• Minneriya - where the pachyderms roam now
• Henna for brides
• Musical fiesta for disabled soldiers
• Forgotten Heritage
  The 990 years old Kotmale devale
• She is 'Shanthi' in reverse
• H I G H-F A S H I O N S
  Range of styles from Kandyan to Western
  When the brides walked down the aisle...

When Minneriya was resurrected under the late premier D. S. Senanayake, elephants inhabiting the surrounding jungle areas were displaced. It is reported that land settlement and cultivation under these gigantic schemes was almost thwarted until elephants were brought under control unfortunately by shooting and simnilar means.

Today only a small number of the vast herds which once roamed these areas remain. The forest areas are largely denuded due to more recent logging principally by the State Timber Corporation.

Yet, Minneriya has once more blossomed in recent times as a popular destination for wildlife lovers. The principal attraction is elephants. At this time of the year, at the tail end of a dry season when the tank waters have receded, it is common to see up to a hundred elephants feeding on the luscious grasses that cover the exposed tank bed and come to water at the tank.

The lush green of the grassy shores brilliant blue waters of the tank, and dashes of red soil scarring the distant shores make a most colourful and distinctive setting for the most enthralling views of large herds of elephants. In the distance looms a subtle backdrop of mountains in their pastel hues rising under a vast canopy of open skies in the clear air.

Thanks to the recent declaration of Minneriya National park by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the public now are able to enter these areas via a jungle route. A new road has just been bull-dozed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation from the park entrance at Ambagahawewa - the site of the old Wildlife beat post there, (8.8km from Habarana on the Habarana - Polonnaruwa Road), to reach the tank shores. Two loops of 8 and 22 km takes the visitor through regenerated scrub areas, glades, forest and bamboo thickets to the spectacular shores of Minneriya tank. The Park area dominated by Minneriya tank is characterised by adjacent flood plains, forest, and wooded hills extending northward from the Sudukanda range.

From November to March, the tank usually fills up with the northeast monsoons rains. In the following months the water recedes through draw down for cultivation, thereby exposing the rich shoreline where the grasses sprout attracting elephants and other herbivores. Deer, sambhur, and wildboar, and lesser dry zone fauna are present although still shy. Leopard and bear are also about. Adjutant storks, large raptors such as serpent eagles, tank eagles, peafowl, quail, storks - Adjutant and parson's jungle fowl, ibis etc. can be seen.

Park management is only developing. A small staff comprising of the park Warden, two assistant rangers, and three game guards, presently balances daily duties of policing veterinary care, improvement of roads and hosting visitors. They have already put together a small collection of skulls, bones etc., which interests visitors. A well documented and displayed collection could be of considerable educational and scientific value.

There are no maps as yet with only two major road loops. Weekends are usually busy and a single officer tries to cope with the archaic manner of writing out individual permits. One guard has to take several vehicles under his care and control of unruly visitors is a problem. This can be a danger when elephants are about with visitors dismounting and vehicles crowding and revving engines.

Park access is officially through the office at Ambagahawewa. Yet vehicle entry through old trails from various points on the boundaries is unregulated especially with Service vehicles from nearby military facilities. While more responsible Service personnel now enter through the park Office, others are reported to enter through old jungle trails and engage in poaching deer, sambhur etc. Some of this is offered for sale.

A recent killing of an elephant led to the arrest of two soldiers who had shot at the animal at the request of a local cultivator. In that area, it is common for the service personnel to leave a gun and cartridges for a local cultivator in the evening and come in the morning to collect the carcasses, leaving a share for the hunter. Sometimes the meat is offered for sale to local hotels etc.

As much as the forces have the sympathy and support of the public, better environmental education, respect of the law, and disciplinary control by superiors is imperative if the park regime is to be enforced effectively. Closing off these unauthorized routes and cutting new roads especially on the western side is part of the present programme of the department. Some traditional fishing activity still goes on.

A security problem, recently triggering a combined security operation has arisen due to the influx of a growing number of visitors, leaving open the possibility of infiltration by terrorists. At present, there is insufficient control of persons and vehicles entering and leaving the park. Park access and control procedures must be improved, and co-operation between Wildlife authorities and the Services strengthened.

Both Minneriya and Giritale tanks are within the park with the south-eastern boundary of the park being contiguous with the Giritale tank bund. Areas of the tank bed exposed during the dry season provide lush grasses for large numbers of elephants. To the south lies the Wasgomuwa national park while the Hurulu Forest Reserve situated to the north-west of the Park also includes prime elephant habitat and migratory elephants move between these areas, specially in the dry season.

