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It was late night in Santa Barbara, California, when the two highway patrol officers received an alert on their communication system. The voice on the other end signalled that there was a 'suicidal subject' hanging off a bridge over Highway 101.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers had been patrolling the routes on their night shift. One, Kavantissa 'Mike' de Silva', was the only Sri Lankan born officer in the CHP. The other was his partner, Steen Koenig. The urgent message, delivered around 10pm on February 28 this year, had them racing across the highway towards the La Cumbre road overpass. They didn't know what to expect - but they had to be prepared for anything.

Back in Sri Lanka on holiday eight months later, Mike recounted the events of that night with the air of a man who "was just doing his job".

When Steen and Mike reached the site, they did not at first perceive anything particularly alarming about the situation before their eyes. In the dark, they could see a man clinging on to the freeway side of the chain link fence of the overpass. (The fence is erected along the wall of the overpass to prevent anyone from falling onto the highway below). "The overpasses are like bridges over the highway," Mike explained, trying to sketch the situation as accurately as possible. "The man Steen and I saw was not in danger of falling onto the highway below because he was not hanging over it. Instead, he was holding on to the grill of the overpass on the inner side."

It puzzled the two officers. The scenario, however, became harshly clearer as they drew closer to the man whom they thought was the 'suicidal subject' they had been warned about. The man was himself gripping the hands of another woman hanging off the outer side of the chain link fence: this was their 'suicidal subject'.

The man grasped her hands through the grill, preventing her from plunging onto the path of any one of those vehicles streaking across the highway at that time of the night. Mike and his partner quickly discovered that there was a third person involved. Another woman - a tourist who had been passing that way - was positioned on the outside ledge, holding onto the suicidal woman and trapping her against fence. Together, these two persons were preventing her from falling to her death till help arrived.

Mike and Steen took stock of the situation quickly. Whatever they decided to do had to be done speedily and with a great deal of skill. The tourist was calling out for relief as her hands were tiring and she was facing increasing difficulty in maintaining her balance. The latter, meanwhile, continued to struggle, pleading that she be allowed to jump off the bridge to her death.

Steen climbed onto the outer ledge and relieved the tourist, immediately imitating her stance by embracing the suicidal woman and trapping her against the fence. It was precarious. The woman squirmed incessantly, blind to the fact that those around her wished to get through the night alive. Steen's hands scraped against the cement of the ledge but he clung on. "I could tell he was tiring," recalled Mike, "Meanwhile, I threw one end of a rescue strap down to Steen and he tied it around her. The other end I tied onto a bridge post. The two of us managed to secure the woman to a bridge post this way". Then Mike climbed onto the outside ledge to help Steen get the woman back onto the freeway.

With both of them on the outer ledge, they inched to woman slowly but firmly onto the freeway. She was a manic depressant and was admitted to a mental hospital for treatment. Mike checked up on her subsequently and was told she was 'doing OK'. Two months later, two miles north of the same overpass, another 'suicidal subject' successfully completed a suicide bid.

Mike and Steen were at the centre of attention back at their headquarters. "Everyone talked about what we had done," he smiled. Not late after, they were recommended by the CHP for the Thomas Guerry Award for Valour. The award is named after officer H. Thomas Guerry of the Santa Barbara City Police who died in the line of duty at the age of 29, in January 1970. He died in an exchange of gunfire after detecting two armed robbery suspects. The two CHP officers were approved by the Santa Barbara Citizens Council on Crime and received the award in June this year. 24 other officers were recipients that day.

When discussing his achievement, Mike is as modest as they get. He reasserts that he was "just doing his job". "Steen and I just happened to be the officers on duty that night," he pointed out, "If there had been two other officers, they would have done the same".

Mike left Sri Lanka in 1983 at the age of 19. He had been a student of Mahanama College and Nalanda College. He made tracks to the Land of Opportunity in order to complete higher education, which he did at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He opted for a career in banking at first but switched to real estate and property management. His dream, however, was to be a cop and his sights were set on the California Highway Patrol. Of course, it took some time convincing his wife that it was the career to die for (he married an American in 1988). Finally, however, he sent in his application to the CHP.

There were 18,000 applicants. The CHP selected only 176. Mike was one. But that didn't mean he was in. He had to follow a number of exacting courses and training programmes - including a 27-week stint at the academy - and face countless interviews, background checks and tests. He was screened thoroughly. And there was every possibility of his being rejected during any one of these tests. Fortunately, however, Mike passed each one. He was one of the 140 that finally graduated in February 1996.

