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Abortions hit new high as inhibitions fade away

By Zanita Careem
Today, Sri Lanka is rated as a country where the demand for abortion is very high. Five hundred to seven hundred illegal abortions are carried out each year here. At least 10 percent of those who undergo abortions die as a result. A further 60 to 70 suffer form serious complication. Globally over 55,000 abortions are performed daily. Over 95% of these are rated unsafe. These facts were disclosed by health experts at a meeting held at the health education bureau recently.

Abortion clinics mushroom everyday capitalising on the patients desperation as a bargaining chip to charge any price they wish to name. Although abortions are illegal, there are hundreds of women who trek to illegal clinics where criminal abortion is performed to rid them of an unwanted pregnancy. These clinics flourishing as it is a lucrative business for those performing the criminal operation with practitioners exploiting their hapless victims to the full knowing well they will do anything in cash or kind to save them from social scandal especially in eastern society, more so in Sri Lanka where it is condemned on moral and religious grounds.

In some of the developed countries of the west abortion though legalised continue to remain hazardous when attempted by unqualified persons resulting in high rate of maternal mortality.

Eastern Europe is the region with the highest abortion rate. In Romania alone nearly 80 out of every 1000 women have had an abortion at least once a year. Vietnam is in the top list in abortion with more than 80 out of 1,000 women undergoing abortions annually.

Spain and Ireland which outlaws abortion have the lowest rates - 10 per 1,000 women. But the Netherlands which has liberal abortion laws has the third lowest rate with over 10 per 1000 women per year.

Thirteen percent of the 600,000 pregnancy related deaths reported globally are related to complications from unsafe - usually illegal abortions.

Abortion is a global reproductive health problem which cannot be ignored, a variety of life threatening complications can occur when induced abortion is badly performed.

Damage to the vagina or uterus is caused if abortions are done by unqualified persons. Heavy bleeding can be due to a incomplete abortion.

So even in the advanced western countries complications following abortions can result in maternal death.

How is the problem of abortions tackled in Sri Lanka? Liberation of the laws against it would cause a furore on religious platforms. In a seminar organised by the Health Education Bureau and UNPF and Ministy Health and Indigenous Medicine, it was targetted to enlighten the media on the fatal effects of abortion and the action that can be taken to prevent its occurence.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaenologist, Castle Street Maternal Hospital, Dr. Lakshman Senanayake said that the exact percentage of figures of illegal abortions is unknown. Sri Lanka is rated as a country where the demand for abortion is very high.

Most women seeking abortions are unmarried but there is a percentage of married couples too who indulge in abortions for personal and economic reasons it was pointed out at the seminar.

Dr. Senanayake added that out of 250 annual maternal deaths nearly 25% deaths were recorded due to illegal abortions and 33% due to bleeding. High percent of the unmarried girls go for illegal abortions and they are done by quack doctors in unsafe conditions. Free trade zone workers fall easy prey to prowlers looking for cheap sex.

Dr. Upali Munasinghe, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaeologist urged that special programmes should be implemented to create an awareness among young women.

Dr. Lakshman Senanayake said abortions may be defined as the termination of a pregnancy or causing a miscarriage under section 303 and 306 of the Penal Code. These are the main provisions to relatings this offence. It is only permitted to be done in good faith to save the life of mother.

In some countries abortions are permitted in cases of incest, rape, physical or mental deformity of the foetus. The medical experts at the seminar emphasised the need for introducing more sexual awareness progammes on the subject to reduce unwanted pregnancies as well as to provide education on contraceptive usage and other preventive measures.

Safe and effective contraceptives would be legaly effective as a preventive measure.

The promotion and awareness of family planning options and the need for sex education among adolscents were also stressed.

Dr. Latha Hapugoda, Director of the HEB, Dr. Dula de Silva, Deputy Director General of the Public Helath Services (PHS) and representatives from the UNFP also spoke.

The Family Planning Association under the guidance of Dr. Sriyani Basnayake has always stressed that illegal abortions should be stopped.

