One year after sweeping the Embassy Chef Challenge with a smoky asparagus soup and roasted duck breast with plum chutney, Danish chef Lars Beese is back. But this time, don't expect Beese to win accolades for his modern twist on Danish cuisine, says a report in a blog site of the Washington Post.
The report adds: As the head judge at this year's competition, Beese's job is to pick apart the flavour and presentation of far-flung global specialities created by some of the world's best chefs - the men and women who design menus for D.C.'s foreign dignitaries.
The event was over last week. Among the chefs who competed is Sri Lanka's Channa Perera. He is employed at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC. His entry? How to make cutlets!! It's perhaps a little more difficult than boiling an egg!!!
Sajin brings Havana cigars for Ape Gamana
Sajin Vas Gunawardene drove direct from Colombo to Diyatalawa after arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport from Geneva. It was to take part in the Ape Gamana workshop organized for the Government MPs and ministers.
He had brought some Havana cigars. Minister Lakshman Senviratane was the one who spotted it first. "Aney mallie matath ekak deepan" (brother give me one).Soon the others followed suit. The expensive Cohibas from Havana were over.
Namal to meet Rahul
Hambantota District UPFA parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa will lead youth delegations to two events.
One is sponsored by India Today magazine for youth leader. There, he is likely to meet the latest Gandhi family icon, Rahul, whose campaign for the Congress Party in the Uttar Pradesh polls came a cropper.
Thereafter, Rajapaksa will head for Tokyo for another youth event.
Delayed flowers for forgotten Ranjan
Former Minister of State for Defence and one time United National Party chairman Ranjan Wijeratne's 21st death anniversary was on March 2.
Unlike yesteryears there were no preparations this time to honour the man who engineered victory for the UNP in the 1988 Presidential election and the General election that followed next year, the JVP insurrection notwithstanding.
Former Samurdhi Minister R.A.D. Sirisena realised that there were no ceremonies. He paid a floral tribute alone in the afternoon to Wijeratne's statue in Colombo. Following suit was Bhareti, the widow of former minister Mano Wijeratne. However in the evening some UNP members led by former Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya also paid floral tribute.
Sing-song peduru party for politicians
It was fun time for government MPs who attended the workshop in Diyatalawa last week.
On the first day after arrival at the venue, all were set for a peduru party (a party on a mat) with the Army orchestra playing.
Several MPs changed roles as singers. That included Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna. He sang both Tamil and Sinhala songs.
The following day another party was organized at Fox Hill with a camp fire. The star was Wimal Weerawansa who sang several numbers of Gunadasa Kapuge and Karunaratne Diulgane.
Minister Mahindananda Aluthagamage wanted to sing "Moo katha karanna giyath ekai, sindu kiyanna giyath ekai,nawaththanne nehe" (This guy is the same when speaking and singing, non-stoppable).
Aluthgamage dragged the mike and handed it over to Reginold Cooray. Along with Malini Fonseka Cooray sang "Chanadrame re paya awa...harde pemein nawa nawa" a popular cinema song while dancing according to the film.
Nishantha too fat for Rajapaksa T-shirt
All government ministers and MPs, except for those who were overseas or ill, attended the workshop "Ape Gamana" (Our Journey) at the Military Academy in Diyatalawa last week.
All participants were given a T-shirt printed with President Mahinda Rajapaksa's image and titled "Ape Gamana". However one MP was seen not wearing the T-shirt, literally becoming the black sheep of the group.
It was none other than Nishantha Mutuhettigama, the maverick MP from Galle District. He seemed to be upset. During the meeting Minister Dilan Perera took time to talk to his collegeue. "Nishantha ai machang, hemomama T shirt andagena indedaddi umba vitharak nikam shirt ekaka anden inne?" (Nishantha, Why aren't you wearing the T shirt while the rest are doing so?)
"Hari wade machang..mage size ekata methana T shirt nehelu. Methana thiyena XXL ewath mata madi" (There aren't any T shirt here which fits my body. Even XXL size isn't fit for me) Umba echcharatama mahathada? (Are you so fat?) Dilan queried. Muthuhettigama showing his belly said I cannot wear normal sizes. He was allowed to wear a normal shirt throughout the workshop.
Lessons and recreation at Diyatalawa
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| Ministers and Government MPs attending the Ape Gamana workshop in Diyatalawa |
President consoles Nanda Malini
Popular singer Nanda Malini received a telephone call from President Mahinda Rajapaksa after her arrival from Kuwait.
This was after reports that she and her colleagues faced an embarrassing situation at the airport there.
Nanda Malaini and the team were reportedly detained for almost three hours at Kuwait airport and they were thoroughly searched by airport security officials. It was on a false tip off that the team was bringing drugs to the country.
Some instruments, she complained, were damaged during the search and the incident brought the renowned artiste huge embarrassment.
In his call President Rajapaksa consoled the singer saying don't get upset over the incident. The Cultural Affairs Ministry has been assigned to deal with the matter and tSri Lanka will take the issue with Kuwaiti authorities at the diplomatic level.
Wimal cuts his
kiribath cake
Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa celebrated his 42nd birthday last week. He decided to cut kiribath (milk rice) instead of cake.
The plate of kiribath, bearing the words ‘Happy Birthday’ in Sinhala was placed at the National Housing Development Authority. Amidst cheers, he cut it.
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