More than two years into the job, Mike can't imagine a better career. He works nights by choice in order that he can participate more fully in the lives of his three children. And every day is a new day with different situations and crises. The highway can be the backdrop for a multitude of crimes and violations, the primary one being drunk driving. Explaining his routine, Mike said he and his partner would usually drive along the highway on the lookout for possible violations of the law. When they receive an alert over their communication system, they have to be ready to deal with any situation that faces them.

There are the humorous moments on the highway, too. Mike remembered one occasion when he and his partner spotted a drunk driver and asked her to halt her vehicle along the side of the highway for a check. Her vehicle had been followed closely by another vehicle driven by a man. Unknown to the two CHP officers, the couple were on their way to rendezvous - with each other. When the police halted the woman, the man in the vehicle behind became concerned and decided to see what was happening.

While Mike's partner was questioning the woman, Mike noticed that this other car had stopped a little further away and that its driver had climbed somewhat furtively out of his seat. Having dived into some bushes on the side of the road, this man was now making his way cautiously towards them. Alarm bells rang in Mike's mind. He wondered whether the man could be armed. After all, there were any number of armed men and women plying the routes of California.

Mike alerted his partner and made way towards the man who continued to proceed forward under cover of whatever bushes he could find. When Mike finally reached him, he was hiding his face behind a tree that was barely large enough to provide cover for his head! "He was dead drunk and had his hands in front of his eyes!" he laughed, "And in his drunken stupor, he was under the impression that I could not spot him crouching behind that small tree trunk because with his eyes covered, he could not see me!"

Keeping the law is a difficult job. Not everybody likes you and this is more so when you do nights on the California highway. But keeping the law is what gives Mike his thrill in life.

THE LANGUAGE LOBBY
The language of advertising - blinding teeth and 'kakussi' commandos
by Carl Muller

I had this vision of going into the loo, perching on the toilet seat and being bombarded in the backside by pinecones and marigoWs. Geranium warfare! What simple souls we are. We sit before the idiot box, follow the asininites of Apey Man and are treated to the most garish creations of people who seem to think that anything goes when it comes to telling why we should go hell-bent to the shops, panting like the proverbial hart.

Here's this flirtatious young miss giving the glad eye to everything she sees. She swings along, eyes darting now here, now there. Regular busybodies, those eyes. And then they rest on a macho type who simply curls up a lip and his dentures sing a sort of Hallelujah Chorus. The glint is artfully contrived and the blaze of light blinds our miss. Like getting a sudden pop from a 500watt studio bulb. She reels; she loses her cool; she is blinded, bothered and bewildered. Serves her right. The next thing we know, she's walked into a lamp post and one sees her rebound like a mackerel in a net. Macho type walks on, well satisfied. After all, he uses the correct toothpaste. What's the equation? White teeth equal black eyes?

I wonder how that man makes out. There's bound to be trouble in the office. Productivity plummets. People wear sunglasses to work. In the typists pod Dahlia tells Petunia, "Don't even talk when he comes near; just do the work and give."

"Nonsense, I won't even look. Had to wash my eyes with boric pawder solution last time."

Like something out of Lewis Carroll - the Jabberwock and the Bandersnatch, me eyes mat blind, the jaws mat snatch! Calloo! Callay!

What is this language of advertising? Someone once said that there were key words. Nothing interests us UvictimsU more than blurbs that begin wffl the words, NOW! and FREE! And such personal messages as "For your eyes only" or "This is for You!" But these old formulae which held fast in this noble business of suckering the buyer have undergone a sort of sea change, especially with the coming of TV and the opportunity to make things move.

Unfortunately, despite the many letters we see in the press from time to time about rotten ads that are foisted upon us, things seem to go from the fantastc to the fanatic, from illusion to delusion, from sheer conceit to sheer deceit and from the rummy to the dummy.

Tho rusted golden biscuit is so pleased that the children are winners. Both are togged up in shirts that proclaim the product. The others do not have this mark of the winner. They simply have to lose. Nothing like a biscuit to give you that pulling power. Those who do not take advantage of the vitamins are the pulled. They simply haven't the muscle for the tussle. Success, then, is a biscuit, a chocolate- flavoured drink. Mums can raise winners ail the time with liberal doses of muchvaunted soft drinks, biscuits, margarine and chocolates.

