• Nanditha sets Earth on Fire
• Lanka Business Report an ETV presentation
• Caravan moves on
• Godmother stands up for justice
• Out of Mahaweli project sprang Kotmale HolidayResort

Nanditha sets Earth on Fire

By Bandula Jayasekara

Nanditha Das set the world of cinema aflame with her first major movie Deepa Mehta's 'Fire'. Now the attractive and dusky beauty is all set to come down to 'earth' with her second major film.

Starring Bollywood heart throb Amir Khan and Rahul Khanna of musical television fame.

'Earth' will have its world premeire next month and is based on Pakistani author Bapsi Sidhwas book 'Ice Candy Man' The film is directed by Deepa Metha and deals with the partition of India and the turmoil of 1947.

Lanka Business Report an ETV presentation

It has been observed that the Sri Lankan business information infrastructure is underdeveloped in comparison with countries of comparable economic development in the region. There is a lack of high quality business information that is relevant, descriptive, analytical, investigative, insightful and timely. Senior corporate executives, professionals, bureaucrats and politicians appreciate the dynamics of the contemporary business environment. They are aware and appreciative of the effects of regional and global economic and political trends on the Sri Lankan business and economy. And they endeavour to be in touch with the goings-on in the rest of the world.

The long wait is over as Lanka Business Report now fills this gap. This much awaited business programme, was inaugurated on Etv's airwaves 6th March 1999. This locally produced programme airs every Saturday at 09.30 pm and Sunday at 11 .am.

The programme is targeted not only at business executives, but also students, and any TV viewers with a keen interest in business. Lanka Business Report is a brisk, authoritative, investigative and unbiased programme, that brings up to the minute business news and information to local TV audiences examining current business issues with an analytical and investigative outlook. The programme will cover capital and money markets, government policy, the economy and implications of regional and global events and trends. Lanka Business Report will also deal with new technology that affects the local business environment including the Internet, which is the emerging new media for global business.Lanka Business Report is a weekly 1/2 hour round-up relating to the Sri Lankan business sector including industry/corporate news, capital and money markets, market, government policy and economy and Implications of regional and global events and trends. The programme will be more of analytical and investigative nature and less of descriptive.

LBR will be officially launched within the first quarter and have subsequent quarterly forums. The programme content will also be distributed via tax and e-mail to a targeted readership. It will also have its own website on the Internet. LBR on CD could be ordered from the site.

Caravan moves on

A few popular yesteryear films are being prepared to be re edited and released by their respective producers.

'Tawalama' (Caravan) a popular picture story by Daya Rajapakse was made into a film in early seventies. Gamini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya Veena Jayakody, Farina Lye acted in this film which was directed by Lal Perera. The producer Senerath Perera of Kaduwela is all out to re edit his film and release it at least in a few theatres. "I was so much interested in films that I started dabbling in this art while studying at Ananda College with my colleague Ranjith Lal. "Senerath said. Later Ranjith Lal made 'Nim Walalla' which was acclaimed as a meaningful film by critics. Mr Perera who is also a film exhibitor is interested in producing another film as he likes to be in the film industry. "I firmly believe that the fading film industry can be made to bear fruit if film makers make good entertaining films"

Godmother stands up for justice

By Kumaradasa Wagista.

'Godmother' a prestigious production from Vinay Shukla, one of India's most gifted screen writers and film makers, is to be screened here shortly.

National Film Corporation presents this film keeping to its policy of screening meaningful films for our cinema goers.

Rambhi ( Shabana Azmi ) is an extraordinary woman. When drought struck her village it is Rambhi who pleaded with her husband to go in search of greener pastures in a nearby town. But their life takes a twist when Veeram kills an arch enemy of the 'Mer' community to which Rambhi and Veeram belong. Overnight Veeram becomes the hero of the community.

Kesubhai is a politician who is there to take advantage of the situation. Veeram becomes a tool of Kesubhai and is involved in mafia deals. By now Rambhi has given birth to a son christened Karsan. When Veeram discovers that he has killed an innocent man at Kesubhai's behest, he is shattered and threatens to commit suicide. However Rambhi persuades her husband to take a vow before a goddess. Very strangely soon after he meets a violent death at the hands of Fogo, one of Kesubhai's men.

