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Countdown partying from luxury hotels to the Galle Face Green
View(s):By Sonja Candappa
As the Mayan b’ak’tun cycle concluded, with the 12th year of the 21st-century passing without apocalyptic tsunamis or zombie plagues, Sri Lankans were preparing to party. The country’s widening income gap dictated on which side of the Galle Face highway you would make merry. The young and well-heeled headed to the deluxe arenas of the Hilton, the Galle Face Terrace and the Taj North Lawn, where they were entertained with dancing girls and international DJs.
Greeting the dawn of 2013 at a hotel in Colombo. Pic by Indika Handuwala
“I’m so glad I was at the Hilton on the 31st,”said Dominique, a 22-year-old partygoer from Kelaniya. “It was super awesome. The dancing angels were the cherry on top of the cake. The party was totally worth the money spent.”
“Crazy awesome”was how Aravindan Ramakrishnan, a 21-year-old from Dehiwala, described the sparkling gala at the scenic Galle Face Terrace. “I was expecting a fabulous start to 2013, and it was an amazing start.” Anuk Perera, 25, and her fiancé attended the hip-hop bash Black and Yellow 2013 at the Taj Samudra.“We had a great time dancing to the beat of DJ Dummy,” Anuk said.
The older generation that is not into strobe lights and loud music was content to enjoy the Mirage croon and the Gypsies baila at Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Lakeside, Ramada and Galadari. “My family and I had the best time at Cinnamon Grand, welcoming in the New Year and dancing to the music of Sohan and the Experiments,”said 48-year-old Andrea from Dehiwala.“The crowd was just great, with mostly nice Europeans and very few youngsters to make a noise.”
“The Gypsies were simply amazing, as usual,” said Rosemarie de Silva, 49, from Rajagiriya.“My husband and I never tired of dancing to Sunil and his gang at the Ramada.” Those who did not want to spend between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 20, 000 for high-end festivities at Colombo’s luxury hotels enjoyed themselves on the public park side of the Galle Face. Middle-class folk had their entertainment at the Green Path Carnival and on the Galle Face Green.
Pannipitiya resident Harshana Dhanushka said he had the “time of his life” with his friends at the Green Path Countdown Party. “We didn’t need imported DJs to end 2012 in style,” he said.
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