It s posiffvely intriguing, the smile on that team leader's face as they speed away, wet suits and all, having performed a most dangerous mission. The commandos invade. They storm the beach, fling their grappling hooks, swarm up fortress walls. Tough cookies to be sure. No weapons. Only electronic indicators to tell them where the dreaded gemms are. They are grim-faced, on a savethe-world foray that requires quite a layout both in personpower and equipment. Mission accomplished. Everything flushed clean. A-OK. Kilroy was here. They make a strategic retreat, take to the water. A waltng speedboat picks them up. Way to go! Woman shakes the water out of her hair, gives the camera a long, satisfied look. The world can stop holding its breath.

So I have to ask, what's the difference between Dulux and Whispers? I'll tell you: One looks wet even when it's dry, the other stays dry even when it's wet. You see what I mean? Not that I'm knocking the Dulux ad. It does give the desired impression, but is it really so necessary to have women appear to tell us how good they feel with the hygienic pad of their choke? "Oh! What a feeling," one exults as though what the pad does to her is simply out of this world. The point is, does she really mean what she says? Or is she simply saying her "lines"? And are children also made to say their lines when they give those artificial grins and wag their heads in antkipation of tomato sauce and meat balls? I cannot understand how an advertisement for electrical plugs needs the picture of a little girl. Doesn't mummy ever tell her to stay away from electrical points?

I suppose the Advertising Association will beg to differ. After all, there are even the SLIM Awards. But tell me whether or not all this is giving our creative johnnies some sort of licence to inflict on us the sort of cloth-headed whimsy we are stuffed with every time we tum on the telly. Language gets a beating too, like the lady who is shown a packet of washing powder and given two main reasons why iYs the greatest. 'Those are the main two things, isn't it?" she says, quite oblivious of the singular tag to the plural clause.

And what of this other woman who is so careful and concerned. She tells her son not to drink the water on tap. "It s full of germs," she wams, "they cannot be seen." So she does tell us that she is very much aware that germs cannot be seen. Why then cannot she believe that her floor has germs? She is so shocked. "Even on the floor? But where?" Good Lord! One would think that a floor would have quite a population of germs. But you see, our housewife cleans her floor. She cannot do so with the water on tap. So there should be no germs on her floor - only in the water. She has to be told that me germs on her floor cannot be seen, and she expresses both shock and disbelief. Amazing! So she uses the advertised germ killer and beams: "So clean!" she crows. But, mind you, the gemms still cannot be seen. Who's to tell her if they are there or not? Nobody. But the advertiser assures her they are not. They've been wiped out. We are even sha~n wriggly things which, we are told, are germs magnified to me pavver 500. Is this really so? Are germs little worms?

So we can take all this in small doses. . .butwe are given endless repetition of this same stuff and nonsense day in, day out. A him that begins at 9.30 p.m. goes on till 11.30 because it is liberally laced with these ads that pop up every ten minutes to make a shambles of contnuity and story line. We see a man, seated, ready to douse his plate with sauce. Around him old ladies, ,wung ladies, children cawrt, making the most disgusting exhibition of themselves, waving their hands before their mouths, slavering, almost begging for the sauce. "This," says the man smugly, "is no ordinary sauce." No, it couldn't be. No ordinary sauce could make people make such a disgusting spectacle of themselves.

Some years ago, I was at the Sharjah Expo Centre. A big trade fair...and there was this foreign exhibitor with a line of washing machines on display. The Arab buyer who showed interest listened with some awe to the sales spiel. Extra large tub, drier, spin cycles, heat control, front loading, the works. As the salesman's enthusiasm grew, and the patter fell like nuts in May, the Arab's eyes glazed. For one thing, he was a practcal man and needed a washing machine for a most pracdcal purpose - to wash clothes. He shrugged. "Yes, yes, ail you say is very good. But what I want to know is, can it wash clothes?"

So you see, this language and image of advertising has become so over-polluted with gimmickry and lines and making people jump mrough hoops and sing hossanahs to the product that the simple purpose of it all is struggling to surFace. No longer do people want to tell, it as it is. They want to dress it all up in b~vs and ribbons and a cosmetc dripping that makes sausages the stamp of a good batsman and margarine the food of future Olympc champions; that allows sanitary pads to give their wearers special feeiings and a dishwash that impels the housewife to toss her bar soap out of the window

Welcome to the world of make-believe. And if so, are the products make-believe too? Is this why me language simply has to make us believe? There has to be an answer and an end to this. Childre,n must not be allowed to "say their lines" (tell lies, that is) because their fond mamas and papas are paid for such a dubious distinction. Children are being taught, however unconsciously, to claim to like one milk over another, one biscuit over another, even one toothpaste over another. What'll happen in the home if there are none of these things me children are schooled to praise? Will mere be tantrums and rebellion?

