Plus

Arts

Hit the road and head to Mount Lavinia Hotel
All roads lead to the Mount Lavinia Hotel which plays host today to 'Country Road', the annual country 'n' western and folk music concert. The event themed as a Concert for Displaced Children aims to raise funds for a joint project with UNICEF to restore school libraries in tsunami-affected areas in the country. In the top line-up of performers are the Cosmic Rays, Alien Accent, Flame, Thilan, Peter Harrold, Scott Faiia and Mariazelle with support from the Mavericks duo from Germany and Bob Livingston from Texas.

The show starts at 7 p.m.
Standard Chartered Bank is the main sponsor while the co-sponsors are the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Gulf Air, SriLankan Airlines, The Sunday Times and Classic Radio with support from the Public Affairs Office, US Embassy in Colombo.
The concert is the 13th annual show in the Country Road series held since 1988. More than Rs. 2 million has been raised in the past from these concerts for needy children.

Laszlo’s Hungarian rhapsody
By Esther Williams
"Photography means adventure, excitement and discovery for me, besides creative work," says winner of the Nature Photographer Competition 2004, Hungarian Laszlo Berta who considers himself an amateur photographer approaching professional solutions. Laszlo won several prizes and was commended in various categories - mammals, birds, plant life and landscapes.

All his pictures have exceptional quality and the magical ingredients required for a winning image - quality light that can transform a dull, flat, uninteresting image into something magical, together with good composition and good subject matter. "I take my pictures with the analogue technique," says Laszlo.

Indulging in photography in "fits and starts" since his childhood he took it up seriously only in the past 10 years. "My favourite subjects are portrait, genre photography and everything relating to flying and nature, especially birds," he says.

Clicking the camera is merely a hobby, however, for Laszlo. In Hungary, he is in the audio business, his company carrying numerous audio-manufacturing brands.

His penchant for travelling has brought him to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka over 20 times during the past 10 years, where he has taken pictures of both people and nature. "I like taking pictures at dawn or late afternoon when the light is at its best," he says, adding that his favourite place is Trincomalee, a place with amazing wildlife.

Laszlo's first solo exhibition entitled 'Captured Moments' comprising 75 shots was held in Hungary in April 2004. In recognition of his skill, he has been awarded several prizes in national and international competitions over the years, among them being the 1st prize in the OTP Travel - National Geographic Channel Photographer Competition in Hungary and the second prize in the AVES 2004 International Bird Photographer Competition in Belgium.

"Sri Lanka has a special place in my heart," he says, delighted at having won the award, which he has donated for tsunami relief. "The tragedy has deeply affected me and I want to be of help to my friends as much as I can."

A member of the Hungarian-Sri Lankan Friendship Company, Laszlo who has many Sri Lankan friends both in Hungary and Sri Lanka was not able to participate in the awards ceremony but hopes to come here soon. A portfolio of the winning images can be viewed on np@jetwing.lk.

The war, three women and their agonising wait for a loved one
The poignant and timely tale of war, 'War Letters', directed by Juanita Beling and performed by the Reachdrama theatre group, will go on the boards of the Namel-Malini Punchi Theatre on February 18 and 19 at 7.30 p.m.

This play revolves around three women, Leela, Kamala and Malee, representing three generations - mother, wife and daughter of soldier Udara. It is set in a rural village in the south and hopes to give the audience an insight into how these women deal with the departure of a son, husband and father to the battlefield and the fact that they may never see him again.

While awaiting his return anxiously, powerless in the face of a war that seems unending, they find themselves hoping, praying and wishing for Udara's return. The script cleverly captures the frustration, hopelessness, helplessness and loneliness that each of them feels.

The play also addresses some issues plaguing the nation. Though today Sri Lankans are enjoying peace due to a cessation of hostilities in the northeast, the newspapers reveal that the absence of war is by no means the presence of peace. With the slumber of one form of violence, various other forms have reared up, such as murder, rape and theft. The war is over but peace is still an illusion.

Tickets for War Letters are available at the Punchi Theatre.

Back to Plus