It is believed that around one hundred elephants permanently stay within the park area, while around three hundred circulate through the park and adjacent areas, concentrating themselves here during the dry season. Some of the elephants that had been frequenting the populated areas around Giritale with inducements of food from some local entrepreneurs to attract tourists, have apparently been chased into the Park area by the Department staff.

It is also believed that the recent declaration of the National park was prompted by the actions of tourist "safari" jeep drivers from Habarana and surrounding areas in denuding and burning forests in an effort to make open areas for easier viewing of elephants.

As a result, elephant feeding grounds had been affected with adverse consequences for village cultivations. Hopefully all this will eventually come under control as the Park management improves.

According to the interim Fauna International Sri Lanka elephant management plan presented by the Sri Lanka Elephant group to the Government for finalization and implementation, the area is rich in elephant fodder and attracts large numbers of elephants during the height of the drought in August-September. The majority of these herds come from the vicinity of the Hurulu Forest Reserve. The resident elephants in this area include the Kiri Oya herd numbering 20 to 25 and a large number of lone bulls.

There are no bungalows yet, but good jump off points are the Habarana, and Giritale Hotel which provides a delightful view of Giritale tank, the bund of which forms the eastern boundary of the new National Park.

In time, as other roads are opened and park security for the fauna increases, it is likely that Sri Lanka's latest National Park will become a popular destination.- (Fauna International, August 1998)

A family group at Rambavila - one of many that delight visitors.

by Zanita Careem & Pix. by Eranga Jayewardena
Henna or Marathondi is an intricate art, says Masuma Asgerally and most Muslim brides apply it on their feet and hands.

She took to it as a hobby and gradually developed her skill to master the art of applying it giving thought to much details. She inherited this talent from her mother who was inept in creating intricate designs with henna.

She said "it began as a hobby when I was a child and talent and experience has made me famous."

Now she has won as an expert on applying henna on brides.

Henna is a Persian name originated in the Mideast about 5000 years ago or even before and is reported to have been used as a preservation of the mummied Pharoahs. Arabian divers for Pearls have applied henna on their feet to ward off sharks. It was also used as a medicine for skin ailments.

"I love applying henna as it derives great pleasure when I see the beautiful hands, and feet of brides."

She continued: "I was intrigued by these green leaves when turned into a brown paste and experimented with them. Mixed with herbs and eucalyptus oil, henna is traditionally used to decorate the hands and feet of brides with elaborate designs. The mixture penetrates the skin and the orange coloured stain it leaves behind darkens the first two days, then fades after about two or three weeks. "As long as it lasts, the newly wed should exempt herself doing any housework," she says.

There is also a superstitious belief that the darker it gets the more your mother-in-law will love you. At every marriage henna parties are organised for the women folk on the eve of the marriage, more often henna is the symbol or marriage ceremonies.

Many beauticians and cosmetics manufacturers use this scrub as a happy ingredient for their products like shampoos, conditions and hair dyes.

In the Mideast black henna is used for the feet while the red is used for hair. Men also use to dye their beards and hair. Masuma specialise in applying marathondi on brides and she says it involves lot of patience and hard work and time in drawing up and applying the intricate designs on brides. "I don't do this for a commercial purpose. I charge only a nominal fee. Whenever the need arises I even do it free for less wealthy brides".

Masuma gives free demonstrations whenever anyone wants it. She has given free demonstrations in schools.

Traditionally the herb was manually crushed to get the paste which was mixed with water and other ingredients to enhance its colour. It takes four hours to dry after applying on the skin. Techniques to keep the paste moist include mixing it with sugar and lemon juice. According to beauticians, they apply "steam heat to the areas on which it is applied to speed up the drying process or apply castor or clove oil to help deepen the hue."

Henna, nowadays, is available commercially in tubes. Artists mix the powder with water or eucalyptus oil and use a plastic cone to apply in patterns.

Masuma's designs are her own creations. She does not use any catalogues.

The flower, the buds the wines, the peacock you name it Masuma can depict them on your hands and feet.

The most intricate work would be done would takes about one hour or two otherwise it take only 5 minutes to decorate the palm. "You can keep on changing the pattern over and over again whenever you want to".

