The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka » Magazine http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sat, 23 Jun 2012 22:01:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Rio+20:Been there, done that, got the protest sign http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/mirror-magazine/rio20been-there-done-that-got-the-protest-sign-3894.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/mirror-magazine/rio20been-there-done-that-got-the-protest-sign-3894.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:10:50 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3894 The June rain is dampening Rio; it’s dreary strange for this time of year. There are military police cars parked outside the Rio Centro where the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, is taking place. As I enter the conference venue, I see people from all over the world, distributing flyers and painting posters; there is a sense of energy glistening in their eyes, the kind of gleam you don’t see in negotiators along the corridors of the Rio Centro.� Hopes are high and their energy is contagious. It’s time our leaders look these young men and women in the eye and remember who needs the just, safe, secure and equitable future they are in Rio to talk about.

Speaking at the Youth Blast, renowned environmentalist Marina Silva, said, “People ask me whether I’m pessimistic or optimistic. That’s all I hear around Rio+20. But I answer that I am not pessimistic and not optimistic. But I am persistent.”�Ours is a generation that has inherited a lot of evil from previous generations; and now, the world as we know it, is under threat. In 1992 the Rio Earth Summit helped put Climate Change on the world agenda.

Today, twenty years later, the world can’t afford to wait any longer to address escalating global environmental challenges that our planet is facing. But at the negotiation front, governments do not want to commit to do what they claim to support in principle.
Twenty years ago, Severn Cullis-Suzuki’s six minute speech to the 1992 Earth Summit ‘silenced the world’ and challenged negotiators to ‘make your actions reflect your words.’ Twenty years on Brittany Trilford, who won the “Make a Date With History” contest will present world leaders with her own call to action at the opening of the Rio+20 high-level segment. “Many of you will be gone before any of the environmental consequences of your actions catch up with you”.

Brittany asks in her video. “But what about my children? And my children’s children?”
In the afternoon, strategically planned during lunch hour when negotiators are out in the corridors of the Rio Centro, over 100 demonstrators, mostly young people, joined in a flash mob calling for an end to fossil fuel subsidies.

It began with a single demonstrator who stood up in the crowd, donning an “End Fossil Fuel Subsidies” shirt and sign, and began to chant, “The future I want? No fossil fuel subsidies!” One by one, over 100 others joined, revealing their own shirts and signs, joining the chant. Later that day, the demonstrators joined tens of thousands of people engaged in a “Twitterstorm” to flood the internet with a call to #endfossilfuelsubsidies, it was the number one trending topic on Twitter in the U.S. and number two in the world.

Each evening ‘Rio Fossil Awards’ are presented, these highlight the country, or countries, which do the least to support progress (or the most to block) issues relevant to climate change, such as energy, forests, and the green economy. The United States bagged the first ever Rio Fossil, awarded to them ‘for the overall strength of their commitment… to not having any real commitments’.
Most activists have already lost faith in their leaders tasked with coming up with a binding outcome document that will immediately address the environmental concerns of our time. History will probably not be re-written at Rio+20, it probably won’t be remembered for its negotiations or the potential draft outcome document. However it should be remembered as a coming together of minds. Even though different causes have inspired people to converge at Rio de Janeiro, there is a shared sense of passion, discussion, and interaction between people who might have never spoken before.

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/mirror-magazine/rio20been-there-done-that-got-the-protest-sign-3894.html/feed 0 Hands in harmony http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/hands-in-harmony-3908.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/hands-in-harmony-3908.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:33:26 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3908 Apart from near perfect harmonizing and impressive dynamics, the first thing the onlooker notices about the Methodist College Choir at practice is the movements they make.

Is it choreography? Apparently not, similar to the gestures made by the conductor of a choir, slight hand movements seem to be made almost unconsciously by these performers as they fine tune what they promise will be a stunning repertoire at their upcoming concert- Canto Vivace- to be held on June 28 and 29 at the Lionel Wendt.

 

“The science behind the movements is something I picked up on a while back,” comments director Sanjeev Jayaratnam as he watches the choir he has been training since January 2010 practicing a rousing Sinhala Medley. “I first saw this being done when I watched a practice by the Manado State University Choir when it made its debut tour to Sri Lanka in November last year, and decided to try it out.”
Safe to say the random experiment was a success. From the softer moments of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables and ‘In Paradisum’ from Gabriel Faure’s Requeim, to the exuberant chorus of Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’, the movements help create a certain intensity and energy which would normally be difficult to achieve.

