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| Gender violence the world over By Zanita Careem According to the World Health Organisation report gender violence is a greater cause of death and disability among women aged 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war. The WHO believes that at least one in five women in the world has been physically or sexually abused by a man at sometime in her life. Until recently the profound effect of violence on women’s lives was hidden. Today it causes damage to even the reproductive system of women in direct and indirect ways by • Unwanted pregnancy through rape or inability to
use contraceptives. India, Korea In Korea, India where women are pressured to have sons they use ultrasound tests to determine the sex of their unborn children and sometimes abort female foetuses. Africa It is a painful ritual operation in which the Africans believe will help control female sexuality. China Brothels A survey in London revealed that every year one woman in nine is severely beaten. Even in Sri Lanka cases of battered women have reached a high percentage. Although gender violence has reached alarming proportions, and the international community is aware of it the battle against it is only beginning. In many countries and in some societies it is still seen as an acceptable part of social life even by many of its victims. Helpless Even when women recognize its danger local customs and financial considerations often make it difficult or impossible for them to leave an abusive relationship. Take the case of a Sri Lankan couple whose married life is a total disaster because of her drunken husband’s abuses and assaults but bear it up without complaining to her parents or friends. Cambodia For many women, pressuring even the most destructive family relationship appears more important than life itself. Even in rich industrialised used countries such as the US, gender violence is a common phenomena. Women trying to integrate into the armed services are sexually harassed and popular ‘rap’ music lyrics, insult women as ‘whores’. Canada Russia In India a bride’s family traditionally gives a dowry to her intended husband before the marriage and if the dowry requirements are not fulfilled to the satisfaction of the boy's family abuse assault and even murder may result. Many resolutions have ben passed at international conferences condemning violence against women. At the international conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994 freedom from violence and coercion was declared an essential prerequisites of the achievement of reproductive health. Finally at the fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China in 1996 women’s equality in all spheres of society was declared fundamental for the advancement of equality development and peace. In 1998 the fortieth session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women will consider gender violence as an official area of concern. Change can come only from within communities themselves. In many countries including Sri Lanka increasing awareness of the danger of domestic violence has given rise to large and growing anti-gender violence movements. A number of new laws against rape and domestic violence have been passed. The media must deal more extensively and sensitively with the gender violence issue and women the unfortunate victims should unitedly stand against this abuse. There’s a languid elegance to clothes. It is all about soft fluidity the pure intense freshness of easy to wear classics innovative, refined, discreet and yet assertive. Contemporary classics created for today’s woman. |
| w The ‘Dhaka Declaration’ The ‘Dhaka Declaration’ unanimously passed at the conference organised by the ‘Coalition Against Trafficking in Women’ on ‘Organising against sexual exploitation in the Asian region, were forwarded to the Heads of State and Ministers of Labour of SAARC to draw their attention to this global problem. Thirty seven delegates from 16 countries attended the conference in Dhaka recently. The declarations • Sexual exploitation preys on women and children made vulnerable by poverty and socio-cultural ideology and practices. • Prostitution and trafficking are forms of sexual exploitation and can never be considered work as essentially they deprive women and children of their human dignity. • Government policies have created situations where their economic policies result in the displacement of peoples creating refugees and migrant population which become targets of sexual exploitation. • Sexual exploitation violates the rights of anyone subjected to it, whether females or male, adult or child, from the South or North. Local and global sex industries and trafficking networks are systematically violating women’s right on a massive scale. • Sexual exploitation is a vehicle for racism and so-called first world domination disproportionately victimizing minority and third world women. • Modern communication technology, such as the Internet, is being misused to promote and enact multiple forms of sexual exploitation. • Prostitution and sex trafficking gravely impair women’s health and can result in infection, injury, disability and death. • Sexual exploitation eroticism women’s inequality. • Prostitution victimizes all women, justifies the sale of any women, and reduces all women to sex. • Women have the right to sexual integrity and autonomy. (ZC) |
