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High fashion
Happy meeting of old friendsby Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
The cake took the form of a space ship and rocketed the guests to Don Stanleys on the 15th floor when Nandi Jasentuliyana celebrated sixty years of life. Friends from many fields and several lands gathered at the invitation from his wife Shanthi and him to wine and dine followed by dancing, to make an enjoyable evening, which will linger in the minds of those present for quite awhile. The invitation said that friendships are one of the few things that improve with age and this was amply proved by those present for this celebration. Fashions were a fusion of styles, from the exotic ethnic to the saree.The hostess Shanthi picked on a beautiful shot silk lengha in a subtle combination of pale mauve and turquoise, scattered in motifs of gold. The front of the kameez was heavily embroidered in pearls and gold zardosi, mingled with sequins. The dupatta in the same silk was wound round her neck to flow down the side and at the back. Similar colours in deeper tones was also featured in the salwar kameez Yalindrani Hemachandra wore. The colours fused in the long flowing robe like top, which had embroidery in front and at the edge of the sleeve.
Totally unusual and stylish was the sarong of silk Malini Weeramuni wore with a long rust toned top and a shawl which was in the double colours of saffron and cerise. Smart and elegant was the black outfit Kalpana Wijesinghe wore with a choker necklace. Black was also the choice of Sunethra Wijayawardene. Her saree draped in the Gujarathi style was embroidered in a uneven border design gold jeek and beads with little highlights in red. Black was also the choice of Onitha Witharne. Her saree of organza had a pallu in shimmering bronze, with paisley motifs above it. Her jewellery was in chunky Indian style in gold, colourful was the bright orange and white organza worked in gold beads Ranjela Batugahage wore as a Kandyan saree.
High Tea Fashions
To begin the year with your birthday is an exciting introduction to a new year. Even though Shyamalee Tudawe's birthday fell on the first of January, she opted to celebrate it on the following day. The Christmas decorations, in refined good taste was still on at the Colombo Hilton when she asked her friends from school days to university days besides new ones she has made on her travels and new ones she has made back home. Fashions worn at this time of day, like for a coffee morning is the best test of a well dressed woman.Setting the pace was Rosie Senanayake in a salwar kameez ensemble in what can be best described as a 'gomma' green organza. The sheer fabric was foil to an applique at the shoulders and on the dupatta. The kameez was buttoned down the front and she wore a choker necklace of dull gold. Shyamalee's outfit on more daring lines was in white raw silk. The boob top combined with drain pipe trousers, leaving her shoulders bare. The top was embroidered in pearls and sequins making it more cock-tail wear. The simple trouser suit that Yajna Theagaraja wore was in a lovely shade of corn flower blue. Sleeveless and boat necked, she dressed up with necklace, earstuds and bangles.
The white embroidered kurta top was cool beautiful and was the choice of Radhika Coomaraswamy. Among the saree wearers were Rose Pieris in white and black and Shanthi Ramiah in pale olive green. Rose had the border of her saree woven in black and the sleeves of her black blouse embroidered in a checked design of cut work. The soft tanchoi silk Shashi wore with the pallu woven in a deep cofal tone, she matched with her handbag to perfection.
Styles at Engagement
Hordes of young friends kept floating in and the party had gone on till the wee hours of the morning when Dinesh Sellamuttu was officially engaged to Sonali Senaratne.Western styles were the choice of most of the younger generation including Sonali. Her dress of peacock hued raw silk was cut in panels and had halter straps making a neckline, which made the perfect frame for the fabulous diamond pendent she wore on two strands of pearls. The halter neck was most popular among the jetsetters. A slinky figure hugging dress in silver spun pale grey jersey Dr. Roshi Rajapakse wore with a single strand of grey pearls for an ornament. Varuni Tennekoone picked on the simple charm of a little black dress style. The figure hugging gown had a deep neck and deep cut armholes, to create the effect of a strap. A fine gold chain with a little drop pendent and stud earnings completed the aura of chic sophistication.
