The walk is over but Trail is still determined to reach its target of US$ 2 million through the auction and the buy-a-brick campaign and further donations.
On July 27, Trail - the Journey by the Living, for Life - a walk to raise funds for the development of a Pediatric Cancer Ward in Jaffna reached Point Pedro after 27 days of walking from the south of Sri Lanka to the north.
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| Sarinda and Nathan |
Nathan Sivagananathan (CEO of MAS Design) and Sarinda Unamboowe (CEO of MAS Linea Aqua) who initiated this walk were amongst the 13 trail blazers who walked the entire journey of 670 km. For Nathan Sivagananathan especially, the cause was a dear one having lost his sister to cancer five years ago.
For Sarinda it was fulfilling a promise that he had made to walk the length of the country if the separatist war that plagued Sri Lanka came to an end, a mark of his commitment to peace. And so Trail was born and organized through the Colours of Courage Trust which was set up to help the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama.
Both Nathan and Sarinda agree that "it was a totally humbling experience to witness the incredible spirit of generosity throughout the journey." There was a spirit that was being formed that was not different in any city, town or village - the spirit of "giving" by the warm hearts of Sri Lankans everywhere who came forward to give whatever they could.
TRAIL has raised $1.3mn in aid of the Pediatric Cancer Ward and on that momentous day laid the foundation stone for the unit. It also launched the Trail Auction on the website where tickets for the glamorous Victoria's Secret Fashion Show donated by Limited Brands USA, airline tickets courtesy of Etihad Airways and American Airlines and cricket memorabilia will be auctioned. Trail also aims to sell 100,000 bricks through the 'buy-a-brick' campaign. Visit www.trailsl.com for information on how you can support the cause.
RASL lecture on"Post-War Findings in Northern Archaeology"
The Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) will have a special lecture on "Post-War Findings in Northern Archaeology" presented by Dr. Senerat Dissanayake, Director General of Archaeology with P. B. Mandawala, T. M. C. Bandara, I.P. Nisantha, Kalpa Asanga and Ven Pathberiye Gnanaloka Thera on Thursday, August 8 at 5 p.m.at the Gamini Dissanayake auditorium,No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7.
The lecture covers the following sites: Jaffna Peninsula, Mullativu, Mannar, Murungan, Adampan, Palampiddi, Thekkama, Manthottam, Alakulam, Peraru, Kathagarampuram, Kanyakovil, Kokavil, Oddusudan, Ambakamam, Kokilay, Kadurugoda and Nallur.All are welcome.
Book on the Esala Perahera
Peraharaka Pelahara' (Splendour of a Pageant), a guide book for this year's pageant of the Sacred Tooth Relic aimed at creating better awareness of the cultural aspects of the event has been released.
The book is an outcome of the efforts by the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilagna Dela on the advice of the Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters.
The publication has 80 exclusive colour pictures and will serve as a travelogue as well. Inquiries could be made from the Media and Special Projects Unit, Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy (Tel- 081-2234226 or 081-5626244)
Performance of
dance troupes
Four of the country's well known dancers and their troupes- the Buduwatte Dance Academy, Channa Upuli Performing Arts Foundation, the Ravibandu Samanthi Dance Ensemble and Chandana Wickremasinghe and his Dancers Guild will take the stage of the Bishop's College auditorium tonight at 7 p.m. to present 'Rhythm of Giants'.
The show is designed in four- half hour segments to allow each troupe to showcase their unique styles and their abundance of dancing talent.
Gastronomic extravaganza spices up Colombo
Colombo came alive with the gastronomic extravaganza, Culinary Art 2011, held from July 29 to August 1 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre.
Organized by the Chefs' Guild of Lanka, Culinary Art, brought together hotels, restaurants and hotel schools from around the country for the biggest tradeshow for the Hospitality and Food & Beverages Industries in Sri Lanka.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, the Event Director and Board Member of the Chefs' Guild of Lanka, Madawa Weerabaddhana said the event was a success with more than 30,000 people visiting the exhibition over the weekend.