Forgotten Heritage
Kalu ganga through the eyes of a German naturalist

by Gamini G. Punchihewa
Ernst Heinrich Haeckel, a German naturalist and marine biologist fell in love with our beautiful isle of Sri Lanka in 1881/82 due to her varied marine life that was abundantly found here.

Ernst Haeckel in quest of his biological marine specimens travelled in a padda boat from Ratnapura to Kalutara down the Kalu ganga which he had named as Black river.

When he returned to Germany, he wrote a book about Ceylon in German which was later translated into English by Clara Bell, titled 'A Visit To Ceylon' (1882).

In his 'A Visit to Ceylon', in chapter XIX, titled 'Black River', he describes his padda boat ride down Kalu ganga from Ratnapura to Kalutara and all the marine life he observed there and the perilous rides over rapids and rock pools he experienced. When the river was in spate the boats cruised down speedily reaching Kalutara from Ratnapura in a day. When the river was at a low ebb, the navigation limped its weary way to reach Kalutara taking about two to 4 days. The canopies of thatched cadjans the cabins in the middle of the boat. Accommodation from eight to twenty persons - depending on the size of the boat.

Down Black river
A brief account of his boat ride down Black river (Kalu ganga) made on March 1st, 1882, as narrated in his 'A Visit to Ceylon' is thus:-

"On the 1st of March we left Ratnapoora to descend down the Black River which is navigable from this point. This, next to the Mahaweli Ganga is the longest, widest, and finest river in Ceylon, though the Kelany ganga at Colombo, is little inferior to it. Close to the rest house is the harbour, as it is called, the reach whence all vessels start, and where a crowd of barks lie at anchor. Most of these are coffee boats, to carry the produce of the eastern districts down to Calutara". (Present Kalutara)

Spacious saloons with thatched roofs
"They return empty, or very lightly loaded with imported goods, for the passage up the river its long and toilsome. They are either double canoes firmly bound together by an upper-deck of beams and planks, or they are floored over with a broad flat boarding, with no keel. The fore and after ends are exactly alike. They are always sheltered by a strong watertight awning of palm or pandanus-leaf-mats, stretched on bamboo hoops. The spacious saloon under this roof, which is open fore and aft, is so large in the smaller boats eight to ten people can be comfortably at home, and in the larger ones twenty or thirty. In the large boats, the space is frequently divided into cabins by hangings of matting. We hired a small double canoe and four rowers."

Fauna and Flora
He also describes the vegetation overhanging and the blackness of the river, so called Kalu ganga (Black river). "The sombre mass of overhanging dark green trees, and the black colour given by the fringing thicket to the water near the banks, have given its name to the Kalu ganga, or Black River. The water itself, when the river is low, is a dark blackish green, but when it is full, the colour is yellowish or orange brown, in consequence of the quantities of yellow or reddish loam brought down by the rains. On the shore itself abrupt rock and grotesque groups of stones, overhanging boughs, and trees torn up by the roots, supply a varied and delightful foreground to the landscape. The distance is filled up by the sublime outlines of the mountains, swathed in blue mist and appearing much higher than they really are".

The other kinds of plants and palms stretched on the banks of Kalu ganga are accounted in Haeckel's above quoted book: "The chief part of the river's edge looks as if it consisted entirely of vegetation. Aralia and Ternminalia, Dillenia and Bombax, Rubiaceae and Urticacoeae predominate. The dark green of this thicket is pleasingly varied by the bright green of the bamboos: their orange - yellow canes stands in thick clumps from forty to fifty high, and the elegant feathery leaves hang over like tufts of ostrich plumes. Cocoa and areca palms, talpot and kitool, with here and there a plantation of banana and cassava, betray the existence of inhabitants, and prove that the shores of the river are not such a wilderness, as might be supposed from the thickest that fringes on its bank. Occasionally, though more rarely, solitary native huts stand on a rocky promontory of the shore, and more rarely still the white cupola of a dagaba reveals the existence of a village."

Monkeys and Flying Foxes
Regarding the animals he had observed, he mentions black monkeys, buffaloes, flying foxes.