A mother of three daughters with a husband in the import business, Masuma feels marathondi is a fashion fad among Sri Lankans. It is not only the Muslims who go for Mehendi now it is a fad among teenagers.

Masuma caters for weddings and parties. She takes orders for short-eats and cakes.

She can be contacted on Tel. 594070 (Sri Lanka)

Ranaviru Gee Savana was a fiesta of song and dance-a special service project organized by the members of the Lions Club of Nugegoda central, for the disabled soldiers at Ranaviru Sevana.

It was a show, to show their gratitude and appreciation for the brave soldiers who fight fearlessly, laying down their lives to save our nation.

The brave soldiers are disabled today, not by design, not by fate but by the love that they had for their motherland and it's people. - To have been struck by a cruel hand of fate in the prime of their lives touched the hearts of these minstrel angels-the pride of lady lions of the Lions Club of Nugegoda central.

It touched everyone's heart to see the soldiers on wheel chairs, dancing to their heart's content, though still rooted to their seats.

District Governor, District 306 C was the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour was a disabled soldier-Corporal Wijaya-nanda whose home has been Ranaviru Sevana from 1988. Among the visitors there were Governor Lion W. M. S. Wijesundera his Lion Lady Ajantha, Vice District Governor Lion Royston De Silva his Lion Lady Maya, Region Chairman Lion Piloo Lakdawalla, Past District Governor Lion Asoka Gunasekera and his good lady, Zone Chairperson & District Chairperson for Lion Ladies Activities, Lion Buddheni Gunesekera their Charter President.

What was most beautiful to witness was the host of most popular artists and dancers, actors and actresses performing free of charge, Nirosha Virajini, Visharada Chandrika Siri-wardena, Menike Attana-yake, Suneth Walpola, Ronnie Leitch, Keerthi Jayasekera, Narada Disa-sekera, Anton Jones, Lumbini Liyanage, Milton Perera's younger son, Damitha Abeyratne, Actors in the calibre of Ravindra Randeniya, Anoja Weerasinghe, Kamal Addrarachchi who came from his sick bed and a host of other popular artists were all there to show their gratitude as well.

We must not forget Chitra Kumari Kalubowila who kept everyone on their toes with her super job as compere of the show.

by Gamini G. Punchihewa
In the Kotmale region there stands an ancient devale with its eerie surroundings. But the people of the area still pay homage in time of distress when the devale festival is held annually.

This antiquated Devale is the Weramunde Devale which is by the road side of Kotmale-Pundalu Oya road. According to local traditions written in an archaic script it says: "Namasiya pansiya annuwak pura thibu Arauwe Pura Thibu Arauwe vedagath patana". 'It is a devale lasting from nearly 990 years under a nuga tree.'

First Dalada Perahera
When the secred tooth relic of the Buddha was brought from Polonnaruwa to Gampola, before it could have reached there, oral tradition says it was kept at a place called Malhena in the Kotmale Valley. As a Dalada Perahera was organised to commemorate this occasion, a place was chosen from where the Perahera should actually commence.

That appointed place from where the Dalada Perahera should start came to be called Niyamakaragaththena which later they say corrupted into present day Niyangandora.

Malhena means the place from where flowers were offered to the perahera. It was from here that the Sacred Tooth Relic was taken to Yapahuwa in the 13th century of King Buvanaka Bahu I.

There is also a Raja Maha Viharaya at Niyangandora which is situated along the Kotmale-Pundalu Oya road. This road runs through the new township of Kotmale and Tawalantenna. It is about five miles from the full-fledged township of Kotmale at Balapokuna which was inaugurated by the late President, R. Premadasa on March 10-1990. It is about five miles from this new township of Kotmale at Balapokuna.

The incumbent of this Niyangandora Raja Maha Vihara, at the time visited it in the 1990's was Ven. Medakumbura Lanka Nanda. He looked a pious and an amiable Buddhist monk. He gave us willingly the antecedants of this ancient temple and the rambling old devale, rich in amusing but weird legends.

He also related the old traditions linked to this Niyangandora and of the old generations who held prestigious clan names. A certain generation of people called Uduwakke who had originated from Kotmale had connections with the Kandyan royalty. This particular generation also had clientele relationship (Dayakayas) with the ancient temple called Pusulpitiya Raja Maha Vihara of Kotmale which was described in the last article series.

The last king of Kandy, Sri Wickremarajasinghe, had requested that the Uduwakka lineage to choose any items secreted in the Royal Treasury. This ancester of the Uduwakka generation, is believed to have taken two elephant tusks from Royal the Exchequer, as requested by the king.