“It was very interesting to learn that movement- whether it is a slight jerk of the shoulder or a fluid motion of the hand- could help the voice- or voices to create certain effects; perform tricks,” says Sanjeev. “When I first suggested this practise to the choristers there were a few raised eyebrows and a little reluctance but now, the movements come naturally to them and really help at practises.” With a few days left before the show opens, Sanjeev is confident that the combination of talent, passion and commitment; and of course a few tricks of the trade, has resulted in a special performance.

“I have never seen a group that has mastered such a wide range of dynamics,” he says, “and their versatility helps them perform well in several genres.” And the genres the choir will perform in Canto Vivace are as varied as the dynamics their Director speaks of. From classical to contemporary and everything in between, the repertoire also contains a few interesting experiments- one being an entire song without words- a performance the choristers are particularly proud of.

“The experience of this concert has been extremely challenging, but rewarding as well,” says Keshia Kumaresan (17) and her friends Robesha Christy, Joanne Symons, Thyasha Dissanayake, Sindhu Ratnaraja and Menaka Edeman agree.
The group of senior choristers agrees that the choir has evolved a great deal, incorporating new styles of singing into their performance. “It is very liberating for all of us, comments Thyasha.

“We really enjoy ourselves at practises; and the experience of working in a team is really great.”
Despite having to balance time between studies and other extra-curricular activities, the group agrees that the discipline they have learnt to cultivate in the process of practicing for the concert has helped them to achieve a better sense of balance than before.
The Methodist College Choir is accompanied by Dharshi Edward, Neranjan de Silva and Christopher Prins. They will be joined by Asteria, a premier female choir in Sri Lanka trained by Mahen Peiris, which consists of past pupils from the school; as well as the MC OGA Choir, “Metho Cantanti” trained by Anagi Perera.

Tickets for the show priced at Rs. 1000, 750, 500 and 300 are available at the school office.

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/hands-in-harmony-3908.html/feed 0 Earthlings watch out http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/earthlings-watch-out-3911.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/earthlings-watch-out-3911.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:34:19 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3911 Paranoid Earthling is back with the ‘Paranoid Earthling LIVE’ series this June. The band will take the stage at the Fuze in Colombo on June 30 for another raw, power-packed performance.

The group will be performing their originals such as ‘The Highway’ ‘Reign’, and ‘69’, popular covers and a few jams for this show. Fans can expect to hear a m�lange of genres from the guest acts lined up for the event: Hard Rockers ‘Helter Skelter’, the Kandyan Black Metal gurus ‘Pariah Demise’ and Progressive Thrash Mettallers ‘Hollow’ will grace the stage.

This year shows will be held in Kandy, Arugam Bay and Hikkaduwa. The dates will be announced through the band’s website, so look out Earthlings, your favourite band will be performing in your town soon! For more information log on to facebook.com/paranoidearthling. Tickets could be booked at ticketslk.

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/earthlings-watch-out-3911.html/feed 0 Beat boxing their way to the top http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/beatboxing-their-way-to-the-top-3899.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/beatboxing-their-way-to-the-top-3899.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:17:38 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3899 For many, beat-boxing is practically a phenomenon, as it’s one of the most difficult genres of music to master. Certainly in Sri Lanka, very few have mastered the practise. Diego Samson (18)and Shonel Perera (16) are two such artistes who’ve perfected the nuances of being a human-beatbox. The two pitted against each other at Talent Search 2012 organised by Royal College recently in a beat-boxing showdown.

Diego started out two years ago, when he happened to come across a video of French beatboxer Pulpo-he’s been hooked ever since. Sites like YouTube, have helped him along from the baby steps to where he is today. “YouTube literally taught me everything I know,” he grins. “After that first video I was absolutely hooked! And I kept searching for more artistes on YouTube and learnt from them.”

Shonel

His first gig was at a school event. A student of St. Sebastian’s College, he performed at their Colours Night, and from then on moved to performing for larger audiences at zonal events and even at a Y Channel event.