Advertising, we know, is a good thing. But advertising is also meant to detail the qualities of what ~s known to be a good thing. That done, what else is needed? Certainly not the primpings and posturings of a pack of paid people who make idiots of themselves in public. We need above all some regulatory body to look at these TV ads with a greater sense of discrimination. We are assailed daily, nightly, by this airy-fairy, arty-farty language of advertising that does nothing but try our nerves and our patience and numb us with repetition fifty times a day.

Today between all this Bollywood bullshit and the ads, what has TV got to offer?

This book published by the Colombo Apothecaries Co. Ltd. in 1935 is authored by J. R. Toussaint.

In the preface to the book the author states that the favourable reception accorded to his little monograph entitled "Literature and the Ceylon Civil Service" encouraged him to embark on a more ambitious undertaking and give a short sketch of the Ceylon Civil Service.

Incorporated into this book are biographical notes regarding some of the Civil Servants whose names stand out prominently, either on account of meritorious services rendered by them, or by reason of the fact that they have come before the public eye owing to some peculiarity of temperament or conduct. These sketches for obvious reasons have been confined to those who were not living at the time of writing.

The book is adorned with a photograph of H.E. Sir Regionald Edward Stubbs Governor of Ceylon as a frontpiece, and illustrated with photographs of ten other famous Civil Servants beginning with J. N. Mooyaart and ending with J. P. Lewis. Included among these illustrations are that of Sir P. Arunachelam and J. H. de Saram.

The contents are in eleven chapters and cover a wide range of topics. The origin and development of the service, First Batch of Civil Servants, Reforms of 1833 and 1845 Era of competitive examinations. A new system of Recruitment, Military Officer as Agent of Government and Sitting Magistrates are some of them.

Within the book's 204 pages there is a wealth of information shedding light on over 225 wellknown personalities of a bygone era.

Looming over the Kaltota - Ukgalkaltota ranges is a sea of forest studded mountains called Bellangala. On this same Bellangala massive reposes the other imposing rocky but forested peak called Kurugala harbouring, a maze of rock cave shelters, Brahmi inscriptions, Buddha statues. There is also a Muslim shrine enshrined on this Kurugala mountain top.

Forest monastery of 1st Century B.C.
From Kaltota along the old road is lined the ancient channel of the Ukgalkaltota Gal Amuna stone anicut built by Neelamaha Yodaya of the 2nd Century A.D. This is a narrow metalled road where hardly two vehicles could pass. Going past, the Kaltota government hospital, the verdant landscape rises higher and higher overlooking those forest clothed rocks.

At the foot of Budugala lies the archaeological office. The man board indicates Archaeological Reserve - Remains of an ancient Buddhist monastery circa - 1st Century B.C.". This Budugala lies on the Balangoda - Kaltota main road - about 18 miles form Balangoda.

Double platform of stair slabs-believed to be the remains of Padhanghara

Are these ancient Padhangharas?
According to archaeological evidence, such ancient forest monasteries having some raised platforms and double platform with stone buildings were said to be associated with Padhangharas in ancient times (meaning forest monasteries) belonging to a sect of Buddhist monks called Pansakula monks (Pansakula means rags taken by these Pansakula monks to wear only robes made out of pieces of rags of cloth that were collected from the corpses laid in a cemetery.

Pansakula monks wearing these robes from Pansakula the material obtained for making robes, the pansakula rags, were confined to the rock cave shelters enclaves in the forests-away from the sights of human beings. Even kings in ancient times gave patronage to such Pansakula monks associated with Padhangharas.

The stone remains of such Padhangharas observed at this archaeological reserve at Budugala which I observed in my recent visit are listed below.

In this forested front terrace as one climbs up is a neatly layed and dressed layer of stone slabs (placed one over the other in three layers) resembling a double stone platform type of stone structures. Then the other structures of stone were raised platforms forming retaining walls of stone masonry plastered with metihubas and lime. Between the raised and double platforms lies a flight of nearly placed stone slabs. Each such flight of stone steps (found on both sides) are connected to another stone structure, apparently a stone bridge which lies on the right hand side of the flight of stone steps (as seen in the photos).

The forests canopies belong to Kone, Burutha, Velang, Veera and there are groves of Karuwala trees (ebony).