Of the birds he had observed, his account is that of Brilliant blue and green kingfishers, curlews, herons, water-rails and other waders fish in the shallows and on the tree tops liverly flocks of red and green parrots there is also reference to the Ceylon bird of paradise, with its two long white tail feathers, crocodiles' the green iguana and the cabara-goya.

The trees, cocoa coffee plantations, kitul and coconut palms are still found along the banks of Kalu ganga. But environmental scars are rampant owing to wanton sand mining and gemming.

Memoirs of a patriarch padda boat man 99-years-old of wadduwa would be described in the next series of articles.

The camera spins the money

by D. B. Kappagoda
Steven Spielberg's money spinner Jurassic Park had a successful runs in the local film circuit. Its success was mainly due to the special effects of the camera that captured the imagination of the filmgoers.

Now, a band of enterprising team of young men in Sri Lanka have launched a film in Sinhala for the small screen titled Gorzila - the Monster.

The scriptwriter and director of this 15-episode teledrama, Thusitha de Silva, has employed animation technology woven round a pre-historic animal that terrified men, women and children in Sri Lanka. It is an imaginative presentation for the local as well as viewers abroad, filled with suspense.

Jurassic Park was a trail-blazer. This film inspired Thusitha de Silva to write the script for the Jubilant Media Network (Pvt) Ltd. using Beta-Cam and Digital Tapes and music in creating visual images large in size. The story has the quality of abstract form in which the characters move and it is the first time a man-made character moves about with human beings.Gorzila lived thousands of years ago, somewhat similar to the pre-historic dinosorous, who lived around the area close to the Atlantic Ocean.

They were carnivores with huge bodies and strength. At first they lived closer to the seaborder and later moved interior. Their abnormal appearance frightened people and other animals. People believed these animals to be devils to terrorise them.

The main character in this teledrama is called Gorzila. He appeared in Sri Lanka at the beginning of the 21st century and people had seen this creature in many places and on many occasions.

It so happened a group of boys and girls went on a trip to a lonely lake in the hills. Before them this monster similar to dinosorous appeared. One young man was an assistant to a biologist attached to the university. On his return he inforced his professor who wanted to investigate about this phenomena.

Then they get together and went in search of this creature. The team comprised a girl who joined to assist in the investigations. They faced many hair-raising incidents during their journey.

During the first phase of the trip the team gets disappointed in getting closer to the monster. They tried hard to achieve their object. It was because the creature disappeared from the area and surfaced elsewhere.

When it appeared, people were frightened. Gorzila became aggressive and began to destroy the lives of human beings and animals. The havoc created made the people to seek the help of the central government to control this monster. People even resorted to Bali and Thovil ceremonies and made offerings to the supernatural powers to save them from the monster.

A Security Council was formed and began to collect information about the animal. They then formed a commando unit and had combat sessions to confront the animal. While this was going on there were stories about the terrifying acts of the monster and they began to increase day by day. It was at this stage the central government ordered the creature should be destroyed.

But the scientists went on with their task of investigating the pedigree of the creature and requested the government not to destroy it. The increasing incidents of destruction to man and animal made the authorities destroy the creature without further delay. By employing sophisticated weapons and with the help of the air force the creature was destroyed.

The scientists informed in their report the creature behaved in this abnormal manner was because it was the period for laying its eggs. It laid eggs 6 days before it was destroyed and thus it was not the end but the beginning of another period of terror.

The teledrama is a mixture of third dimension technology. It was made with special effects and from different angles. The latest camera equipment have been employed to create the leading fictions character Gorzila.

Dr. Sirimevan Waidyasekera, Ravi Chandra, Janaka Ratnayake and Ruwan Edirisinghe handled the computer technology.

The bio-scientific technology advice is by Prof. Jayantha Welihinda, Dr. Richard Han and Jenny Foo from the Co-operative International Company which collaborated.

Others in the team are Chairman Mahinda Ramanayake, Managing Director Janaka Ramanayake Technical Services Director Dr. Sirimevan Waidyasekera, Wimal Kumara, Coordinating Officer Dhanapala Wattaladeniya and Lakshman Liyanage. Gorzila has been made to international standards and arrangements have been made to telecast this drama in other countries with sub-titles.

