This year the Hikkaduwa beach festival really comes into its own. Hikka 2011 is set to transform the coastal town into one giant party and the organisers say the focus is going to be on celebrating all things uniquely Hikka. “It’s been months of planning,” says Chamindra Goonewardene, a Festival Director, explaining that the event will sprawl over three days. Beginning on July 29, over 5,000 partygoers are expected to land on Hikka’s beaches. They’ll be there for the drummers, the rotis and the line up of International DJs – what Chamindra believes might just be the best line up the festival has had so far.
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The parade will kick off the party on Friday which will start with 25 drummers. As they walk, they’ll gather more until a full 200 – drawn from all over the Southern province – coming together to make a noise that will wake the town. For the rest of the party DJs will alternate with live drummers, says Chamindra. After dancing till the wee hours, festival goers will be encouraged to hit the beach for some sand and sun on Saturday. A range of beach sports, a sandcastle competition and a kite festival are all planned for that day. In the evening its bon appetite with the Hikka Roti festival. “Rotis like Avocado Honey Roti were invented here – even if you ate it in Colombo it wouldn’t be as good as what they give you in Hikkaduwa,” says Chamindra.
The party that evening is expected to spill out on to the streets. A festive atmosphere is what the organisers are gunning for. The drummers will reappear, late in the evening, to get everyone dancing again. It’s also the night for one of the most hotly anticipated acts this year. Yves Larock, most famous for his song ‘Rise Up’ will be playing a set. If you’ve stepped into a club recently, no doubt you have words tattooed across their brains. (His dream, you’ll remember is to ‘fly over the rainbow so high.’) Larock is far from being the only star – other international DJ’s including Edele Andaya, Daniel Suwenda and Ben Davitt, along with the country’s top talent, Shiyam, Sajjad and Blake Stryder will be
performing. The Hikkaduwa Drummers, Naadro, Thriloka, Jananath Warakagoda will also be on hand. After two incredible nights of partying, Sunday is to be a day of rest. Festival goers can wind down on the beach with an all day brunch as the juke box switches to jazz and funk.
Tickets only cover access to the events, but the VIPs can expect a little special treatment. There’s the private pool area, an exclusive food and beverage menu as well as a special viewing gallery that will offer an unencumbered view of the stage and ocean, promises Chamindra – “it’s going to be out of this world.”
This is the Hikka festival’s fourth year, and this time around, the event has really become a local production, with everyone in the area taking ownership of the event, says Chamindra. Its offseason in Hikka, and the festival represents a rare chance to woo clientele down not only from other parts of the Island but from other countries such as India and the UAE as well.
“We want to take this to the next level,” says Chamindra, explaining that the festival might be the biggest event on the Hikka calendar, but that it’s certainly not the only one. “The festival should be the launching pad for the rest of the season,” he says outlining plans to keep the parties happening year round. The aim, say the organisers is to establish Hikka as a global brand – one on par with global party destinations like Bali, Phuket and Goa.
For more details log onto www.hikka2011.com.
Working for the community through Interact
The Interact club of Wycherley International School has carried out many projects during this interact year. While most of these projects focus on social responsibilities the interactors have also worked within the school and their private communities. Interact is a movement for school kids that comes under the branch of Rotary International. Fundamentally, it grooms kids to take up leadership roles and work for their community. Interact is school-based and focuses on shaping the minds of the future generations. An Interact Board is appointed by the Club to serve for a period of one year, starting in July and ending in June the following year. There are four main areas that the Interact Board focuses on, namely Community Service, International Understanding, Club Service, and Finance.
The work organized by this year’s board includes health camps, career guidance workshops, IDP awareness seminars, fundraisers for unfortunate children and clearing up Galle Face Green. All these ventures are planned and carried out by the kids themselves, with guidance from a Staff Advisor.
The second community service project was carried out in conjunction with the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA) which saw the club joining hands with the SLGGA to successfully carry out a special Sambuddhathwa Jayanthiya program, comprising of Bana programs, classical Bhakthi Gee programs,by Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, and two Health Camps for 1000 Bhikkus of the Colombo Bhikku Bala Mandalaya and Bhikkus of the Sri Jayawardanepura, Kotte and Maharagama areas. The health camps consisted of medical clinics, dental clinics, ENT clinics, eye clinics, ECG testing, and blood testing.
The Interact Club raised Rs. 30,000 to fund the expenses for the project in addition to assisting with the transportation of the Bhikkus. The environmentally responsible student group also carried out an eco awareness project which involved cleaning Galle Face green. The President of the Interact Club of Wycherley International School sums up the role of Interact. “The Interact Club gives the opportunity for students to actually help out, not just from home, but to work in the field and go to distant locations and really experience what is happening out there. It broadens your mind and prepares you for the future.” |
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