Mr. Weerabaddhana said that the Chefs' Guild of Lanka aims to contribute to the development of tourism by sharing their knowledge and training the youth. He also added that they wish to create public awareness about new job opportunities in the industry.
More than 1300 chefs competed at this event, with more than 2000 entries in 25 categories including Hot Cooking Live, New Sri Lankan Cuisine, Dress the Cake, Cocktails & Mocktails and many more.
The competitions were judged by a panel of international judges from the World Association of Chefs Society, representing more than 16 countries.
The competitions were held under three main types-- Static, Live and Vegetable & Ice Carvings. Winners were awarded medals and certificates.
The organizers of the event were so impressed by the talents of the young chefs that they have decided to take part in the Culinary Olympics in Germany, one of the oldest and most prestigious culinary competitions in the world.
Want to be a part of a
Guinness World Record?
By Shalomi Daniel
Young people out there, have you ever dreamed of breaking a Guinness World Record? Perhaps you have and then shrugged it off as impossible, too expensive or because you thought you lack what it takes to break a world record. Well here is a world record that you can break and all you need to break it is to be a 'youth' and come over to the University of Colombo grounds on August 12, at 1p.m.
As part of the activities of the United Nations International Year of Youth, the Sri Lankan team of the "British Council's Global Changemakers" hopes to break a world record for the 'The Largest Human Mosaic' by forming the word 'YOUTH' with 1500 or more youth participants from around the country. The current record for the 'The Largest Human Mosaic' stands at 1250. Representatives from the Guinness World Records Committee will adjudicate the World Record Attempt and an aerial photograph of the final formation will be taken.
Global Changemakers is a global British Council initiative which was founded in 2007 to empower youth to catalyse positive social change. The Sri Lankan team of Changemakers comprises Sarah Jameel, Lihini Ratwatte, Sulakshana Senanayake, Sikander Shabeer and Mohomed Husni.
They also have in mind an attempt to break another world record as well, depending on the turnout. Yes, two records in one day! The record will be to have the highest number of high fives!
"This is more of a fun record" laughs Sarah Jameel adding that to break the record, approximately 1600 participants are needed.
This unique event will also be a great opportunity for youth from all over the country to meet on a multi-religious and multi-ethnic platform. Those who are interested in the event and wish to volunteer can visit their website at www.youth-is-the-word.weebly.com or follow the progress of the event on Facebook. Awards will be given to those who bring along as many as 100 friends or more. Therefore, the team urges all youth to start rounding up all their friends and be present.
Those interested please contact: Volunteers/ Service Organizations - 0773634144; Educational Institutions -0773511440; Sponsors - 0776343833; Special Invitees - 0777279577; Stalls - 0772669549.
| Intl Sea Sunday Service |
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| The Mission to Seafarers- Colombo Branch celebrated the international Sea Sunday Service on July 10, at St. Peter’s Church Colombo 1.Picture shows Chairman Wg. Cdr. Noel Fernando and the distinguished invitees who participated at the event |
| SAARC fundraiser helps projects |
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| President of the SAARC Women’s Association Sri Lanka Chapter, Damayanthi de Alwis, addressed their fundraiser, a Sing-along held at the Cinnamon Lakeside hotel recently.
This year the Committee has pledged to support the CCC Foundation (Courage, Compassion and Commitment) currently in the process of building a 140 bed Cancer Transit Home in Maharagama. The SAARC Sing-along with Sohan and the Xperiments saw representatives from Bhutan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka also taking part. |
| Kicking off a football match |
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| UNP Chief organizer for Borella and founder of the Pragna Pradeepa concept Jayantha Silva lights the traditional oil lamp at a football match organized by the Sahaspura Sports Club at the Baseline Mawatha grounds. UNP Wanathamulla organizer P.L.A. Karunapala is also in the picture. |
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