High Fashion
New year bash spice with wine song and dance

by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
Chitru and Ranee Peiris entertained their many friends to a New Year's Dinner Buffet at the ballroom of the Hotel Intercontinental. This annual party, which is almost a ritual, brings together many old friends who have remained with this amiable couple through the years. It was a lavish occasion with music by Debbie for dancing and a splash of styles and high fashion. The colour for the evening was black. Black combined with white in the outfit that Ranee wore. The black trousers she teamed with a long loose hangout shirt in white over which she wore a bolere of black with three bands of ribbon embroidered border was echoed on the cuff of the long sleeve of the shirt. She wore gold and diamond earstuds.


Goolbhai		 Black was the base to the most beautiful saree of the evening Goolbhai Gunasekera wore. The border of the saree was embroidered in the typical Parsi style in a fashion of tan and ivory. The border was also repeated on the edge of the sleeves. She wore long pendent ear-rings of glittering orange and tan hued stones set on gold. The black blouse Jean Atukorale wore with a simple black saree, was embroidered in gold borders worked in gold tikki to make a glamorous outfit. For jewellery she picked on the unfailing allure of pearls. The Kandyan saree Dhushayanthi Wijewardene wore, had double borders of ivory on it to spell subdued elegance.

Marie Alles Fernando teamed her black saree with a black blouse with cutch work embroidery, the mirrors framed in red, yellow and green in contrasting lacquer colours. Veering away from black, Tara Cooray wore a lovely saree of shaded fabric, the shading from a charcoal to a lovat in a unusual combination. This saree was bordered in net and tastefully embroidered. Sharmalee Juriansz had her electric blue-green saree embroidered in an all-over design in chain stitch and minute silver beads. Her pendent necklace was in pearls and green. Kanthika Fernando had her midnight blue silk saree with a pallu and border in fused colours with a brick red predominating, which colour she picked up for the blouse. Her necklace was in black and gold. The salwar kameez Anoma Wijegunawardene wore was in a pretty shade of biege embroidered in brown, and two western outfits that caught our eye were those worn by Fleur Mack and Romali Atukorale. Fleur relied on the subdued good taste of a trouser suit in grey and Romali had the top of her white dress encrusted with sequins for captivating evening wear.

The garden under a canopy of stars at the Eighty Club was the location for the dinner party Laki and Prashanthi Mendis had to entertain their friends from several walks of life, which included diplomats, among whom were the American Ambassador and Susan Donelly. A buffet barbecue was enjoyed by the guests, and in the line up to serve themselves we spotted Susan in a pants suit in a golden syrup coloured raw silk. With her was Inkeri Ousitalo in a floral patterned dress, the print and colours of delicate hue. Pale cream combined with pink and turquoise in the pretty pattern. Beautiful was the saree of chiffon Sheila Fernando wore. This most unusual print was on a saree that fused from a corn flower blue into white in the main body of the fabric, while at the borders was a print in bold black and shadow patterns of leaves and roses on long stalks.

Nirmal Perera had her trouser suit of deep navy pin-striped in chalk. The jacket had a deep V neck and was sleeveless, making it quite appropriate for evening wear. She wore gold hoop ear-rings and a pendent on a fine gold chain as ornaments, besides bracelets and bangles. A striking shade of orange silk with border and pallu in gold was the choice of Shirley Perera to wear in the gujarati drape.
Nirmal

Hostess Prashanthi Mendis topped her long slimp black skirt with a knee high slit, with a long jacket worn over a sheer black blouse. The top at the shoulder on the left, and the hemline on the right was embroidered in a dainty design of creepers and little flowers in off white. A large silver buckle adorned her waist, and wound round her neck was a black silk scarf. Her necklace and ear studs were in gold. A smart ensemble which perhaps would have been better if it consisted of less than more.