Rambhi's world comes to an end. The call for revenge gives birth to a new Rambhi, who is bold, aggressive and even cunning. She takes over the reins of her husband's gang and even plans Fogo's death. Kesubhai realises that the vacuum caused by Veeram's death can be filled by Rambhi. He thinks that Rambhi can be used as a pawn in order to gain political gains by making her elected as the President of the Taluka Panchayat. Meru too is part of this plot. But they have only underestimated Rambhi. Though she sees through Kesubhai's machinations she decides to lead him on to her advantage.

Rambhi uses her new found power to improve the wretched conditions of her people. But even while she's doing good work'she has no qualms in eliminating all those who dared to oppose her. Her power is such that when her brother-in-law Meru threatens her position, she cunningly manipulates Kesubhai into sending him away. Then Rambhi is elected to the Vidhan Sabha, Now she needs nobody, not even Kesubhai who is livid with anger.

By this time Rambhi's son Karsan has grown up to be a handsome young man. He is in love with a beautiful girl named Sejal. He tries her best to woo her. When she ignores his overtures. Karsan seeks his mother's help. He even promises to mend his bad ways after he marries Sejal.

Rambhi believes him and summons Sejal's father. They talk and even arrange the marriage little knowing that Sejal is in love with the tax collectors son Asad. The news devastates Sejal and she decides to confide in Rambhi who has the reputation of being a just woman.

Sejal courageously tells Rambhi that she loves no other person than Asad. Rambhi is shocked, but being a woman she understands Sejal's sentiments. Rambhi tells her son to forget about Sejal.

But headstrong Karson is Rambhi's son after all. He refuses to heed his mother's advise and attacks Asad.

Asad becomes critically injured and a warrant is issued for the arrest of Karsan. Rambhi is furious over her son attacking Asad and questions him why he did so. Karsan replies that he followed her mother's footsteps by keeping to her saying'Get what you want anyway.

His reply comes as a major blow to Rambhi. Rambhi now realises that because of her craze for power she has led Karsan astray.

Meanwhile Keshubai takes this opportunity to strike back at Rambhi. He manipulates and makes this a communal issue as Asad is from a minor community.

He also gets hold of Meru and sets him against his sister-in-law. Then chaos begins in town followed by mass movements and protests. Incidents of violence also take place. All these protests are against Rambhi. The main reason is that her son Karsan has not yet surrendered to the Police.

Rambhi dies setting an example that things should be done above communal issues for the betterment of mankind

Milind Gunaji, Nirmal Pandey, and Govind Namdev play the other main roles.

Vishal Bharadwaj is music director while Rajan Kothari is ciinematographer.

Out of Mahaweli project sprang Kotmale HolidayResort

By Sanath Weerasuriya

The April holiday season is just around the corner. Many dream of going to Nuwara Eliya just to avoid the hazzle and to beat the heat in Colombo.

But unfortunately with the holiday makers and revellers from Colombo, the calm and peace will be gone in Nuwara Eliya . It will be a noisy and busy place like the capital itself.

The revellers want to have fun in Nuwara Eliya and they think there are no substitute places for Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela or Badulla.

But Hotels Corporation has come up with a bright idea to beat this notion - that is 'Kotmale Holiday Resort'.

Surrounded by mountains with forest covered upper and lower slopes terraced to grow Sri Lanka's staple food grain - rice, the sleepy Kotmale Valley is equally or more beautiful and peaceful than any other place in the hill country.

Kotmale Holiday Resort lies in mid hill country about 140 kilometres from Colombo on the road to Nuwara Eliya with the turn off just 15 kilometres from Gampola or via Avissawella,Ginigathena, Nawalapitiya through Ulapane.

The village Kotmale lay forgotten until Sri Lanka's biggest project - Mahaweli Project - identified Kotmale as a site for a dam and reservoir. It has a historic value too. King Dutugemunu is said to have lived incognito as a farmer in Kotmale when hiding from his father, King Kavantissa.

