interest in music was nurtured at school, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London and the Hochschule for Musik now known as the Universitat der Kunste, Berlin. She continued her studies at Yale University, USA. She was awarded the Adele Mellon prize for distinguished contribution to scholarship for her specialized research, into the harpsichord.
She will share her interest in historic keyboard instruments and the need for greater music education in Sri Lanka.
The Pulimood Oration is held annually in memory of a past principal of Visakha Susan George Pulimood whose dedication and vision changed the direction of women's education in the school.
Light of Asia Overall Joint Winners
Ranmini Premaratne and Neranga Jayaweera, Overall Joint Winners of the "Light of Asia" Contest - 2011 receiving the D.N.W. de Silva Challenge Trophy from Chief Guest, Tony Reilly, Country Director, British Council. Suren Abeyagoonasekera, President of the Colombo YMBA is on the right.
Royal 76ers turn 50!
"The boys who entered the junior gates of Royal College in 1967 have all grown-up, and are an inspiration to us all,” enthused the Principal of Royal College, Upali Gunasekara, while addressing the Group of 76 ('76-ers), their teachers and other guests who had congregated at the Skills Centre Building of the Royal College Union, on July 1 for the Teacher Felicitation Ceremony in honour of past teachers.
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| Timothy Speldewinde felicitates his teacher Ishan Saldin |
The theme for the special evening titled '76-ers turn 50' was symbolic of many things 'Blue and Gold', with the 'Golden' bonds of friendship ignited once more. Air Vice Marshall Kolitha Goonetilleke, affirmed that the reason for the Group of '76 to band together in 1982 was to simply remain in contact with one another, and most importantly to repay the 'debt' owed to the College.
KotteHewa Amaradasa, a past teacher, said he was touched at the gesture of the boys honouring their teachers, and applauded the lengths to which they had gone to locate their teachers and bring them back into the heart of Royal.
Ishan Saldin, a former English teacher of Royal College, spoke with pride about hi boys who had now grown up to become fine gentlemen.
Timothy Speldewinde, brought the memorable evening to a fitting close with a witty, heartfelt 'thank you', to the principal of Royal College, distinguished Royalists, invitees, his fellow class-mates who had criss-crossed the globe, (some were still travelling to get to further celebrations) and very specially to the beloved teachers present, at this milestone event.
Lecture on whale and dolphin watching
An illustrated lecture on 'Whale and Dolphin watching in Sri Lanka' by marine biologist and author Anouk Ilangakoon will be held on Thursday, July 21 at the SLAAS auditorium, Vidya Mawatha, Colombo 7 at 6 p.m. The lecture is being held under the auspices of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka.
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