This is a musical programme organised by Lylie's "Saturday Singers Group". It is a variety programme and certain lead groups and individuals have rallied round to make this special evening a success. A very special attraction will be a sing-along with the audience, led by Mano Chanmugam. The following line-up undoubtedly seems to be an august Assembly of Musical Thinkers. Their only wish is to dedicate, their naturally endowed talent and years of training and acquired knowledge to Lylie who has been a friend and mentor.

This evening will commence with the baritone Rohan de Lanerolle's versatile rendition of "OL' Man River" - "Thora" - and a short medley of Torna A Surriento/Cielito Lindo and will be followed by the incomparable presence of Mano Chanmugam taking us all "Down Mem'ry Lane" on his very own concert grand as only he knows how.

The audience can experience a graceful duo from the Land - of - the - Morning - Calm who will lull you with their "Southern Village" and "Barley Field" sung by Yun-Joo Jung and Myung - Joom Park. "Somewhere A Child Is Singing" - "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" - "Little Liza" will be tastefully blended in harmony and presented by the Cantata Singers.

The Christiana Singers will gently rally round to render "Old Time Religion" - "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" as reverently as they can. The Peterite Chorale will step in with their colourful harmony to show us "It's A Wonderful World" - "I Like to Teach The World To Sing" - Always eager to share their musical thoughts from "Broadway" will be the Merry-Ann Singers something very special for Lylie will be Tharanga Goonetillaka's "My Prayer" whose words are by P.J.O.' Really.

To give us a change of scene and volume will be the versatile performance on electronic keyboards by Sharminie Fernando with a medley of Classics and "Tico Tico". Most of these performers are professionally qualified and trained personalities and as such Lylie's "Saturday Singers Group" is deeply grateful.

The programme will be staged at the Bishops College Auditorium on Friday the 23rd October at 7.00 p.m. Apart from the entertainment this evening will provide, it will be an opportunity for all those who know and do not know Lylie, to contribute to the fund for very urgent medical attention for which he is now obtaining treatment. Many are the school choirs Lylie has tirelessly trained instilling aesthetic discipline in these schools. One remembers well the 1000 Voices Choir represented by various schools in the island.

We all know what a gigantic effort Lylie made to get this choir in to shape. In the present age of tension and materialism, it has always been a breath of fresh air to view programmes selflessly arranged by a man of his calibre. This is a call for all those who are acquainted with Lylie to contribute to the cause by purchasing tickets for the programme "OL Man River", now available at Bishops College priced at Rs. 350, Rs. 300, Rs. 200 and Rs. 100.

The saying that art breaks across differences in nationality, culture and religion was amply brought to life last week as thirty four artists from seven different countries from around the world came together at the scenic location of the Habarana village hotel in Habarana for ten days of mutual appreciation of the arts.

Organized jointly by the German Cultural Institute, the Alliance Francaise, the British Council, George Keyt Foundation and the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts, this is the second of the International Artists Workshops to be held in Sri Lanka.

Bringing accomplished and professional artists together for discussion rather than training the workshop which ended on Thursday (15), will end with an exhibition of their creations at the National Art Gallery from October 25- 27.

The 32 artists comprised 24 from Sri Lanka, 2 each from Germany, Great Britain, and France and one each from Nepal, Australia and India.

It was indeed a celebration of colour and varied views and ideas on the arts that met "The Island" when it visited them last week.

Kingsley Gunathilaka, an avid lover of nature and the environment, attached to the Vibhavi Academy with over 25 years of experience in the professional art field feels that the workshop succeeded in filling a long felt void in the field of art where many little known artists an exposure to the outside world.

Chandraguptha Thenuwara standing beside one of his creations

"The coming together and the understanding of the functions and ideas of the others in the same field especially in western countries is certainly helpful to local artists. Through this workshop we have been able to get a clear idea of the improved techniques in the field in developed countries, and discuss how our common problems are met by people of different lands.

"Through these discussions we have realised the grave need for improved facilities for artists in countries like Sri Lanka. We have only one art gallery and that too merely a hall with no other facilities or services to our lovers of art. Our artists don't get the same help artists in western and even other Asian countries like India get.

"One clear difference I saw was how we have failed in bridging this wide gap that exists between the artist and the viewers here. If people don't come to the artists then we must go with our message to them. Otherwise we will be isolated and the whole purpose of the craft will have failed," he adds.

Twenty nine year old Pradeep Chandrasiri, a graduate of the Institute of Aesthetic Studies attached to the University of Kelaniya, is one still searching for a means of coming out of the clutches and horrors of a bygone era where the youth were tortured and most times murdered for seeking a change in society.