| Sigiri
- King Kasapa's abode Sigiri, King Kassapa's abode when looked at from any angle from the surrounding area is awe inspiring. This view is directly opposite the popular one with the lions paw entrance. The King ruled from 473-491 AD having usurped the throne from his brother Moggallana whom their father King Dhatusena (455-473 and builder of Kalawewa) had nominated as his successor. Some scholars believe that the female figures at Sigiri are those of Kassapa's queens. Others believe that they are those of God Kuvera's princesses and that Sigiri itself with all its ornamentation and pleasure gardens was not a fortification only but more of a model of the God's palace on Mount Kailasa. Whichever these figures may be they are of unmatched beauty and grace and are the earliest of Sri Lanka's pictorial art. These are similar in many respects to those at Ajantha in India. A. C. B. Pethiyagoda |
| Arangethram
of Jayakalani Dr. Pandit Visharadha, W. D. Amaradeva To me the synthesis of the three art-forms of singing, instrumental music, and dancing, turned out to be one integrated song. It is no secret that the connoisseurs who assembled at Elphistone that evening, reached an ecstatic level of enjoyment of that integrated 'song'. It is not at all a matter of surprise that this dance debut turned out to be a deeply absorbing performance, when we consider the contributory factors. There was the stream of elegant vocal virtuosity provided by music expert Visharadha Chandrika Siriwardane, whose profound awareness of the notes, melodies and rhythms and expertise in musical experience are perfect. Expert achievement possesses, to elevate the level of high enjoyment of connoisseurs.
This is an age in which practical art and art-criticism tend to march towards decline. It is a matter of happiness indeed to be able to experience such an artistic performance as Jayakalani's Arangethram, at such a time. This performance has escaped the conventional ways of the usual dance debuts. It is a matter for special satisfaction that Jayakalani was able to present an innovative dance creation, nourished by the lyrical compositions of well-known composers Dr. Ajantha Ranasinghe and Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe and supported by the lilting music composition and singing performance of Visharadha Chandrika Siriwardane. Is it wrong in any way to state, that, expressing such a music-cum-dance performance, from beginning to end, is a royal road to cultivate compassion and tranquillity. |
| Forgotten Heritage Submerged harems Gamini G. Punchihewa The waters of the Randenigala gorge were impounded to build the man made lake — Randenigala reservoir in early 1986. Since Randenigala is rooted from time immemorial in Bintenna, the verdant hills, valleys, and dales are reminsicent of Vedda country. Randenigala and Vedda Damanahela are two prominent hills against which the Randenigala dam was built. Veddamanahela means the hunting hill of the Veddas. Randenigala means the priceless hill that gave gold, while some tradition says it was a battlefield in times of ancient kings (Ran-battle-deniya-plains). Came the Randenigala reservior and many purana villages of many legends and historical episodes connected with kings, queens, and princesses of old Lanka were submerged. Among them lie Serasuntenna and Isthripura which sheltered one of the most fabulous geological wonders, namely those marvellous and captivating columns of stalacities and stalagmites (lime stone columns of fascinating formations rising upwards and falling downwards). Such limestone columns with their myriad formations resemble chandelliers and grottos, apart from these formations the hidden caverns of Isthripura, were also home to illicit love affairs among the kings and princes of a bygone era. Hence its name, 'Isthripura' meaning 'harem of damsels'. Telambu shrine Sad legend Second largest
reservoir |
| High Fashion Candlelight and Roses Text and Pics by Kirthi Sri
Karunaratne When Eshani Wijesekera flew out to be married in Sri Lanka to Nalin Liyanamana the ballroom of the Colombo Hilton was given an air of subtle elegance with a tasteful decor. The tulle draped main table and the table on which the pyramid of Champagne glasses were placed, were decorated in cascades of ivy, red and white roses and babys breath, besides delicate fern. The theme was carried out on the tables, and behind the main table were two ice carved vases, massed on top with roses and greenery. The bride wore a Kandyan saree of gold lurex spun jersey, the 'ihe', pallu, and sleeves of the blouse worked in a gold cord to emulate a guipure lace like pattern. She wore traditional Kandyan jewellery, and her bouquet was of ivory and peach roses interspersed with baby's breath and green leaves.