Shonel was lucky enough to have a real life mentor. His uncle Julius Mitchell who has been performing on the Colombo circuit as a beatboxer. Fascinated, he asked his uncle to teach him and what started off as an experiment quickly evolved into a passion when it became clear that Shonel wasn’t your average beatboxer. Julius started teaching him the more in-depth aspects and soon Shonel was performing in public as well as for school, interact events and most notably a funeral!

A member of his school choir at St. Benedicts, he already had a musical background that no doubt helped when it came to taking up beatboxing. The response so far has been amazing. “People come up to us and ask how on earth we do it!” Shonel laughs.

Diego

They say the trick of learning to beatbox properly is to start from the very basics. “A little obvious, I know,” says Diego. “But a lot of people think they can start off and immediately try and sound like the professionals. You can’t do that. You have to watch a lot of videos and learn what the basic sounds are. Once you’ve established that foundation, it’s a matter of building on it and creating your own pieces.” “Some people might think that it’s a bit like copying,” adds Shonel.

“But to be honest you have to watch and learn from the established artists if you want to do well on your own afterwards.” They look up to legendary human beatboxers like Pulpo, Joel Turner, Eclipse and Wise for inspiration. And an inspiration they will be to other aspiring young beatboxers as they are taking Sri Lanka’s music industry to a whole new level.

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/beatboxing-their-way-to-the-top-3899.html/feed 0 ‘GLORY’ at the Margarita Blue http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/glory-at-the-margarita-blue-3919.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/glory-at-the-margarita-blue-3919.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:55:15 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3919 The popular band ‘Glory’ comprising of five young and upcoming musicians are attracting large crowds currently to the Margarita Blue at the Galadari Hotel.

Formed in 2008 in Moratuwa, the band ‘Glory’ comprises Sanuka Wickramasinghe on lead vocals, Shane Vas on guitar and vocals, Sahan Silva on bass and vocals, Janith Chathuranga on keyboards, saxophone and vocals and Lakshan Fernando on drums.

Well known for a musical style that combines elements of Pop, Classics, Rock n’ Roll, Soul, Funk, Classic Rock, R&B, Reggae, Country, Rumba Flamenco, Blues and Jazz, the band has the ability to cater to a wide array of music.

Sanuka possess an inborn talent for singing and comes from a very musical family. A full time musician Sanuka whilst being the lead vocalist is also a music composer. Shane has made his mark in the musical industry for being a guitarist who has a great ‘feel’ with regards to his musical capabilities and has mastered the talent for improvising to any style of music.

Sahan brings the groove to the band with his guitar and is famed for being a great ‘finger style’ and ‘pick bass guitarist’. Janith has a great talent for Jazz and Blues as well as an extraordinary talent for playing the keyboard. His many talents also include having a great voice to sing and harmonize. Lakshan is an exceptional musician with superb drumming skills. His inspiration is derived from the legendary drummer Simon Philips.

Packed with unending potential ‘Glory’ takes the Margarita Blue by storm every Sunday from 7.30 pm to 1.00 am.

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/glory-at-the-margarita-blue-3919.html/feed 0 The Hulftsdorp debates: Creating a network of understanding and cooperation http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/the-hulftsdorp-debates-creating-a-network-of-understanding-and-cooperation-3897.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/the-hulftsdorp-debates-creating-a-network-of-understanding-and-cooperation-3897.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:12:03 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3897 Seven national higher educational institutes will come together for a verbal battle at the Hulftsdrop Debates 2012. A one-of-a-kind debating competition among university level students in Sri Lanka, the debates will be held on July 7 and 8.
The Hulftsdrop debates are organised by the English Literary Association of the Sri Lanka Law College with the aim of improving debating standards within and outside the college.

Through the debates, they hope to establish a network of understanding and cooperation between the Law College and the various universities and institutions. The debates will be attended by the University of Colombo, University of Peradeniya, University of Jaffna, University of Kelaniya, and Sabaragamuwa University among others. They will be assisted by the Debaters Council of Sri Lanka. The council, made up of former debaters, was formed a few years ago as a formalisation of the judging process use to judge school and university level debates. They will be overseeing and participating in adjudication to maintain transparency. For more information write to rajitha at ela@lawcollege@gmail.com

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/the-hulftsdorp-debates-creating-a-network-of-understanding-and-cooperation-3897.html/feed 0 ‘Appachchi’ another tele hit by award winning Ananda http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/appachchi-another-tele-hit-by-award-winning-ananda-3933.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/appachchi-another-tele-hit-by-award-winning-ananda-3933.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 11:05:57 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3933 Award winning teledrama director Ananda Abeynayake’s latest direction ‘Appachchi’, is a story of a father who struggles to bring up his four young daughters following the untimely death of their mother which is now being telecast at 8.30 pm prime time belt every Saturday on Swarnavahini.

Based on a true story, the teleplay was scripted by young actor and script writer Namal Jayasinghe. As a script writer Jayasinghe has a number of teledramas including ‘Jeewithayata Idadennaa’ and ‘Ahasin Wetuna’ directed by Ananda and the film ‘Ira Mediyama’ made by Prasanna Vithanage.

The teleplay opens with Megana, a young girl aspiring to have her higher education in England writes a book captioned ‘Adaraneeya Appachchi’ about her memories of her father who brought her up and three other sisters in the absence of their mother. The story begins when a young father Dhamma Bandaranayaka looses his loving wife who was a caring mother of his children and was left alone to raise his four daughters.
The future he hoped to build with his loving wife and children is no more, what’s remaining for him is his wife’s love for his four daughters and his ambitions.

Bandaranayaka takes up the task of bringing up the daughters with good moral qualities and discipline which was the dream of his wife. Their wooden house built adjoining a small farm is situated by a small lake. Playing the dual roles of father and mother for the young daughters, he ensures that his children stick to values even if they have to face difference of opinions or disagreements.
The father teaches them to be strong at the same time ensures that they be independent and open-minded and above all the daughters to be there for each other at difficult moments.

The four daughters grow into well mannered, good hearted women with commendable human qualities but their father has forgotten to teach them one thing that living according to one’s moral values is likely to lead them towards complications.
Once they go out into the world, would they be able to continue to be the women their father thought them to be, would they be able to maintain their moral values and face the world which is full of deceit, pretence and dishonesty becomes the father’s worry. The teleplay ends with ‘Appachchi’ having to resolve all these.

The main cast of ‘Appachchi’ is played by Jackson Anthony, Chandani Seneviratne, Lucian Bulathsinhala, Priya Ranasinghe, Padmini Divithuragama, Shyam Fernando, Athula Pathirana, Umali Thilakaratne, Namal Jayasinghe and Vishwajith Gunasekara.

 

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/appachchi-another-tele-hit-by-award-winning-ananda-3933.html/feed 0 Muhurath for ‘Mega’ http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/muhurath-for-mega-3937.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/muhurath-for-mega-3937.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 11:06:37 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3937 With the latest trend of multi-episode teledramas which is popularly known as ‘Mega’, a hilarious teleplay is to be made revolving around a teledrama cast and crew directed by Daminda D. Madawala. Muhurath for the teledrama ‘Mega’ is held recently and the shooting will soon.
This is a story of a teledrama production team which is struggling to maintain the television ratings, ‘Mega’ and is played by Gihan Fernando, Giriraj Kaushalya, Damayanthi Fonseka, Sulochana Weerasinghe, Dishani Perera, Darmapriya Dias, Aravinda Dombagahawatte and Ajith Krishantha Saram.

With the demand by the television channel to stop the teledrama as its rating was going down, the director played by Gihan Fernando and his team are trying various ways to increase the popularity of their production which is done every week.
Actors and actresses leave the director but the teledrama has to continue. But the teledrama gets unexpected popularity with the joining of a new tea boy, whose behaviour and appearance creates humour. Camera is handled by Kapila Sugath Wijayaratne, screenplay by Asanka Sayakkara, the editor of ‘Mega’ is Viranga Katapearachchi. Make up is done by Priyantha Dissanayake and art director is Thilanka Batuwaththa.

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/muhurath-for-mega-3937.html/feed 0 Reviving short films of Sri Lanka http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/reviving-short-films-of-sri-lanka-3929.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/reviving-short-films-of-sri-lanka-3929.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 11:04:45 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3929 The art of short films in Sri Lanka has been used as a stepping stone to lengthy feature film making. Almost all the filmmakers who made their name coming as short filmmakers did not go back to the art that gave them exercise to gain the practical knowledge in making movies. With lack of audience and platform to showcase, the existence and expansion of short film culture in the country was hardly noticed. However at present Sri Lanka makes at least 100 short films a year with professional cameras, home used video cam or mobile phones. But most of these are made by those with lack of experience, education or basic knowledge and it is in this back drop ‘Bonsoir Short Film Master Class’ is being conducted in Colombo for the second consecutive year today, June 24 at the BCIS.

Anomaa Rajakaruna

A joint venture by the French Embassy and Agenda 14 Short Film Festival, award winning young filmmaker, Vimukthi Jayasundara conducted the first master class last year and internationally acclaimed filmmaker Asoka Handagama is to conduct it this year.

“Training young people to do short films and training them to express themselves by making films from more affordable tools is our main aim,”said Anomaa Rajakarunanayke, editor of film magazine ‘14’ and coordinator of the master class told TV Times.

The master class is part of the French Embassy’s effort to promote arts and culture which it earlier did through one of the oldest television programme ‘Bonsoir’ for 26 years.

“Bonsoir was introduced as early as the birth of television in this country but today the television time is dominated by mega serials and reality shows and the unique role played by TV is now taken over by youtube and other social medium and some of the strengths that were unique to TV has been shifted,” said Anomaa who worked for Bonsoir after it reformatted in 2004 inviting young and budding television artistes to conduct programmes.“After taking up Bonsoir my main duty was to reformat the programme and make Bonsoir a training ground for young people,” she said.

“Communication is not anymore preaching. It has become a visual literacy how to educate young people to tell something visually. Our aim is to do this,” Anomaa explained.

A platform for short films is also created annually with ‘Agenda 14 Short Film festival’ which started last year where a large number of short films were submitted from various part of the country. Seven award winning short films at the festival were screened at French film festival, ‘Bonjour Cinema’ that concluded on Saturday.

“We wanted to create a platform for the young people who use visual medium for expression and there were very good short films produced and we can see hope through these creations,” Anomaa who is also the director of the short film festival said.
The young filmmakers selected obtain opportunities to get international exposure and promote Sri Lankan short films abroad.
Packaging Sri Lanka’s best short films and to create a DVD from the best selected short films and offering it to the audience here and abroad is our aim.

Asoka Handagama

“Young filmmakers are going for very different and bold themes. More contemporary issues like Sri Lankan political realities, personal experience, personal struggle and sexual desires are issues recommended for their creations. That way short film makers are more progressive and that’s why they should get some international exposure and our aim is to bridge that gap.
With the demand following Colombo, the Master class is to be conducted in other parts of the country like Ratnapura, Trincomalee and Jaffna.
The people in the North and the East need more exposure and that is why we are doing two in the North and East as we have seen a lot of films from these regions.

This can even lead to a dialogue between the north and the south.

]]> http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/reviving-short-films-of-sri-lanka-3929.html/feed 0 Lucky joins Nalan in ‘Sathuru Mithuru’ http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/lucky-joins-nalan-in-sathuru-mithuru-3927.html http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/magazine/lucky-joins-nalan-in-sathuru-mithuru-3927.html#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 11:02:29 +0000 Pubudu http://192.168.210.154/sundaytimes/?p=3927 Cinema and teledrama actor, Lucky Dias is to play his first role under experienced teledrama director Nalana Mendis in his latest teledrama “Sathuru Mithuru” which is currently on the process of shooting.

Lucky who became popular as ‘Baladewa’ in Parakra Niriella’s teledrama ‘Yasho Ravaya’ and played a number of roles in mini-screen will play a lead role in Nalan’s teledrama.

Other main roles are played by Yashoda Wimaladarma, Moreen Charuni, Priya Ranasinghe, Bimal Jayakodi, Kamal Deshapriya, Wishwa Lanka, Ruwangani Ratnayake, Sujiwa Priyalal, Kavinga Perera and a host of artistes in the tele industry. Produced by Shan Ratnayaka , camera by Kularuwan Gamage, music direction of “Sathuru Mithuru” by Rohana Weerasinghe and it is to be edited by Duminda Prematileka.

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