Malika and Ananda Wijesekera asked close friends to dinner in their home in Gregorys Road, to meet their son Saliya and his wife Nilmini at their homecoming. It was a relaxed occasion with the climax to the evening coming with a sing song to make it into a homely affair. An excellent five star dinner was served to the guests. The bride of a few days before for the occasion wore a saree of a deep petunia silk with a unobtrusive woven border in gold. Her blouse had a wide neckline and Indian sleeves. A dainty necklace of rubies and diamonds, stud ear-rings and flowers in her hair completed the picture. Grooms mother Malika wore a saree of a ravishing shade of red embroidered in a border of red silk thread and tiny gold sequins. A large gold pendent dazzled on a long chain. Aunt of the bride, Sriya de Silva wore a saree in a lovely shade of pale gold, with borders of stripes in deep orchid and chocolate brown with the stripes on the pallu in a paler shade of the brown and the orchid. For jewellery she relied on the elegance of pearls.

Lord Shiva Dances

by Nirmala Ramachandran
The concept of Lord Shiva in his manifestation as the Supreme dancer has come down over thousands of years. In his form as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, he is worshipped predominantly by Saivites in South India and Sri Lanka. Mythology relating to the many dances of the Lord has led him to be credited with the creation of dance as an art form. This inspired the sage Bharata to write his thesis Natya Sastra over 2000 years ago, and which forms the basis of the different styles of dance to this day. The nine Thandavas of the Lord together with other dances in his varied manifestations has given rise to exquisite sculptures in bronze and stone seen in temples dedicated to the Lord. According to the Tirupathur Puranam five of these Thandavas depicting the fivefold activity of the Lord took place at five Sabhas in temples in Tamil Nadu. They are :

1. The Kallika Thandavam indicating Creation is seen at the Thamara Sabha (copper plated roof) at the Nelliappa temple in Tirunelveli

2. The Sandhya Thandavam at the Velliambalam (silver hall) at the Meenakshi- Sundareshwara temple in Madurai depicts Protection.

3. The Tiripura Thandavam depicting Veiling or Obscuration is seen at the Chitra Sabha at the temple at Courtallam.

4. The Urthava Thandavam denoting the act of blessing is found at the Ratna Sabha at the temple at Tiruvalangadu.

5. The Ananda Thandavam which depicts all his fivefold activities is seen in the renowned Kanaga-Sabha (Ponnambalam) at Thillai (Chidambaram).

The Kallika Thandavam derives its name from Kali or Durga who represents power or energy, and hence the first phase of this power is considered as Creation. This dance took place in the presence of sages in the Thamara Sabha which stands apart from the main temple and is noted for its fine and artistic carvings on wood.

The Sandhya Thandavam depicting protection took place, according to legend, during the marriage festivities of Sundareshwara and Meenakshi. The two devotees Patanjali and Vyagrapada came to Madurai to attend the divine marriage. They proposed to leave for Chidambaram before the marriage feast to witness the dance of the Lord at the Kanaga-Sabha at noon. In order that they remain the Lord promised to dance at Madurai. Rajasekera Pandyan felt that the Lord should rest his right foot and dance on his left foot. He complied, and icons of this dance, both in bronze and granite are seen in the Velliambalam in Madurai. In another legend the Sandhya Thandavam is said to have taken place at twilight in the presence of Parvati and other gods.

The legend of Lord Shiva's destruction of the three cities gave rise to the Tiripura Thandavam. It is represented by a painting executed by Brahma who was a witness to the dance. Hence the Sabha at the temple at Courtallam is known as the Chitra Sabha. The legend states that the Asuras Kamalam, Kamalaksham and Vithyumali after performing severe penance built three flying cities and obtained the boon that they could not be destroyed except by a single arrow. In keeping with their true nature they plundered, terrorised, and destroyed holy places, secure in the knowledge that they could not be easily destroyed. According to the Upanishads, the gods pleaded with Lord Shiva that only he could destroy these three cities. The Lord agreed and rode his chariot while Vishnu manifested himself as the flaming arrow, Vishnu Sashta, and chased the flying cities. At a point when they were all in a straight line he released the arrow destroying the three cities. The Tiripura Thandavam celebrates his victory, and represents his activity of Veiling or Obscuration.

