People and Events

• E=Anura C. P
• Ruwani Seimon's song in my heart
• Painting a one kilometre history

E=Anura C. P

This science writer continues in his passion

By Wathsala Mendis

Way back in 1965, an 18-year-old boy who loved stargazing was fascinated by the ''beep, beep'' sound of ''Sputnik'' - the world's first artificial satellite to orbit the earth.

It left a lasting impression on this young mind so much so that two decades later he has became one of the most widely-read science writers in the country. Today at 51, Anura C. Perera is the proud owner of Anura C. Printers and Vidura Science Publishers in Rajagiriya-a man constantly on the move.

While at Nalanda College, Colombo, he dreamt of becoming a pilot. He would also often go to the laboratory and conduct scientific experiments. This unquenchable thirst for knowledge sometimes got him into trouble and many were the times he was reprimanded. Even so, he is full of praise for his science teacher, Dharma Gunesinghe, former principal of Nalanda College who spotted his talent and encouraged him.

His fascination for stargazing led him to avidly read all the books about space and the universe he could lay his hands on. The more he read, the more interested he became. Then he tried his hand at translating articles on astronomy into Sinhala but kept it a secret for sometime.

It was quite by chance that Editor of a Sinhala tabloid 'American News', H.D. Dharmasena, read his articles and asked him to contribute to the paper. His first article was on ''Surveyor 1,'' the first unmanned spacecraft to land on the moon.

Not satisfied with just contributing to newspapers, journals, and magazines, he ventured into writing books. His first book ''Vinodayen Vidya Denuma'' (Fun with Science) was published in 1969 by I.P.B.Printers, Maradana. This was followed by a string of books including Great Journey to the Moon, Sun and Planets, Astronomy, Meteorites and Comets etc.

Getting these published was not easy. He had to conduct private tuition classes and keep contributing to papers to find the necessary funds.

But as the saying goes, ''When the going gets tough, the tough get going''. In his case, it was his sheer enthusiasm for the subject that kept him going. His reputation as a science writer gradually built up and from his eighth book onwards, he was able to publish books on his own.

So far, he has 20 books to his credit, with 19 of them being approved by the Ministry of Education as school library books. His third book Sun and Planets won him the award for the best Sinhala science book in 1971.

So what happened to his dream of becoming a pilot? His passion for astronomy got in the way, of course. Today being the Managing Proprietor of two printing offices and holding top positions in various organizations, he has hardly any time to write.

He finds a faithful companion and a great supporter in his wife, Chandra, a teacher at St.Paul's Girls School, Milagiriya. Their only child, Isuru, is a student at Gateway International School.

Mr. Perera will soon visit the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Centre in Houston, Texas and the Tokyo Planetarium to learn more about his pet subject, astronomy. Beneath his calm, unruffled manner, there's still boundless energy to search for knowledge and more knowledge.

Ruwani Seimon's song in my heart

Leading Soprano Ruwani Seimon Seneviratne along with her modern school of young singers will perform a concert of light classical music on Thursday August 27 at 7.15 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

The concert is being organised in aid of the Ragama Home for children by the Zonta Club of Colombo Which is a service club of women in business and professions.

Ruwani Seimon who is a concert performer and leading trainer of voice is a holder of a first class honours degree in voice from McMaster University in Canada. Her first voice lessons at age six were with her gifted father, the multi talented Dr. Reggie Seimon.

She has since then sung with great flexibility of technique in every discipline from the classics to pop and the modern Blues and is also a skilled keyboardist.

In recent times she has done extensive stage and radio work with artistes Rohan Jayawardena (Voice) and Sujeewa Hapugalle (Piano) Among her well-known pupils are Nevanthi Gunasekera and Charith Peris.

Tickets for the forthcoming concert titled 'A Song in my Heart" are available at Vision House, Bambalapitiya and at the Lionel Wendt Theatre from August 20.

The beneficiary of this concert, the convalescent home for poor children has provided an invaluable service to sick children from lower income homes for nearly 50 years.

It has accommodation for 40 children and has filled a lacuna in Children's hospitals in Sri Lanka.

Painting a one kilometre history

By Chamintha Thilakarathna

The man who made the largest Sri Lankan flag for the country's Independence jubilee celebrations is to launch an even larger project. A one kilometre long and 1 metre high painting of our history.

The painting will depict scenes from Sri Lanka's history from the time of Vijaya to the present day. '"My idea is to create a historically as well as idealistically important work of art. As far as I know, no one has done anything like this," Sri Lal Kumara, the man behind the painting said.

Kumara hopes to involve a hundred artists and several historians who will direct the artists on the episodes from the past they are to capture. One of the unique features of the painting would be that it would have many styles and mediums of different persons contributing to create one large work. The idea behind the painting will be brought out by the unity of the painters and their styles. "I hope to show the harmony that existed and should exist in future through this, while giving a record of our history," Kumara said. The painting which will be done in Sigiriya, is to be completed and displayed at the BMICH initially and later at other districts. Still in a preliminary stage, Kumara extends invitations for sponsors, interested artists and other volunteers to join in the project.

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