Kalutara through the eyes of the Dutch
Dr. R. L. Brohier, in his 'Seeing Ceylon' (1965), gives the following account of the Dutch occupation of Kalutara and the fortifications made to the original Portuguese Fort on the hillock overlooking Kalu Ganga: "One of the earliest notices of Kalutara in the period of the Dutch occupation is by Christopher Schewitzer, an adventurer who took service under the Dutch East India Company and kept a diary. Under date 22nd April 1677, he wrote: "I was sent with 30 soldiers to the fort of Kalutara - to have some new ramparts added to it".
"This apparently was the first attempt by the Dutch to re-model the crazy Portuguese Fortlaesa. Van Goens, the Dutch Governor and Commissioner of War, also ensured in this instance that a good road was constructed along with men could march abreast, taking their field guns". The Dutch captured Kalutara from the Portuguese on 14.10.1655.
The original Portuguese fort when it was extended and fortified by the Dutch comprised a residential fort complete with a moat and draw bridge. Dutch were reputed canal builders. Among the well known canals built by them are the Hamilton Canal and the Negombo-Chilaw canal.
The Hamilton canal was rehabilitated to some extent to resuscitate the old canal transport service. In the good old days of the Dutch, padda boats plied up and down these canals taking cargoes of rubber, coffee, pepper, cinnamon and bringing back salt, rice and other food commodities.
Kalu Ganga from ancient to medieval times of the Dutch was navigable. The old navigation routes were from Kalu Ganga, Diyagama from there along Kapapu Ele (cut by the Dutch) through Bolgoda lake and Kalu Ganga thotupala. From there the canal route was through Hamilton Canal to Negombo-Chilaw and Puttalam via Palavi.
The Dutch grew sugar - cane and coffee extensively as in the Kalutara area. The Dutch distilled run from the sugar molasses manufactured in their own distilleries based in Kalutara. Their other products of export were cinnamon, coffee, coir fibre and agricultural outputs produced in the Kalutara region. During Dutch times, sailing vessels called over at the port of Kalutara. The present Police Station of Kalutara south occupied once upon a time a portion of the fort.
Sri Lankan economist shines in the West
Sri Lankan born Dr. Razeen Sally of the London School of Economics and Political Science, commenting on BBC World Service said that the original economic crises in emerging Asia has dented confidence in other emerging Markets in Latin America and Eastern Europe (CIS). Excessive investor pessimism and panic have swiftly replaced the exuberant optimism that prevailed until mid 1997.
He said growth in Asia will be halved to 2.4 per cent in 1998 and there will be a corresponding fall in net capital inflows ($ 60 bn. in 1998 compared to $ 90 bn. in 1997 and $ 150 bn. in 1996) following a full blown regional crisis.
Dr. Sally said once recovery resumes East Asia will narrow the gap in terms of growth rates and trade and capital flows. More diversity in economic performances can be expected between countries in each region. Reasonably sound policy an institutional mix in east Central Europe and the Baltic States should translate states into growth paths of 4 percent to 6 percent in the next twenty years - twice the expected growth of the current EU - with continuing and higher capital flows. This will be roughly on par with expected trends in the more promising East Asian and Latin American emerging markets. Potential growth in the CIS and South eastern Europe is even higher but in all likelihood will fall well below that level due to unstable politics, corruption, stoppage reforms and defective institutions, Dr. Sally said.
Sri Lankan born Dr. Razeen Sally had his early education at St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia. He migrated to UK in 1978 and joined St. Mary's College, North Wales where he completed his O-Levels and A-Levels. Later he joined the London School of Economics and obtained M.Sc and Ph.D.
Today he is an economist of international repute. He is proud of his Sri Lankan and Asian roots. He was the Vice Chairman of the Young Consecutives. He gave up a budding political career for academia. He speaks several languages including Sinhala.
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