The origin of Kotmale Holiday Resort is not a very old story. The work on the Kotmale dam project was basically handled by the foreign experts and with completion of this project the complex of cottages, central dining and lounge facilities, and recreational facilities including a beautiful swimming pool complex fell on the hands of Mahaweli Authority. Later the complex was turned into a holiday resort after the necessary changes.

Kotmale Holiday Resort came under the Hotels Corporation wings just a year ago. This was transformed into a superb holiday resort for a relaxed stay in salubrious climes and idyllic surroundings. The resort hosts a number of recreational and sightseeing possibilities with the overall plus factor of being reasonably priced.

Kotmale Holiday Resort comprises fifteen individual cottages, a large restaurant, Bar lounge, Conference hall, Mind and Body cure centre and recreation facilities. According to the Resort Manager Lal Karunasena, 12 cottages are divided into four categories. There are two cottages with seven bedrooms - 4 doubles and three singles, six cottages with four bedrooms - two doubles and two singles, four cottages with three bedrooms - one double and two singles and three cottages with two bedrooms - one double and one single.

'All rooms are air-conditioned and each cottage has a dining table, sitting room and attached toilets. Other than the main meals, the refreshments could be ordered through room service. Also a small but fully equipped kitchen is another attraction of this cottage,' Lal explained.

The air-conditioned restaurant can accommodate about 100 in one sitting. Both set menus and a - la - carte menus are available at the restaurant, catering to Western as well as Eastern tastes.

The bar lounge is situated at the ground floor of the resturant by the pool. Television lounge is also a part of the Bar, which is fully equipped with local and foreign liquor.

'Bar-be-que facilities too can be arranged but with prior notice. This can be made an open-air bar-be-que with all the accompanying trimmings,' Lal added.

The Kotmale Holiday Resort provides an ideal venue to hold conferences and training sessions. The environment is conducive to relaxed, undisturbed concentration and participation to obtain maximum benefit. The Confernece Room can accommodate 75 persons in class-room style seating.

A comprehensive range of outdoor recreational facilities to cater to the most fastidious outdoor type are available at the resort. The swimming pool is conveniently located adjoining the central dining complex.

Two Tennis courts, 2 Squash courts and facilities for Badminton, Volleyball and Netball are all flood-lit to ensure that outdoor sports are not restricted to daylight hours. Swings, mat - slide and Sand pit invite little ones to unwind at the kiddies playground.

A mini Pool Table, Table Tennis and Carrom cater to those not in a mood to venture outdoors. To work out a sweat indoors there is the added facility of sauna. For the adventurous types mountain trekking, fishing and rafting in the upper reaches of the reservoir and overnight camping on the banks of the reservoir can be arranged with prior intimation.

The Kotmale Holiday Resort provides a base to a host of sighteseeing possibilities with the Dam and the reservoir by themselves providing a breathtaking start. The hamlet of Kotakapitiya (where King Dutugemunu is said to have lived in hiding) approximately 7 kilometres from the resort . The famous Pusulpitiya Temple, 10 kilometres from the resort, is a treasure trove of history and legend.

A full-fledged Ayurvedic treatment centre is operated within the resort premises. Enjoy a genuine herbal oil massage and experience the difference. Get into the herbal steamer and relax. Meet the doctor for a piece of advice.

The Ayurvedic cure centre is operated under the supervision of a panel of doctors under Dr. Mrs. D. Sumanasekara Wego-dapola, who are higly qualified and Government registered medical practitioners. Well stocked with superior quality medicines, the centre offers round the clock consultation and treatment facilities.

Ayurvedic centres have just stepped into a true "Cure Resort". So get the best out of it. Feel free to make an obligation free visit to the Ayurvedic cure centre. The prices range from Rs. 990/- upto Rs. 6064/- in different levels

'The fullboard package per person on normal weekends is Rs. 990/-. This is not valid during April, August and December season . Long weekends and during the season, the package per person is Rs. 1075/-. This is only for two roomed cottages. This includes all three meals.Three roomed and above is Rs. 1150/- and the newly refurbished cottages are priced at Rs. 4750/- per cottage. Sevenroomed cottage is Rs. 4716/- and 3 roomed one is 1715/-" said Manager Karunasena.

According to him half board too is available skipping one meal.

The bookings can be made through the Hotels Corporation main office in Colombo.

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