dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Stars to perform at Cricket fiesta

ENTERTAINMENT: Sri Lanka reached the stars when it won the Cricket World Cup in 1996. Now it is the turn of the "Stars" to take the field. But from the looks of it they are set to give a good account of themselves.

A host of popular artistes from the cinema and music world were seen batting, bowling, fielding and appealing with gusto while some were bowled over by maidens too.


Actresses’ team

The scene was akin to a location shoot but for the cricketing drill our celluloid heroes and heroines had to undergo. There were no special cameras or props at the scene. Neither was there a set script to follow.

This was a real life act where the stars performed with gay abandon demonstrating their hidden skills in a popular sport.

They are in vigorous training for the big do when the curtain will go up on a festival of live cricket action where the film stars, singers and ex-national cricketers will stage their act on green swards of the R. Premadasa International Stadium, tomorrow (Sunday 28) at 3.00 p.m.

The event is bound to provide a host of thrills and spills as film stars vie with each other in unfamiliar terrain which in turn is guaranteed to provide unprecedented entertainment to the thousands of cricket and film fans who will throng the venue.


Actors’ team

Proceeds of the Cricket Carnival will go to swell the kitty of the special pension scheme for retired and deserving film artistes.

All the matches will be friendly ones . Several teams are lined up to take the field. There will be the "Comedians team" led by the inimitable Tennyson Cooray. The 'Actors team will be captained by Arjun Kamalanath and "Actresses team' by popular actress Sanoja Bibile.

The 'Stuntsmen' will be captained by Teddy Vidyalankara and the Film Directors and Producers team will led by Dinesh Priyasad, while, female vocalist Champa Kalhari and popular 'Baila' singer Saman de Silva lead the 'Singers teams.

Sangeetha Weeraratne, Anusha Sonali, Damitha Abeyratne, Kanchana Mendis, Geetha Kanthi Jayakody, Anusha Damayanthi, Thushani Weerakkody, Nilanthi Dias Karunaratne, Nita Fernando, Chandi Rasika, Sureni Senarath and Nilushi Halpita are some of the team members representing film Actresses.

Meanwhile, Sanath Gunathilake, Roger Seneviratne, Cletus Mendis, Channa Perera, Palitha Silva, Dinidu Jagoda, Suresh Gamage, Rajitha Hiran (Ping Pong) and T.P. Mahinda will represent the Actors' team.

Apart from the film stars, there will be a side represented by ex-national stars including Bandula Warnapura, Graham Labroy, Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tilakaratne which will be led by former world cup winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

Registering a first in 'real' and 'fiction' cricket the husband and wife combination - yesteryear's popular film pair Roy de Silva and Sumana Amarasinghe will be the umpires.

After several 'side' games between various formations during the day time, the final would be between the past cricketers and a combined team of Film Stars which will be played under lights.

In addition to cricket action, there will be other side shows that are bound to attract the spectators in between matches. During the breaks, there will be musicals, skits and dance acts performed by various artistes.

All these acts will be performed on a special stage on the grounds. A grand musical show featuring prominent artistes in the country will take place soon after the final.

"ICICI Bank Stars Cricket Carnival", was a concept of the CEO of the Derana television, Anup Chandrasekeran who has been consistently insisting that the media - both print and electronic should play a major role to boost the cinema industry.

The proposal was forwarded to the National Film Corporation Chairman, Asoka Serasinghe gave the project the go ahead realising the importance of such a venture to help raise funds for the Retired Artistes Pension Scheme to provide help for them who have made a great contribution towards the Sinhala cinema.

The event will be telecast live on Derana from 3.30 pm.

So Film fans, don't miss this rare opportunity of seeing your favourite stars live in action! - Anjana


Sybil and Nanda Malini receive Awards of Excellence

PERSONALITIES: Two renowned Sri Lankan artistes - Sybil Wettasinghe and Nanda Malini were recognised recently for their contributions to Sri Lankan literature and music.

The full house at BMICH stood up and applauded as they walked up to receive the Eagle Award of Excellence from the Managing Director Deepal Sooriyaarachchi.


Nanda Malini and Sybil Wettasinghe receiving the Eagle Excellence Award from Managing Director Eagle Insurance Deepal Sooriyaarachchi. Chandradasa Manathriratne A.G.M. Life Sales, Priya Aponso - General Manager Finance, Upul Wijesinghe - General Manager Non Life, Ronald Cheyen - General Manager Life Distribution and Joe Karunarathne - General Manager Life Operations look on.

Sybil Wettasinghe wrote her first children's book "Kuda Hora" in 1952.

Many years later it was translated to Japanese and won its first award at the Bolongna Book fair.

The book is being read in at least 13 countries today including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the United States, China, Korea and South Africa - a unique achievement for a book written in Sinhala.

In 1986 "Kuda Hora" was presented the Best Foreign Children's Book award in Japan. She also writes children's stories in English too. One of them - "Hoity the Fox" won two awards in Japan - one by the Ministry of Education and the other by the Ministry of Culture.

Another, "Strange visitors to the Cat Country" won a French Award for children's books. "Mati Gedera Lamai" won the State Literary Award for (juvenile books) in 1992 and the English version of the autobiographical novel "Vanian Kalu" titled "The child in Me" was the winner of the prestigious Gratien Prize in 1995.

The lady in white, Nanda Malini listened intently as her citation was read over tracing her career from the age of 13 when she won the Best Playback Singer's award at the inaugural Sarasaviya Film Festival in 1964, for her singing in "Ran Muthu Duwa". In the 1960s as a Grade One radio artiste, she had to present a half an hour programme every month.

This meant looking for new compositions all the time. It was not easy to locate lyric writers and get recognized musicians to compose the melodies. She had no choice but to try and do it herself.

The first attempt was a tremendous success. The song "Sakura Mal" became very popular. It gave her courage and determination to continue.

Her creations are well preserved. She has been releasing an audio cassette every year for the past 25 years. They are fine compositions, the words are so meaningful and they are so beautifully sung. They are also a varied selection.

She is always on the lookout for fresh talent and is keen to build up a new generation of musicians. Not so long ago she invited amateur lyric writers to send her their creations.

She selected 12, sang them and released a cassette titled "Araliya Landa". "Malata Renu" was another where 16 creations of amateur melody-makers were presented.

Eagle felicitated maestro Premasiri Khemadasa and dramatist Henry Jayasena last year. Earlier, Dr. Lester James Peries, Pandit W.D. Amaradeva, the late Chitrasena and Vajira received the Eagle Award of Excellence.


M.S. - C.T. songs in Australia

A concert featuring the songs of famous artists C. T. Fernando and M. S. Fernando will be held on June 2 in Borman Hall, Blacktown, Sydney, Australia.

Around forty popular songs will be sung by Walter Fernando, brother of M. S. Fernando and Priyantha Fernando, son of C. T. Fernando. Priyantha Fernando will also provide music for the show.

This show is organised by Monica Rodrigo and Gamini Rodrigo who reside in Australia.

The concert is also scheduled to take place in Brisbane, Australia and New Zealand.

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

TENDER NOTICE - WEB OFFSET NEWSPRINT - ANCL
www.srilankans.com
www.campceylon.com
www.srilankaapartments.com
www.defence.lk
www.helpheroes.lk/
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk
www.news.lk

| News | Editorial | Financial | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries | News Feed |

Produced by Lake House Copyright � 2006 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor