• Book launched on classical Kandyan dancing
• Montessori school run on progressive concept
• High Fashion
  Kaleidoscope of colour
• Forgotten Heritage
  Ancient Kotmale Flag
• Painting on pachyderm paper
• Japanese hairdresser conducts seminar
• Hydro dermi therapy in Lanka

• Islet
  

By Cecil V. Wikramanayake
At long last, the English reading public of Sri Lanka have an informative and viisually arresting book on Kandyan dancing. Last Monday saw the launching of the book, "The Classical Dance of Sri Lanka - Kandyan Dancing", by its author, Sicille Kotelawala at her home in De Fonseka Place, Colombo 4. There are twelve chapters in the book which is profusely illustrated, dealing with 'history and legend', 'folk religion and the dance of Sri Lanka', 'the Kandyan dance', 'the Kohomba Kankariya', 'preparation for a Kohomba Kankariya', 'the history of the dance and music', 'the Kandy Esala Perahera', 'the making of a traditional Kandyan dancer', 'the Ves costume', 'the Vannam', 'the Bera' and 'selected bibiliography'.

The author is no Kandyan either by birth or by marriage. The daughter of a former Minister of Justice, Sam P. C. Fernando, Sicille Kotelawala began learning dancing at the age of five. It was natural that she should take to the stage because her parents met, as she herself said at the launching, on the stage, where they acted the part of brother and sister.

Sicille's first public appearance on the stage was when she participated in "X'mas Magic" produced by Irene Wanigaratne, with the Thespians Junior Dramatic Club at the Lionel Wendt. At Timmy Ingleton's School of Western Ballet she learned eight forms of dancing. At the same time she was brought under the tutelage of Nittawela Guneya gurunnanse, and later under his nephew Heenbaba.

In 1962 Sicille Fernando and Chandrika Bandaranaike - now President of Sri Lanka - danced together in "Seechapathika", a Kandyan 'Kuveni' ballet produced by Mrs. T. L. Perera and choreographed by Rangama Gunamala gurunnanse.

Sicille Kotelawala presents the first copy of her book to Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

In a message to the book Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike says this:"I have known Sicille very closely both before and after her marriage to Deshamanya Lalith Kotelawala. Throughout this long association I have watched with keen interest her dedicated and committed approach to the cause of Kandyan dancing and its associated traditions and practices. Sicille's knowledge of the Kandyan dance forms has been hailed by many. In fact, she is the only person from my country who has contributed on Kandyan dance forms to the International Encyclopedia of Dance, published by the Oxford University Press, New York, through four articles with five illustrations.

"On a more personal note, my children danced with Sicille and my grandchildren have learnt under her tutelage, the fine art of Kandyan dancing, at her private dance academy.

"She has been an ambassadress of our culture, dancing the beautiful and refined forms of Kandyan dance overseas many a time. By taking highly professional dance troupes abroad, Sicille has contributed to the promotion of Sri Lanka and its cultural traditions overseas."

Sicille Kotelawala, some years ago, directed and performed in the Heenbaba Dance & Drum ensemble on a coast-to-coast tour of 22 cities around the United States of America, and received standing ovations at Carnagie Hall, the Smithsonian Institute, UCLA and other places and received rave reviews in journals like the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and the National Geographic News.

Again, in 1978 Sicille directed the "Thovil Troupe" on a coast-to-coast tour of the United States, and in that year she danced solo and also wrote and presented a paper on "Kandyan Dance & Thovil - comparisons and contrasts", at the Hawaii International Dance Conference. The following year, on her return to this country, she gave a solo performance at the BMICH.

Sicille Kotelawala is the proud possessor of a Certificate of Appreciation from the Mayor of the City of New York, Ed, Koch which reads "for her efforts to bring an understanding of her country's art and culture to the United States. First appearing in New York in 1974, she has again shown her dedication to international culturaal understanding this year by her instrumental role in bringing to New York the "Thovil" the ritual chanting, dance and drumming of Exorcism."

Apart from her love of dancing, Sicille has found time for several other pursuits in the field of commerce and business, particularly with the Ceylinco group of companies.

A founder member of the Sinhala Institute of Culture, London, Sicille was the only delegate from Sri Lanka, by invitation, at the Egypt Asia conference on Trade and Investment in Cairo in November 1996, where she read a message from the Prime Minister and made a presentation on Solar Energy and Diamonds for the Ceylinco group.

She has also been featured in 'Asian Business' a magazine published in Hongkong, in March 1989, and in 'Business Today' of 1997. In 1996 she was appointed sole representative of the Asia Society, New York, in Sri Lanka and in July this year was nominated and elected Honorary Member of the Bishop's College Past Pupils' Association.

At the launching of her book, the question was asked of Sicille, "Where do you get the energy for all this ?"

Sicille's reply was terse. "Religion" she said. "I work best when I am pushed to the brink !"

by Zanita Careem
American trained Tanuja Mowlana, the principal of Lanka International, has introduced a novel way of teaching pre-school kids. She has created a 'home away from home'.

She says "A child's education starts at birth from which moment it absorbs the environment. Therefore the best environment must be created for the child at school." Her words were few, they reflected the concept..... and they were touching.

"The art of teaching a child was not only an art with her but a fine art. The secret of her success is undoubtedly the happy mix of the children and the methods of teaching imparted giving shape to children's thoughts and stimulating active, positive thinking.

According to her the formative years is the time child needs activity - the time when things like whom, size, shape, knowing the rough and the smooth are all imparted through association and movement.

The Montessori, apparatus at Lanka International fulfils the need of the child, say Tanuja.

As a result of the various pre-school activities the child unconsciously and automatically moves about freely and learn to care for himself / herself, care for others, care for the environment and become a social animal enthused Tanuja.

At this stage of a child's life the teacher should be humble, loving and showing attention" stresses Tanuja.

In her school there are different age groups all doing the kind of activities for their healthy development", said Tanuja.

She pointed out that most children in her school came from homes with different temperamental attitudes. Some were shy, some backward, others forward-looking etc. But soon they break the ingrained mould and take to singing, dancing, playing and other associable activities.

In other words they interact and their personalities begin to unfold.

'I have a dedicated set of teachers who put their heart and soul by paying personal attention to each individual child.'

A child is a precious gift of God according to Tanuja. This gift need loving care and attention from the time of birth and needs a kind adult understanding, say Tanuja.

"This is the principle on which I run the school. I always believe that a child never learn but he or she only absorbs."

Though fully wrapped up in her career, Tanuja never fails to upgrade herself to new methods, techniques and syllabuses to further her career.

She started with a few students but soon there was an influx quite unexpected. Classes kept filling in, it was slow but steady. Now Lanka International upgraded itself to accommodate from play groups to primary five.

Tanuja has different ideas when it came to teaching to keep alive, the kids interest in class she introduced novel concepts "you must let your speech and action speak aloud. Be active in class, dance and play with kids. With first two years of existence the school has grown in popularity and she hopes to expand in the near to accommodate more students.

Tanuja Mowlana's entry to the world of children was interesting. She gave up a lucrative career in the "Save the Children Fund." She was involved with their project work. Her husband's involvement in politics made her to give up this career as she has to go out of Colombo.

Teaching was not anathema to her. Her parents were both teachers, so Tanuja's education was taken care of very well. Tanuja's father is a retired English teacher, who puts his heart and soul to English teaching in her school. He believes that English is a vital link language globally.

Armed with a sting of qualifications Tanuja opened up Lanka International at Wellawatte.

'Children in focus' an exhibition held at the end of last term reflected clearly the progress of the children in her school. There were vivid exhibits of things - plants, animals by children of different grades. It focussed how minds of little kids, work, to bring out ideas and illustrations of their living concepts.

Nevertheless she genuinely feels it would have been impossible to her to achieve anything without her husband's support though she is not free of the usual guilt that working mothers harbour.

So Tanuja has much to offer in the years to come to make children in their formative years grounded to be led to an attitude of studies that will serve them in good stead all their life time.

by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
Vibrant colours and beautiful forms filled the walls of the Lionel Wendt Gallery, when Sri Lankan born Artist George Beven held an exhibition last week. The pictures were so appealing, that they were snapped up even before the exhibition was formally opened by Sunethra Bandaranaike.

Sunethra Bandaranaike & George Beven

Among the forty seven paintings on the walls were many scenes of people of Sri Lanka. No. 18 the "Prawn Catcher", a figure of a bare bodied man in shades and tones of blues, greens and greys was my favourite picture. Also arresting in its impressions were "Figure in Foam" and casting his Net." The perspective in "From the Bridge at Mawanella" of figures bathing in the river was three dimensional. At the preview of his work were many invitees, among them Arthur Clarke making one of his rare public appearances, besides lovers of art, and several other artists of repute.

Fashion stepped down giving way to all the colour of the surroundings. Sunethra set the tone in a cotton saree of shot slate grey, bordered in cerise and gold.

The Ikkat woven saree Chole de Soysa wore was a symphony of orange and yellow on ivory. Nimmi Harasgama had her royal blue saree bordered in a more vivid blue with motifs in green scattered on the body. A blonde haired woman picked on a white saree florally patterned in green and mustard to wear with a bright emerald green blouse. There were a gamut of styles ranging from the ever popular salwar kameez to sarong skirts and western dresses, none of which could take away from the lustre of the work on display.

Orchid circle of Ceylon
Colour also predominated at the opening of the 64th Anniversary of the Orchid Circle of Ceylon. Masses of blooms, specially among the bouganvillea was a riot of eye-catching colour. The orchids too were a sight to behold, with many a rare breed.

Formally opening the exhibition, the Minister of Industrial Development Mr. C. V. Gooneratne, made a humorous and amusing speech, even referring to his wife Shyami as a somewhat fading orchid but not quite.

The winner of many an award Sushila Fernando, who was also an active organiser, picked on the shades of mauve for her morning saree in the sunshine. The saree had paisley patterned border and motifs in a deeper shade of mauve and white. With this she wore a simple mauve blouse.

Shyami who is a keen gardener had her yellow cotton saree bordered in black dotted in white with a serrated design in black to fuse the colours. Blocks of design on the body of the saree was in elephant black and white. A black blouse and gold jewellery completed the picture.

Fuji Cement Co.
The Chairman and Board of Directors of Fuji Cement Company held a cocktail party on the occasion of the commissioning of the new Fuji Cement Plant at Trincomalee, at the Trans Asia Hotel. Gracing the occasion were many dignitaries, among them The Ambassador for Japan in Sri Lanka, His Excellency Yuji Sugiyama, the governor for the North East Gamini Fonseka, several Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers. It was more a man's world, but the few women present made their own statement in style. Among those present were Sharmini Gnanam in a silk saree of deep blue with a border in the palest pink in a luminous silk thread. The elaborately patterned palu was in the same colour. The sleeves of her blue blouse had the same border at the hemline. A paddakam of rubies and pearls on a gold lasso and dimikki eardrops were her choice of ornaments.

Also in a shade of deep blue was Pam Gunatunge. Her saree which had a narrow triple border also had a striking pallu in ivory and red, with green and ivory weave in between the colours. In white and as dainty and gossamer as a snowflake was the saree Anusha Jayaratne wore..The saree was painted in sprays of roses in shades of pink to be picked up with little beads in silver.

Showbeat
"Showboat" hosted friends and clients to a cocktail party to celebrate their second anniversary and to introduce their new extension "The Deck" a cake was cut by Carol Swee, the enigmatic wife of Paul Swee the leading lights and owners of showboat along with David Gyi.

Also for the entertainment of those present was a dance demonstration by the master of dance Tony Fernandes and Manuja Siriwardene.

Carols glittering black sequined top she teamed with a full long flared skirt. Manuja in a style that was the opposite, was clad in a slim sarong skirt in blue and white. Her top was waist length and in sheer black. Her mother Damayanthi had her orange saree bordered in traditional style to wear with a striking pendent in agate.

by Gamini G. Punchihewa
An ancient flag of Kotmale depicting a huge elephant (a tusker) with a mahout armed with a henduwa mounted on its back is preserved at the Niyangandora Raja Maha Vihara.

Ancient Kotmale flag depicting a tusker with its mahout armed with a henduwa.

In its four corners are the symbols of the kotha or pinnacle and the flag is dotted with tiny flower petals sprouting with tender leaves. The colour of the elephant is maroon with the symbols of the Kotha and other traditional motifs delineated on the flag.

The Incumbent of Niyangandora Raja Maha Vihara at the time of our visit in the 1990's told us that its last incumbent was the late Ven. Dimbulla Seelananda thero who passed away a few years ago at the age of 96.

By Cecil V.Wikramanayake
Pachyderm paper, or paper made from elephant dung is the latest thing. I have before me as I write, an invitation from the Wildlife Conservation Society of Sri Lanka, based in New York, to an exhibition of paintings and sketches of wildlife by Sita de Saram. Which is to be opened by Lyn de Alwis, one-time Director of the Dehiwala Zoo, at the Alliance Francaise auditorium on September 19.

Sita painting an elephant on elephant dung paper.

The invitation is printed on Pachyderm paper. I would not have known the difference between this and other paper were it not for the printed words on the invitation which said "made from 75% elephant dung by Maximus." When I called on Sita de Saram last week, she was busy painting an elephant on, believe it or not, elephant dung paper.

Sita has been busy these past days painting for the exhibition on the nineteenth. It is her contribution to the fund raising campaign of the society, of which she is a prominent member, which hopes to have a Sri Lanka musical evening together with an exhibition of Sita's paintings in New York in October this year.

Sita will be leaving for New York shortly after the exhibition here, taking with her whatever paintings which have not already been sold.

At the exhibition at the Alliance auditorium there will be 22 black and white and three oil paintings and sketches by Sita in addition to a pastel and what she calls a Collage - the painting she was working on when I met her. I found it hard to believe that she was actually painting an elephant on elephant dung paper.

By Azhara Raban & pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja
Akiyoshi Kon, a renowned hairdresser from Tokyo, Japan was here recently to conduct a seminar for the staff of Ramani Fernando Salons. The seminar which was held for two days at the Golden Pond, Taj Samudra taught the Ramani Fernando staff the latest techniques on hair cuts as well as body make up, evening make up, hair styles and hair extensions.

Kon, who has been in this trade for the past 30 years, owns two salons and an academy in Tokyo. Having visited Europe, Africa and most of East Asia, Kon said this was his first visit to this part of the world.

He had met Ramani Fernando, our top hair stylist at the Asian Hair and Beauty Competition and made this visit at her request. They are both members of the Asian Hair and Beauty Association.

Commenting on the latest styles, Kon said that perms are now out of fashion while bob cuts are in, while a lot of colour is also being used now.

He also said, he noticed Sri Lankan women still prefer to have their hair long they should cut it shorter and change their hair colour from black to brown or red.

He said hair should be cut and styled to suite each persons features and the features. Akiyoshi Kon said he likes being creative and to dress women that is the reason why he chose profession.

He was trained in London and Paris and was the grand champion at the Asian Hair and Beauty Competition 20 years ago.

With more and more women becoming beauty conscious, the concept of beauty is undergoing change. With the millennium round the corner women are becoming more concerned about how to look beautiful in the oncoming modern world. M/s Sonali Fernando is popular among fashion conscious women has introduced hydro dermi therapy for the first time.

This therapy is a popular facial treatment in Europe and most other parts of the world.

Sonali has done a course from the famous school of beauty therapy in London and also qualified in the USA in hair dressing, too.

Soeiner beauty centre as it is called, is situated at Charles Circus Colombo 3. The facial treatments body treatment, Aroma therapy massage and their beauty treatments are done by Sonali.