A victim of torture himself during the dreaded 1989 period here, Pradeep seeks solace through his art but finds difficulties in getting out of the mental trauma. It is such trauma and destruction that one finds painted in canvas when he brushes across.

"It is still difficult for me to get out of that mental frame and express anything other than those experiences. I realize that most of my paintings are of destruction, of lost hopes, of disfigured bodies etc. Maybe it provides inner peace to get it out through my paintings. And though 10 years have passed I still paint those experiences and maybe I'll continue to do so, I don't know. Even I want to get away from them I cannot do so.

"This workshop is very helpful for locals like us to understand the ideas of the westerners and how they put them across to their viewers. The critical role that differences in culture play in these art also was seen. The westerners ask us why we do not paint more of the temples and other such parts of the culture, maybe this is due to the different priorities we are facing today. What was most importantly put across was the need for state assistance for the artists in the country if this medium is to flourish as it has done in the western countries.

"I believe that art in Sri Lanka changed drastically after 1990 with the different route our history took. Instead of the temples and the elephants earlier painted we started a trend of discussing our problems and what we went through and expressed our feelings be they anger or fear through our art mediums." he adds.

In Sri Lanka for the workshop from Britain was Sharon Kivland a lecturer in Art at the University of Sheffield, who talked of her opportunity in getting an understanding of the differences in the culture in the Asian nations and its effects on the creations of their artists. She was however mindful how the language barrier made it difficult for her to overcome at first in better understanding her Asian counterparts.

We have had to put ourselves in different cultural barriers and understand how we may overcome them in our creations. And this has certainly been an enriching experience.

"I was made aware of the lack of facilities and sophisticated equipment for the artists here but those are barriers and sacrifices we as artists must overcome to produce our creations. With relation to lack of art galleries to exhibit our creations we must arrange a gallery in our homes and exhibit the paintings.

"I saw a clear difference the way we express ourselves. Asians due to their vast and richer experiences are more expressive than the Europeans. In Sri Lanka you see a lot drawn from experiences with the conflict situation. Such experiences calls the artists to be different. Another aspect I saw through the creations was the struggle of the women for equality was ongoing. You see this fight for individualism very much in your art.

"Many of the works of the locals are very conservative and is breaking through them in their work of art, she added.

Benjamin Swaim (French) 32 and attached to the National Gallery in Paris has held many private exhibitions in the past.

"I am yet to find out exactly how the workshop will help me but the insight I am gaining of the rich cultural heritage of Sri Lanka and the people will certainly help better understanding of the different cultures of the world and their art.

"What is most stark about their art I feel is their art is all living and full of experiences. Yet I do not see any response from the public to their art. I feel they are still looking for their public being isolated from the public. It is important they find this public if their message is to be shared with them.

"One also sees the lack of international exposure in their art. It would be helpful if they can go out and learn from others. In that sense these workshops are certainly helpful to them. It is certainly an enriching experience to allow these cultural barriers to be broken," he added.

Some participants from the Institute of Aesthetic Studies

Indeed the workshop proved the ideal situation for such an enriching experience, with 32 different personalities coming together with paint and brush and experiences, feelings and differences.

The Sri Lanka Association of Hairdressers and Beauticians (SLAHAB) presents the second international hair and make-up competition; Hair Asia Pacific on November 16th and 17th at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi.

The show will feature participants from the Asia Pacific region and already Japan, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Pakistan have confirmed their participation. Eight foreign experts in hair and beauty culture will serve on the Panel of Judges for the event. The awarding of points to the participants will be computerized and members of the association said that SLAHAB is the only association in the region that award cash prizes in addition to a trophy. A noteworthy feature at the competition will be the award for the most outstanding Sri Lankan participant to serve as an encouragement to the large amount of interest that this type of event generates to the Sri Lankans. SLAHAB has over 300 members and many of them are from outstations.

SLAHAB will conduct a free workshop on October 19 to train all participants. Any contestant who wants further training will be given help up to November 10. SLAHAB has also organized a hair show/ seminar the day after the competition and it would be presented by the visiting judges.(D B)

Winner of H. Thomas Guerry Award for Valor "Just doing the job" says Mike THE LANGUAGE LOBBY The language of advertising - blinding teeth and 'kakussi' commandos Little known Books on Ceylon Annals of the Ceylon Civil Service	In quest of Ekgalkaltota roots Budugala reminiscent of Padhanghara A dedication to Kalasuri Lylie Godridge "Ol' Man River" Breaking across national differences in appreciation of art International hair and make-up competition