These tusks, they say are enshrined at the Pusulpitiya Raja Maha Viharaya and that the Uduwakka generation was bestowed by the king giving the rank of Uduwakke Mudiyanse (also called Sattambi, a title of honour).

Origins of Pattini Devale
Once upon a time, three damsels belonging to the generation of Siriwardenagedera and Udagedera had gone into the forest to collect fire-wood. Some mysterious and unseen hand placed a silver sallamba, anklets or gejji (the ornaments of Pattini goddess) and a mango made out of silver-ridi-ambagediya.

These ornaments are connected with Pattini cult and Pattini goddess husband Palanga Kumaraya. The mango according to legend says that Pattini goddess was born out of a mango. The place where this silver mango-fruit was found is still to this day being called Ambadeniya, as there was a depression in the earth created, where the ridi ambagediya, was mysteriously deposited.

This place called Ambadeniya lies adjoining this temple upon a finely terraced paddy field. After these miraculous finds, this Pattini Devale came into existence which lies just below the temple on a shrub jungle land.

Weird Devale
This Pattini Devale at Niyangandora at the time of our visit in the early 1990's was in a forlorn state, an old building on the verge of collapse. The Buddhist monk told us that for the last ten years, no festivals were held at this devale. Now and then devotees used to come to make vows and other offerings.

It stands on dwarf stone pillars surrounded by circular pillars which rise above to its roof level. There are two aisles on either side. In the middle of it lies the dikge (meaning the hall) where the rituals and dances were held when the festival was in its session.

This Pattini Devale stands in the ancient concept of religious buildings on a Than Pita (which means that the building stands on dwarf stone pillars on which lies a wooden platform having some thatched roof).

It is on this wooden platform of planks that the statues and other artefacts are contained. Inside the devale, it was dingy and weird entangled with cobwebs. The door handle made out of brass fittings was heavy having a massive handle of bronze.

I recall that the moment we entered this almost forlorn devale it was with some trepidation as it looked haunted.

A small bronze statue of goddess Pattini, a silver salamba (Pattini's anklets) and a silver ambagediya were among its memorabilia which were deposited in rusty old containers. Pattini's salamba and her husband-Palanga Kumaraya's image which symbolizes both of them were kept facing the mountains where there were no human habitations.

The idea or belief behind it, was that these particular symbols should not be directed towards any point where there were human dwellings as they portend calamity or some virulent type of illness or an epidemic.

Presence of a cobra
The two aisles in the hall on either side were exclusively for the use of the two distinguished generations of the time called Siriwardenagedera and Udagedera when the annual festival was held. Towering over this dilapidated devale are two old Na trees.

These two Na trees are steeped in quaint but weird legends, as told to us by the incumbent Buddhist monk of the Niyangandora Raja Maha Viharaya. There is a huge cobra - a nagarajaya taking abode at the foot of these two Na trees.

When the Mal Than Maluwa Ritual was performed during the festive time, the cobra is said to slither out of its hideout and enter the devale. If anybody was unclean (killa), he or she should keep away from the festival rituals, lest the offended cobra attacked its victim for such uncleanliness.

In the past years, the priest recounted that there was a copper koraha (a bronze vessel) kept at the entrance which permitted the cobra to lie coiled inside the koraha until the festival was over, when it would go away without having harmed any devotees having performed its 'cobra ritual duty'.

Also in the dim past, a jigure of a huge cobra carved on a wooden plank was hung over the doorway of the entrance to the devale. The belief was that the cobra took abode in this devale for protection and it is said to appear when the festival rituals were held and after the festival was over it would go away silently as it had come silently.

Mango Ritual
The next ritual at the festival was the piercing of the silver ridi ambagediya by stretching with the aid of a bow and arrow. The background to the performance of this ancient ritual was that Pattini was born out of a mango fruit.

Bizarre Event
Another bizarre but miraculous happening was also revealed to us by this Buddhist monk.

During the festive time, votaries who flocked around the Devale offered meals as offerings. These were deposited in an earthen pot. Its contents were buried with the vessel in a pit dug out at the foot of those two Na trees.

In the following year, when the next festival was held, its contents were taken out with its vessel. Strange enough (an incredible too), these cooked and uncooked items of food kept in that vessel remained in its prime state without thir having gone stale at all. This sort of offerings in the form of meals was called Puda Wadamaya.

We heard of another tragic tale that had struck those two Na trees over the devale. The one time devale kapurala (shaman) there wanted to cut down these two Na trees to make use of its valuable timber to turn out his private household furniture. One day armed with an axe, he tried to give a hard blow, when the axe handle broke into two.

No sooner this disaster happened the cobra appeared with its hood expanded hissing at him. Fearing for his life he fled. After some time, it is said that he went blind. We heard at the time of our past visit in the 1990's that he was still living.

by Zanita Careem
Mandira Bedi of 'Shanthi' fame was here on a short visit. The determined relentless Shanthi, whom we see on reel, is different from Mandira Bedi in real life.

Mandira is a bubbling personality full of fun and always smiling. Fame has not changed this simple woman. Quite likeable, she credits it all to an extremely happy childhood. Whereas, Shanthi in the soap opera, has had a bad childhood but ask people about Mandira and they are likely to retort "Mandira who?" Ask them about Shanthi and they will give you her life history-all 50 episodes of it. In graphic details 'Shanthi' become a generic name?

In Shanthi, Mandira acts as an aspirational character, she does not drink or smoke. She is fighting for what she believes are her rights Adds Mandira, Shanti is a character woman look up to; want to be, she is not fictional like Superman. She is a very strong minded woman within the constraints of an Indian set-up, with Indian morals and outlook.

She plays the lead role of an ambitious young woman out to take revenge on a couple of media barons who have played havoc in her personal life. Convincing and determined she uses her wits, intelligence and feminine wiles to go into their inner circle and succeed.

And Shanthi goes down very well with housewives in her role as the ideal Indian woman.

At a private dinner hosted by Emso at hotel Hilton, Mandira looked an epitome of beauty in an orange T-shirt and black pants. She was always smiling and had a friendly disposition. Somebody was quick to ask her, why is Mandira always smiling, Shanthi is always full of anger. She promptly pointed out that Shanthi in real life is an outgoing personality, warm friendly and always willing to help.

Mandira was determined to go to Sri Lanka. She enjoyed the hot hoppers and kept on guzzling the kotturoti and kept everybody happy with her lively conversation. She was overwhelmed by the welcome she received in Sri Lanka? She was thrilled to see hundreds of people viewing up on the road to see her. She kept telling us that Sri Lanka was beautiful, clean and very much like Singapore.

She had a hectic schedule visiting Kandy and Galle. 'I was much thrilled to see the programme Shanthi on TV. I wore the same hairstyle as in 'Shanthi' for the dinner so that people can identify me', she murmured.

"I have no grandiose ambitions like Shanti in the soap opera," she enthused.

A degree holder in economics, Mandira hopes to get married in February next year. She was here to celebrate the 500th episode 'Shanthi' which was televised last week.

What is the secret of success of Shanthi? I queried.

"It fitted in well with most women. I feel that women are considered to play second fiddle, their voices not heard, their needs not met, so Shanthi is an epitome of a woman which gives women confidence, and symbolises standing up for their rights. She is a character every man would love to marry and every father would like to love her as every daughter.

"I am in a number of TV serials after Shanthi. Right now there is a TV chat show in Hindi on Shanthi She wants to take up directing one day. She would like to act on the big screen only if she gets serious roles. I don't like to run around trees," she said ascerbically.

"I never expected a man following", she says. "I did know that Shanthi was so popular".

She obliged signing autographs and posing for photographs without a murmur.

"I am happy to take back sweet memories from Sri Lanka, especially my fans. I would remember them," she said bidding adieu. Her visit to Sri Lanka was sponsored by Sirasa.

Range of styles from Kandyan to Western
When the brides walked down the aisle...

By Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
Weddings in Sri Lanka produce a wide range of styles. From Western clothes to the Kandyan saree and several forms of ethnic wear.

Micheal & Ashani

A few weeks ago Ashani Alles was married to Micheal Fortune in a unique combination of the East and the West. Flying all the way down from San Diego in California, the couple had friends and relatives from many parts of the world. The bride's parents who reside in Ruanda, brought to the reception held in the ballroom of the Hotel Taj Samudra a touch of the African scene alongside that of Sri Lanka. The room was tastefully decorated in gokkola and white lotuses, while the girls serving cake and Sri Lankan sweetmeats were clad in colourful African costumes. Even the invitation card had special African theme cutouts on them.