The act of blessing is represented by the Urthava Thandavam seen at the Ratna Sabha at the temple in Tiruvalangadu. In a competition with his Divine Consort, unable to maintain the rhythm of her dancing any more, he raised his right foot upto his head. The bashful Consort could not repeat this act of the Lord, and his dance with this pose is known as the Urthava Thandavam. The legend associated with this dance tells of the woman saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar, an ardent devotee of the Lord, who received the boon that changed her beauteous form to that of a wraith, in order that she could worship the Lord without worldly encumbrances or attachments. She was then filled with an overpowering desire to go to Kailas. On nearing her destination she felt the ground too holy for her feet and started walking on her hands. On reaching Kailas she prayed that when the Lord danced she should be near his feet. Thereupon the Lord commanded her to go to the ancient town of Tiruvalangadu where she witnessed the Urthava Thandavam.

The Ananda Thandavam which depicts the fivefold activity of the Lord took place at the Kanaga-Sabha of the temple of Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram - the holiest Saivite shrine in South India. It is the cosmic dance which reflects the process of Creation, Preservation, and Destruction. In this Thandavam the Lord is depicted with four hands braided and jewelled hair on which rests the Ganges, the crescent moon and the cobra. One right hand holds the drum from which rises Creation, the other lifted in Abhaya pose indicates Protection. One left hand holds the fire depicting destruction, while the other points to his raised left foot which shows that there lies the refuge of the soul. His right foot placed on the dwarf Muyalakan denotes divine supremacy in a battle against evil. It has been said that in this form as Anandamoorthy with his Consort Sivagamasundari on his left he represents divinity in its fullest meaning.

According to mythology the other four Thandavams are :

1. Gauri Thandavam
2. Samhara Thandavam.
3. Gajamuha Samhara Thandavam.
4. Andhakasura Thandavam.

The Gauri Thandavam is found in the Chit Sabha at the temple at Tirupathur. It was performed at the request of the Divine Consort who wished for a vision of the dance.

The Samhara Thandavam which depicts destruction and annihilation and said to take place at midnight, finds no representation anywhere.

The Gajamuha Samhara Thandavam is based on the legend that over 8000 sages living near the town of Mayavaram (now called Mayil Aadum Thurai) professed that Karma was an end in itself. The Lord appeared before them and tried to correct their concepts. In their rage they set an elephant against Him. The Lord ripped the elephant and performed a dance on the head of the elephant. This Thandavam denotes his victory over the elephant which represents the ego.

According to mythology the Lord opened his third eye and lit up the Universe. The intense heat resulted in drops of perspiration falling from the fingers of the Divine Consort. From these drops was created the Andhaka Asura who was blind from birth due to the dazzling light. By doing severe penance he obtained his vision from Brahma. However his spiritual vision was still impaired and he became infatuated with the beauty of Parvati and coveted her. The Lord in his anger destroyed Andhaka by impaling him with his trident and thereafter lifted his body with the tip of his trident and performed the Andhaka Asura Thandavam.

Apart from these nine Thandavas, the Lord performed many dances in his varied manifestations. Among them his dance of victory and his dance of grief subsequent to the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice has been represented by sculptures both in bronze and stone. The myth states that Daksha did not invite Lord Shiva to the great sacrifice he was preparing as he found him socially unacceptable. His Consort went to plead with her father to invite the Lord. In the presence of the other gods and sages Daksha abused the Lord, and Sati unable to bear the humiliation leapt into the sacrificial flames. The news of Sati's death shocked the Lord and in his anger stormed Daksha's sacrifice in his manifestation as Virabhadra destroyed it and beheaded Daksha. He then danced with the dead Sati on his shoulder to celebrate the destruction. Once his fury abated only his grief remained. With a discus in his right hand his fiery dance of grief troubled the world. Finally Vishnu using the discus dismembered Sati's body which was scattered all over India.

In another dance form as Kalarimurti, the Lord displays his mastery over both time and death. According to mythology there lived in the village of Tirukaddaiyur a young devotee Markandeyar who was doomed to die at the age of sixteen. When Yama, the God of Death, arrived to take him, the boy clung to the Lingam he was worshipping. Yama in his haste threw the noose round the young Markandeyar which also encircled the Lingam. Lord Shiva in his anger at this sacrilege emerged from the Lingam and slew Yama with his Trident. In his victory dance he symbolises the fact that he has power to intervene on behalf of a devotee, and in a wider context his power over death and time.

