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by Victor Melder

Sri Lankan Love Cake with honeyed cream and mango was served for dessert, at the $3,000 a-head bash, for 32 of Australia's richest people, to tempt them to shell out $1 million on one of the world's most luxurious cars, the Mercedes-built Maybach. Hosted by Mercedes Benz, the $100,000 invitation only shindig was held at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens in a custom-made villa.

Ishak Baig, the talented and gifted son of Sri Lanka's Mohideen Baig, singer and musician who performed for over thirty years, visited Melbourne recently and sang at a charity concert sponsored by the Old Boys Union of Dharmarajah College, Kandy, in aid of the Gastroenterology (Surgical) Unit of the Kandy Teaching Hospital. He sang his father's popular songs, which were well received by the audience, who participated in the singing too. Ishak, waived his fees, and thanked the OBU for their concern for poor patients in Sri Lanka.

Melbourne's Multicultural neighbourliness was celebrated with a Multicultural Song and Dance recital on Saturday March 28th at Wesley College Hall, Glen Waverley.

Sinhala and Tamil ethnic groups joined twelve other ethnic groups in performing their songs and dances. The concert was in aid of appreciating each other's culture and heritage. Dr (Mrs) Olga Mendis and Ms Ramani Liyanaratchi, of the Sinhala Cultural Forum were involved with the Sri Lanka groups.

The following Office-Bearers were elected to Office at the 22nd Annual General Meeting of the Wesley College OBU, Melbourne, held on 30th March, 2003, for the year 2003/2004. President: Trevor Collette, Vice President: Bryan Wijeyekoon, Secretary: Dayantha Makalanda, Treasurer: Kenneth Mahamooth, Editor: George Robertson, General Committee: Reg Bartholomeusz, Rodney de Kretser, Darryl Koch, Keith Rozairo, Public officer: George Robertson, Web Master: Mahendra Dissanayake.

Wanted known: A friend in Melbourne is seeking to make contact with Clyde Joachim, who is in his late 70's and has a brother named Maurice. A friend in Sri Lanka is seeking to contact George Arndt, ex-Ceylon Navy diver, whose wife's name is Rosemary and cousin is Tony Harridge, George is in his sixties. (Please contact me on (03) 9309 4040, [email protected] or website www.vmsl-library.com).

Keysborough Cricket Club, which plays in the Dandenong & District Cricket Association (DDCA) recently won the "Turf 2" premiership which gives it promotion to "Turf 1", the premier division. Keysborough CC, was lead by former Sri Lankan Test and One-Day international player, Sanath Kaluperuma. The team also included other Sri Lankans, Steve Pereira, Sajith Kodithuwakku and Revon Jansz. Sajith Kodithuwakku also won the "Hennigan Papa" medal for best player, the second Sri Lankan in a row to do so after Duminda Perera won the award last year.

"Padada Asepuwa", a Sinhala drama, which consisted of a number of actors from teledramas in Sri Lanka - Sriyantha Mendis, Kusum Renu, Rodney Warnakula, Janaka Kumbukage, Srinath Maddumage and Wasantha Vittachi, was sold out two weeks prior to the performance, so much so that a second performance had to be organized. The popularity was due to the fact that the cast were from well-known teledramas in Sri Lanka, who flew out to Australia for the drama. The drama is now being staged at other Australian States.

With the cricket season winding down in Melbourne, most of the Old Boys Unions (Sri Lankan Schools) are conducting their annual inter-school cricket matches. A feature of the matches is the Open/Over 40's side, which evinces a lot of interest. These matches are looked forward to eagerly by the members of the Sri Lankan community and their friends. Among the matches are the Royal/Thomian, combined Ananda/Nalanda vs Mahinda, Trinity/Anthonian.

The following Office Bearers were elected to office at the Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Association of Victoria inc, held recently: President: Ms Estelle Cader, Vice Presidents: Ms Ingrid Schokman, Ms Pushpa Hettiarachi, Secretary: Robin Juriansz, Asst Secretary: Ms Michealine Roche, Treasurer: Joe Schokman, Asst Treasurer: Glenn Roche, Sports Secretary: Nigel Mant, Editor: Ms Berenice de Silva, Committee: Ms Mignone Speldewinde, Ms Renuka Nugawela, Ms Nedra Lodwick, Ms Chitra Perera and Ms Lilani Ranasinghe.

Khema, a Sri Lanka dancer and dance teacher who is currently on a visit to Melbourne, is conducting a traditional Sri Lanka Dance Workshop at the Dandenong Community Arts Centre. A number of students and others interested in this traditional form of dance have been attending the workshop, which continues for a few more weeks. There continues to be a demand for this form of traditional dancing, with ex-patriate Sri Lankan families wanting their children to be schooled in this tradition.

Sri Lankan born Lawrie Koelmeyer's garden in suburban Glen Waverley, was featured in a full-page spread in the Herald Sun newspaper recently. In this time of drought, his garden is lush and green, a verdant oasis. 'Beacon Gardens' is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant garden designed to save on work, save water and look good in all seasons. The original garden was established 40 years ago and has grown into a magnificent vista of foliage. The Gardens are open to the Public on selected days in the year.

The Sri Lanka Association of Victoria, present their 36th Annual Dinner Dance on Saturday May 24, 2003 at the Malvern Town Hall, Cnr Glenferrie Road & High Street, Malvern, from 7.30pm to 1.30am.

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