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| Monday, 28 February 2005 |
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Features | |
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Ronald - the magician to help tsunami victims with performances by Anjana Gamage
"Ladies and gentlemen, see what I am going to do now. As you can see, I don't have anything in my hand. But here, from where did I get this piece of cloth?", he asked from the many journalists gathered around him last week to watch those 'wonderful magic moments'. Sporting a brown safari suit and a briefcase full of his recorded feats was 'magic man' Lt. Col. Ronald de Alwis about to unfold the many tricks up his sleeve. Ronald a renowned magician who breathed magic as a child, his father and uncle were both reputed magicians - was a guest at the Daily News Editorial recently. In an interview with Daily News he said: "Magic runs in my blood. My father was a magician and he was the founder member of the Sri Lanka Magic Circle along with my uncle great Mudliyar A.C.G.S. Amarasekera in 1922. "During the period of the second world war, the Magic Circle was organising charity shows and I got the opportunity of joining my father in several shows. I performed my first public show in 1948 for my alma mater St. Mary's College, Chilaw. Ronald, a graduate of the University of Peradeniya received his first appointment in 1960 to the Pannala Maha Vidyalaya as its Vice Principal. Later he became the principal of Ku/Ingaradauvla Maha Vidyalaya in Narammala. "My first ever magic show was held in 1952 at the Viharamahadevi Park and my father was placed first in the senior category while I was placed second in the junior category. I will never forget that moment where father and son won awards at the same show", he says with pride. "I became the magician of the year in 1962. At the first open contest I won a special award for my witty presentation. Since then I am involved in magic", he added. Ronald joined the Department of Inland Revenue in 1964 as an investigating officer and later promoted as an assessor. "After serving many years as a government servant, I joined the mercantile sector in 1969 as General Manager in several firms. I have served as a second lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Army Voluntary Service as well", he said. "Magic is something of a fine art that only a few can master. It is baffling, entertaining and mind-boggling and interests both young and old. It has no language but the scintillating acts in itself can bring all races and languages together. Magic makes people wonder", this is how Ronald describes the world of magic. In addition he believes magic can be used as a therapy as well. "Several hospitals in foreign countries seek the assistance of magicians for therapeutic cures, where it is said the deft movement of the magician's fingers and other contortions can have an effect. "Veteran artist Henry Jayasena accepted magic as a fine art and hoped that the Magic Circle would receive much more recognition for promoting this art which is a mind boggling form of entertainment", he said. Ronald was the first Sri Lankan magician to be honoured with the Kalabooshana award in January this year. Ronald who was the past President of the Sri Lanka Magic Circle from 2001 to 2004 has now ventured out on his own. He had been running his school of magic since 1993. He is planning to have his own website shortly. Before concluding the interview he said: "I would like to go to the tsunami affected areas to relieve their minds of the victims with magic performances". Whoever is interested could call him on Tel Nos. 2852998, 2852763 or 0723399874. E-mail: [email protected] ############## Lankan artistes to perform in New Delhi
This classical music concert will be held tomorrow (March 1) at 7 a.m. at the India Habitat Centre Basement Theatre. The duo will perform a violin duet recital, Indian tablist, Sri Prasun Chatterjee will accompany them on tabla. Pt. Somasiri Illesinghe is one of Sri Lanka's leading classical violinists. Born in 1939, he learned under the eminent violinist of Seniya Gharana, Prof. G. N. Goswamy, Pt. Illesinghe has produced a number of disciples who are at performing level. Pt. Illesinghe who is a visiting lecturer at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies University of Kelaniya and the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo served the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation from 1966 to 1982 and thereafter the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation upto 1999. At the time of his retirement he was the Director of Music at SLRC. Shilpi Chitral Pandita is the senior most disciple of Pt. Illesinghe. He obtained the Vadya Visharada degree in 1982 with a 1st division. He is a Chartered civil engineer by profession and obtained a first class B.Sc. Engineering degree at the University of Moratuwa and an M.Sc. in construction from the University of Technology, Loughborough, U.K. Shilpi Chitral Pandita has performed in many recitals over the SLBC and SLRC, and at classical concerts in Sri Lanka and abroad. Pandita was awarded the Bunka Award in 2004 for special achievement in Music by The Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund. He is the founder/chairman of Tamasha, a private sector organisation promoting classical music and fine arts. He is of the view that this tour will be a great opportunity for them to develop a strong relationship with the Indian artistes and similar organisations in India. Sri Yathna Perera a partner of Tamasha will also accompany the two artistes on this tour. ############## The US Big Band at Le Palace
The US 7th Fleet Big Band, the 20 piece musical ensemble arrived in Colombo last Sunday onboard the USS Blue Ridge and performed to a packed audience at Le Palace on Monday, the 21st. The exclusive concert organised by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Sri Lanka, was a unique two hour musical extravaganza that left spectators yearning for more. From Jazz, Blues and Swing to some R&B was the order of the night with some great entertainment thrown in by each member of the US Big Band putting on a lively individual performance. It was a fun night with some great showmanship and talent on stage. The band members who interacted with the audience after an outstanding performance said that they were very pleased to be in Colombo and talked of doing another visit to Sri Lanka later in the year. The US 7th Fleet Big Band who are tagged the US musical Ambassadors in the Western Pacific have been received with rapture by audiences all over the Western Pacific and Far East including Japan, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The US Blue Ridge is the command center for the 7th Fleet which is the largest forward deployed US Fleet. With a total of 40-50 ships, 120 aircraft and some 20,000 Sailors and Marines, the Blue Ridge is the most capable command ship ever built. ################ Raquel to turn heads with 'Crown'
The fashion world is nothing new to 26 year Raquel Yaseen Yatawara, Managing Director of 'Crown' Hair and Beauty Salon. Her family has been in the fashion industry for more than three decades. Even though the family diversified into many other businesses later, Raquel, having grown-up in an environment where 'fashion' was the key word, joined the family business of Readywear Industries Ltd. at the tender age of 18. Having had to work with some of the biggest labels in the world of Haute Couture. Raquel had to travel extensively around the globe. And thus having first hand knowledge of the very latest trends and with her passion for fashion, one would expect her to open up a trendy fashion boutique, but Raquel thinks otherwise. She says she believes that "the market for a truly sophisticated fashion boutique with designer labels, or clothes of international standards and repute is very limited in Sri Lanka." "Having been in the fashion industry for many years it was also time to take a step beyond 'fashion' that's confined to just apparel," she adds. Pointing out that there is a need for a truly sophisticated hair and beauty saloan to provide the best of what is offered internationally. "Here in Sri Lanka we have a fashion conscious society and good market for keeping to world trends. Having visited the hair salons around the world I feel that there is scope to offer a similar ambience and service in Sri Lanka, to the top end of the market." Inspired by the salons of the fashion capitals of the world, she thus set up 'Crown'. |
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Produced by Lake House |
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi has invited two Sri Lankan artistes,
Pt. Somasiri Illesinghe and Sri Chitral Pandita to perform at their
prestigious, HCL concert series.