The Lord in his form as Bhairava cut off one of Brahma's four heads as a sequel to being insulted by him. Thereafter he performs a terrifying dance when the Universe trembled. Brahma finally apologised and accepted the supremacy of Lord Shiva. However, Bhairava had to expiate the sin of Brahminicide.

These Thandavas and dances have inspired sculptors of both bronze and stone to depict various dance poses of the Lord. These include the 108 Karanas which are found at the entrances to the temple of Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram. They are also seen at the Brihadeeshwara temple in Tanjore, the Arunachaleshwara temple at Tiruvannamalai and the Shiva temple at Kumbakonam. Among the unusual dance poses are those of the Lord dancing with a staff surmounted by a Nandi Bikshatana wearing sandals and carrying a begging bowl, Arthanathiswara (mainly in Orissa), and Vinadhara, a form of Dakshinamoorthy playing the Veena. There are many graceful variations of sculptures of the Urthava Thandavam a very interesting Karanam is that known as Gangavatharanam where the Lord is seen in a pose with his head down dancing with one hand on the dwarf Muyalakan and his feet upraised. It depicts the story of how the Lord took the brunt of the fall of the Ganga from the skies onto his matted locks.

The close association between myth and dance forms a fascinating aspect of Hindu culture. It has given rise to many beautiful sculptures, the most exquisite being that of the Ananda Thandavam, universally acclaimed as a masterpiece of South Indian art. These sculptures have also inspired a variety of dances by renowned artistes, thereby giving much pleasure to audiences all over the world, and spirituality in the minds of thousands of devotees. Ancient scholars described Nataraja as the great Cosmic dancer who resides in the hearts and minds of men generating the rhythm of life, and one of them Tirumoolar in his Tirumandiram wrote " The dance of Shiva takes place in the heart of every individual".

A school for modelling

It takes a lot to be accepted as a fashion model. Apart from the physical attributes, it takes training in the techniques of showing clothes to good effect and the mental conditions that go with it.

Many experts have commented that while the Lankan expertise in fashioning clothes have joined the international scene our models don't have what it takes to show them to good effect that, they say is why our models have not broken into the world's catwalk.

Former beauty queen Shivani Vasagam says "(our) models lack professionalism?"

The reason: they are not professionally trained.

So this country needs a real professional school for models.


Shivani Vasagam		 To make this long felt need a reality in the hill capital Shivani Vasagam former Miss Lanka and designer choreographer Jude Jayatilleke of JT promotions have come together to uplift the status of fashions in Kandy. Most of the girls who take part in the catwalk lack poise and confidence. They need professional training says Jude. So it was jointly decided to open a school for models and open up the school called models.

A long felt need is now a reality in the hill capital, says Shivani former Miss Sri Lanka. Shivani and one of Kandy's designer and choreographer Jude Jayatilleke of J. J. Promotions have come together to uplift the status of fashion in Kandy.

A one month training course will be conducted on Sundays and training will be given on catwalk modelling, presenting clothes posture as well as hair and make-up for fashion shows. Leading personalities will be invited to speak and lectures will include practical and theory. At the end of the course a grand graduation parade will be given with certificates and gift packs. A fashion show with the lucky finalists will be chosen and the best model will also received attractive gifts. Enrol yourself today.

Women power vault over violence

Women are the fulcrum round which families revolve. Representative half of the world's population, they wield considerable power as an electoral group.

Voting has its own special strengths, it has a tremendous impact for the equalising and mobilising of women.

In 1952 the General Assembly of the United Nation adopted the UN Convention on the Political rights of Women, which was the first instrument of the international community aimed at granting and protecting women's rights worldwide.

But 1971 almost all UN member countries had allowed women to vote in elections and declared them eligible to be elected. However, women represent only 11% in 166 parliaments worldwide held about 3.5% of cabinet ministerial posts.

Sweden ranks high in sexual equality with a high percentage of its women concentrating in politics and half of the law makers and almost every other cabinet member is a woman. A similar trend is followed by Norway and Romania.