The radiant bride for taking the vows at St. Lawrence Church, Wellawatte wore an exquisite saree of white organza, embroidered in a border and the pallu in dull silver zardosi work and pearls. Her long tulle flared veil was edged in a border of white ribbon, making an intricate pattern, and flowed off a headdress of natural flowers. Her bouquet was of baby's breath and a few roses, and she wore a dainty necklace of diamonds, with a pearl drop pendent off it. The groom wore the smart uniform of the US Marines, resplendent with many medals. Her three bridesmaids wore sarees of shaded satin finished silk in a shade of old gold, with the sleeves of their blouses worked in fish scale scallops on net in silk thread and pearls of the same tones. Within the scallop was a snowflake design of red and gold beads and sequins. The bouquets in shades of red and gold were the perfect compliment to the ensemble.

Two of the bridesmaids flew all the way from Russia, to be the attendants to the bride. For her goingaway Ashani changed into a lovely red saree embroidered in gold, with the fall of the saree draped over her head in exotic oriental fashion. Her jewellery was in gold, and she carried an unusual bouquet of white and red flowers, interspersed with green leaves. The groom in keeping with the theme changed into a black silk national costume, with a collar of woven gold braid. Ashani is the daughter of Amithi and Cally Alles, and Micheal the son of Mrs. Loupe Fortune.

White and gold spells elegance
Elegant floral decor in white, with gold candles decorated the Serendib Ballroom of the Colombo Hilton Hotel at the lavish dinner reception, Ranjan and Shanthi Nadarajah held on the evening following the marriage of their daughter Shamistra to Reginold Abraham, at the Ramanathan Kovil in Kochchikade.

The bride for the glittering affair wore her Koorai saree of red woven with gold in a shimmering oriental extravaganza. The saree also had a rich border and pallu in deeper gold. The blouse was in the same fabric, and she wore an attial of diamonds with a padakkam with dimikkis to match, besides her unusual Thali necklace. A centre parting ornament in her hair with flowers in the coiffure, and a long rope of blossoms and leaves as a bouquet completed the picture. Her sister Niroshini who preceded her in the procession to the reception wore a saree of white satin finished Tanchoi silk bordered in gold.

She wore white flowers in her hair and an attial of diamonds and pearls. Just as beautiful as the wearer was the saree Shobhana Nagendra wore. The gleaming cream silk was patterned in a border and on the pallu in a design of parrots, in parrot green and kum kum pink. She wore white flowers in her hair, and a Mahara Padakkam of rubies and diamonds on two strands of linked pearls. The shaded blue pure silk charmeuse saree Maheshwary Murugeser wore with a blouse in the blue, the sleeves and back of which was embroidered in cutwork, and reembroidered in the same blue pearls, beads and sequins. Her magnificent necklace was of blue sapphires.

Pathma Maharaja also teamed a simple saree in midnight blue, with a blouse that was exquisitely worked in front and at the top of the sleeves in a scallopped design of beads and sequins. Fine lines of black beads made a stripe on the below the elbow length black net sleeves. Her attial was of dazzling diamonds, as were her earstuds and bracelet. Simply pretty and charming was Indhu Selvaratnam in a pink and subtle gold tanchoi silk saree. Her jewellery was in pink rubies and diamonds. Black was the choice of both Lukshmie Puvimanasinghe and of Lalitha de Silva. The former was in black and colour, and the latter in black and gold.

Pathma Maharaja

The royal blue saree Romola Sivasunderam wore, she teamed with a blouse in the same colour needle run in silver thread and beads. A border of the beads in a single row edged the saree. Her daughter favoured an organza saree of gold with an all over woven design in red on it. The week before the wedding, the parents of the bride entertained many friends and relations in their beautiful Colombo home to celebrate the engagement of the young couple.

The Mt. Lavinia Hotel was the venue for the wedding of Himali, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Gunaratne to Jaliya, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tissa Davendra. The bride looked charming in a traditional saree of ivory and gold. A headdress in the form of a tiara in flowers adorned her head, and she wore no veil. A choker necklace in gold, and little drop earings were her ornaments, and she carried a large cascade of Madonna Lilies and Stephanotis with baby's breath. For the going away she picked on a saree of flame and gold, draped in the Gujarati style, with a cutaway armholed blouse. Her bouquet was of Gerberas and baby's breath. The bridesmaids wore shaded olive green saree also with high necks and cutaway armholes, only the neckband worked, and carried bouquets of pink and white blossoms.