The 19th Asia-Pacific Dental Congress and Trade Exhibition was held in Colombo early this month and was attended by a large gathering of local and foreign delegates.
Minister of Internal & External Trade, Commerce and Food Kingsley Wickremeratne in his message to the Trade Exhibition said he was aware of the great contributions made by the Sri Lanka Dental Association by way of undertaking various development projects, promotional programmes, research and development projects for the benefit of the people and also to upgrade the professional standards of its membership.
"The holding of the Congress Sessions and the Trade Exhibition this year in Sri Lanka undoubtedly will bring into focus the capabilities of our professionals as well as the capacities of the trade and may even help elicit interest among the business community to come into partnership for investment in the sector. Trade Exhibitions are a proven marketing tool in getting across new ideas and innovations which could eventually end up as fine business propositions. It is my firm belief that the private sector can play an important role in the service sectors of the country in a far more efficient manner than the Government, if right partnership is established with the professional community," he said.
"Sri Lanka certainly has an impressive record as far as the health status of its population is concerned. This, we have been able to achieve through heavy public spending and also due to dedication and excellent standards of services maintained by our medical professionals. But if we are to continue with this public mission with greater quality assurance in a scenario of exponential development of technology and new knowledge and ever increasing costs of services, the state sector alone will not be able to fulfil that."
"An alliance among the State, the Professional, and the Investor Community is much desired. In that context this type of promotional and awareness programmes can serve a great purpose by way of bringing all the partners together for a bigger purpose," he said.
In his welcome address Dr. L.S.W. Dassananayke, Chairman, Dental Trade Exhibitions, said that-
"In the coming Millennium the Asia Pacific region is predicted to be the "Growth Pole" in a global context with an expected growth rate of over 67 percent, thus making prospects for dental services and products most favourable. It is certain that growth will not be even throughout the region, depending on their economic policies. Therefore, service deliverers and manufacturers may need to identify and target the markets offering the highest potential, accordingly.
Along with the economic growth there is increasing affluence in the society which predicts that dental health care and the cosmetic concepts will be increasingly important.
If the demand for dental products and services together with increasing affluence and purchasing power are channelled through sound advertising and marketing techniques a high growth in the industry is forseen."
He added that Sri Lanka with its liberalized economy having the infrastructure to support rapid growth could easily be an important supply point for the one billion strong South Asian market. With the preferential trade arrangements being initiated under SAARC, lower tariffs and the progressive elimination of non trade barriers to the trade in the Sub region, Sri Lanka can serve as the hub for products manufactured in the country but with projected destinations throughout South Asia.
"A large number of international dental manufacturers and principals from countries like Japan, Germany, USA, UK, Australia, India & Singapore. Sri Lanka have brought in equipment, instruments and dental materials to the exhibition. We are fortunate that they are participating in our Trade Exhibition to share the latest technological developments among the Asia Pacific region"Dr. Dassanayake added.
He also thanked the Minister and the participants for their support on behalf of the SLDA.
The Dental Trade Exhibition which is an important arm of the 19th Asia Pacific Dental Congress was held recently at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo. This mega event where exhibitors from many countries of the world and Sri Lanka participated, was declared open by Kingsley T. Wickramaratne, Minister of Internal and External Trade Commerce and Food, in the presence of a large gathering of foreign and local delegates, past and present council members of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation/Asia Pacific Regional Organisation (APDF/APRO), of the World Dental Federation, exhibitors and distinguished guests. The organisation of this exhibition which was undertaken three years ago was solely due to the untiring efforts of the Chairman and the Sub-Committee of Trade and exhibitions.
A dental exhibition of this magnitude with a large particpation of foreign and local trade which also included some export products as gems/jewels/diamonds was organised for the first time in Sri Lanka.
This attracted many members of the dental profession and also others interested in the technical back-up which would ultimately pave the way to high quality work. It was encouraging to see that about forty-five trade booths of international standards were being patronized by delegates. New dental equipment which has been exhibited for the first time in Sri Lanka, new instruments, and updated dental materials and oral care products enabled the delegates to update their knowledge and expertise in the march to the 21st Century.
The countdown has begun to the night of nights when Miss Working Girl '97 will be crowned on May 7 at the Galadari Hotel. This grand pageant is the major fund raising event for the Lions Club of Thimbirigasyaya, the organizers of this annual event for the 12th time. As in the past, the club has identified a worthy social service project to be completed from the proceeds of this event. Responding to an appeal made by the management of De Soysa Maternity Home, the club has decided to use the proceeds to improve the much needed facilities there.
The main sponsor, Swarnamahal Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd. together with the media sponsors The Sunday Times, Lankadeepa and ETv have added a new dimension to the show making it the most meaningful pageant of talent and smartness for young working girls of Sri Lanka. The sixteen finalists were selected from a record number of over one hundred entries and they are all winners as they take the stage to show what it takes to succeed as a Working Girl. Coming from many disciplines, the contestants have been groomed for the grand occasion by Senaka de Silva and Lou Chin Wong.