Due to high literary level experienced in Sri Lanka, women have achieved a higher level of social mobility. We produced the first woman PM and we now have a woman President of the state but the issue of political empowerment of women as a collective factor in our country is yet to be resolved. For instance how many woman legislators have we produced since independence. How many women have lead trade unions.

What is the level of participation of women in electoral politics at the actual decision-making level? The participation is very limited, Sri Lankan women lack the political clout that is necessary for the effective use of their power as women and meaningful citizens.

Unfortunately in Asian countries despite higher rates of literacy and many women holding top professional and executive positions in commerce and industry their participation at grassroot, regional and national level politics is very minimal.

This constraint may be due to family obligations or still prevailing conservative cultural and traditional social norms. A passive acceptance of male domination in the political sphere is tantamount to suicide for women for policy decisions at national level are made by politicians and if the women are not adequately represented at that point to make their voices, claims heard then automatically their case goes by default.

Nimalka Fernando from the Movement for International Justice and Equality feels that women should participate in the political decision process. They should represent themselves in the political parties so that their voice will carry much weight. She feels violence against women at election time is largely due to women not exercising their rights as citizens in spheres that matter, especially at the labour and political level where they could prevent anti-women legislation by educating the men in their political parties and workplaces about their problems, which if neglected may cost their political masters dear.

The Movement for Inter-racial Justice and Equality has condemned the harassment and discrimination against women political activists at Wayamba. Their resolution against violence against women, states:

"We are extremely perturbed by the reports received that women polling agents of the opposition parties; UNP and JVP were assaulted and physically driven out from polling booths. A woman political activist of the JVP had withstood all assaults claiming her right to be there. We salute the brave act of this sister. We urge all progressive forces to condemn these attacks. Further it is sad to note that Her Excellency has upto now not made any comment on these incidents.

The PA came to power promising peace, democracy and a new political culture. Today they have only brought disrepute and disrespect to the sovereign will of the people, especially women of Sri Lanka. The pre-election campaign and the reported incidents are despicable. (Z.C.)

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‘Total Life Artistry’ by musician Ron Regal

by Indira Perera
Ron Regal needs no formal introduction, he is the founder of ‘Global Network’ a leading company in Australia that produces commercial music to break the monotony of life. Born in Sri Lanka he displayed his talents in his early childhood at St.Peter’s College choir in Colombo. Since his migration to Australia he managed to form an award winning music group ‘Dark Tan’ and produce a number of records and earned a name as the first multi-cultural group to have acclaimed national recognition in Australia.

A self-taught musician with experience over a decade in music he excels in the spheres of producingmanaging, directing and organising music for various institutions at an international level.

His experience has led to discipline his mind that culminated in the production of a book titled ‘Total Life Artistry’ - a practical guide on how to over come stress. Part one of the book explains the seven conditions of good health. : Never be tired, Have a good appetite, A good sleep , A good memory, Never be angry, Be joyous and alert, Have endless appreciation. His advice on cultivating eating habits are more akin to the preachings of Lord Buddha. Good sleep, he says, is not sleeping for a long time but sleeping deeply for a short time. Speaking of memory he states ‘know the meaning of the present and develop an endless appreciation of the past and a limitless aspiration of the future. The cause of anger he states is our inability to change and adapt. A happy life he states is the outcome of an acute expression of soft action, orderly behaviour and clear thinking. The book continues to express the values of genuine appreciation of people and their deeds in order to have a clear mind.


Ron Regal		 Part 2 of the book explains the uses of living in a spirit of non-attachment, not looking back (regretting) and enjoying every moment in the journey of life. Attachment, he says is based on fear and insecurity. The surest way to achieve something, he says, is through creative imagination and visualization, desire and commitment to the result.

In his book he explains the principles based on balance and harmony. He also explains the methods of overcoming stress through keep fit exercises. Avoiding certain foods that leads to fatigue, heart ailments, lung and kidney disorders. The values of meditation. It is an ideal gift to the busy executive or housewife to overcome stress and a perfect guide to lead a successful life.

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