Eshani is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ananda Wijesekera, and Nalin the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bertie Liyanamana. Malika, the mother of the bride wore a Tanchoi silk in sapphire blue, bordered in silver with touches of a rust. She wore diamonds for jewellery and her accessories were in silver. The bridal saree was a Harris Wijesinghe creation. Wheel barrows of flowers placed in strategic places and instead of the usual floral arrangements behind the seat the couple sit on, The chaise lounge was placed in a summer house of drapery and flowers to make a most unusual focal point, at the centre of the ballroom of the Colombo Hilton Hotel. Pink candles on stands made of echo friendly thick reeds, flickered off an arrangement of roses and greenery. This was at the wedding of petite Anosha Subasinghe, daughter of Alfred and Nanda Subasinghe who married Sharm de Alwis, son of Siri and Sumana de Alwis. Her bridal was a Harris Wijesinghe creation out of lace and nylon net. The lace was appliqued in sprays on the net and outlined in a cellophane ribbon, and reembroidered in mother of pearl sequins and pearls. Her simple veil with a fine edging flowed off a diamond tiara, and her jewellery was in diamonds and gold. Her unusual bouquet was a tight posy of pink roses, and Ivy leaves framed in tulle. For her going away she changed into a totally different costume, which consisted of a sarong skirt and top in a champagne beige, with a bold panel of painting in exotic colours, of flame, green, brown and gold. This creation was from Yoland Aluvihare. She had a retinue of two bridesmaids Ashanthi Ratnayake and Reshmal Gomez, and two flower girls Natasha Lourdes and Gimhani Galagedera. The Kandyan saree was also the choice of dimunitive Ballroom dancer Anusha Jayasinghe, when she was married to Manoj de Silva. The venue was once again the Serendib Ballroom of the Colombo Hilton. Anusha's saree of raw silk and lace on net was in the combination of ivory and subdued gold. The 'ihe' was worked in the lace, and the fall which flowed into a train had the wide pallu in the lace on net. She wore the seven chains and padakkams worn by the traditional Kandyan bride, and her bouquet was of ivory and cream toned roses, with baby's breath and greenery. The mother of the groom Nirmala made a charming impression in a koorai saree of the loveliest shade of red woven with silver. Among the diners at the reception was Rehana Kirkoven in a white manipuri silk with border and pallu in dull gold, draped in the Gujarati style, she wore with gold jewellery. Anusha, is the daughter of Senarath and Janaki Jayasinghe, and Manoj, the son of Ananda and Nirmala de Silva. This bridal ensemble was Michael Wijesooriya's creation. |
| o ‘Live Jazz’ for men Inherent to human nature are contradictions. Take today’s men for instance. They are smart, strong, confident and yet sensitive emotional and vulnerable. Yves Saint Laurent traps into this concept as he brings forth another amazing fragrance called ‘Live Jazz’. Designed for men, this is intriguing with a complex blend of aromatic woody harmony — a lively fragrance that sets life in rhythm with pleasure. ‘Live Jazz’ is for those men who dare to live life the way they want. Beating in time to life and music ‘Live Jazz’ embodies the dynamo spirit of the young man. Pulsing with light ‘Live Jazz is the season’s nearest fragrance. Eclectic in fragrance, the perfume comprises city noises, rolling drums, everyday sounds, a heartbeat tempo. Whether from the cellars of Saint German des Pres or the clubs of Harlem, electrified in London, coloured in Tokyo this is music from all four corners of the world. The range includes a rich and lasting fragrance in a slick black and white bottle. A style,.... and attitude... a natural elegance that gets things moving. Today’s fragrance for today’s young man. Available at Exclusive Lines at Majestic City and Liberty Plaza ‘Live Jazz’ is the street where white and black always meet. - Zanita |
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