It is total image that goes into the making of the Miss Working Girl and the mini titles of Miss Photogenic, Miss Talent and Miss Personality will be awarded to winners in each category in addition to the main title. The only remaining Mini Pageant, Miss Personality will be hosted by the Airport Garden Hotel on April 27. Miss Personality is sponsored by Asoka Glass and Mirror Company (Pvt) Ltd. The winner will be announced at the final and awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and Jewellery from Swarnamahal Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd.
The Main event at Galadari Hotel will feature the finals of the contest and the crowning of Miss Working Girl'97 followed by celebrations in the form of a Dinner/Dance. A limited number of tickets may be available at the main showroom of Swarnamahal Jewellers in Galle Road, Colombo 3.
A photographic exhibition of temple paintings of Sri Lanka depicting the evolution of Buddhist art from the 5th to 19th century, will be held at the National Art Gallery on May 6 and 7.
The exhibition is a project undertaken by the Unilever Cultural Conservation Trust which was established in 1979. The main objective of the Trust is to assist in the conservation of aspects of the cultural heritage which are in danger of deterioration and disappearance.
In 1980, the Trust with the guidance of the Department of Archaeology, selected 75 temples island wide that had a full complement of wall paintings in a fairly good state of preservation for photographic documentation. This project taking over five years to complete and costing over Rs. 8 million, generated about 3500 colour slides of pictures of Temple paintings that are stored at the National Archives for reference for students and future restorers.
The 100 selected photographs of the paintings are from 35 temples situated in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Hambantota, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Matale and Anuradhapura districts and photographed at temples such as Lankatilaka Vihara, Dambulla Rajamaha Vihara, Thivanka Image House, Sigiriya, Mulgirigala Rajamaha Vihara and Pulligoda Galge.
This exhibition will be declared open by the Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranike at 6 pm on the 5th of May. The other guests at the opening will be Lakshman Jayakody, Minister of Cultural and Religious Affairs, Prof. A.V Suraweera, Deputy Minister of Cultural and Religious Affairs, Ambassadors and High Commissioners. This will be opened to the public from 9am to 6pm on May 6 and 7, entrance will be free of charge.
The British Council together with the Gratiaen Trust will present the screening of a documentary video on the making of The English Patient at the British Council on Tuesday, April 29 at 5.30 p.m.
This engrossing documentary follows Anthony Minghella, the English playwright turned director and his crew of actors Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott - Thomas and Juliette Binoche as they turn Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize winning novel into an Academy Award winning film. The film was produced by Saul Zaentz with financial assistance from Miramax. Ondaatje himself did not write the script but was consulted throughout and he loves the result.
Of particular local interest is that Michael Ondaatje donated the Booker Prize money to create 'The Gratiaen Award', an annual prize for creative writing in Sri Lanka.
The following were recently elected to the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka for 1997/98.
J. Romesh de Silva, P.C. - President W. Dayaratne - Secretary M. Faisz Musthapha, P.C. - Deputy President Nilanthi Perera - Assistant Secretary K. Neelakandan - Treasurer Anil Silva, Attorney-at-Law Ajantha Coorey, Attorney-at-Law Ananda Wijesekera, P.C. L. C. Seneviratne, P.C. Kalinga Indatissa, Attorney-at-Law Nihal Jayamanne, P.C. Nalinda Indatissa, Attorney-at-Law Sanjaya Gamage, Attorney-at-Law M. B. Mendis, Attorney-at-Law Anoma Goonetilleke, Attorney-at-Law R. M. S. Rajapakse, Attorney-at-Law A. C. S. Hameed, Attorney-at-Law T. R. Balalle, Attorney-at-Law Kithsiri Seneviratne, Attorney-at-Law
Rev. Frederick George, a young Baptist Minister from Sri Lanka has brought honour to the Baptist Church in Sri Lanka. As on the 27th April 1997 he is installed as the President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Rev George is the first non-Britisher to be appointed to this position.
The Baptist's Union of Great Britain consists of over 2000 churches all over England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Rev George was born in Sri Lanka in the suburbs of Colombo in 1943. He attended Wesley College for his entire high school education. Later he was employed at Associated Motorways until he received the call to serve the Lord in the Ministry. He applied to the Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya and the Baptist Missionary Society of London offered him a scholarship to study at Spurgeons College. He finished his theological studies and returned to Sri Lanka after 4 years. On his return he went to the Theological College of Sri Lanka at Pilimatalawa for his Sinhala studies. But he was invited to join the Ministry at East Barnet Baptist Church which he accepted.
Fred George has been the pastor of East Barnet Baptist Church for the last 26 years_ a record of service in the same church, even in England. He introduced some revolutionary Christian services that made the East Barnet Baptist Church very special in London.
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