History retold through dance

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

The colourful props are in place. Ladies College Teens are running about making sure that nothing will go

 wrong during tonight’s show. Today at 7 p.m. the young ladies will walk you down the paths of history taking you back to the time of kings.

Ladies College will present the exquisite creation `Thammannawa’, a ballet dance. The story of King Wijaya and Kuveni that we had read in our history books will be unfolded on the stage through a dance. The girls have got together to give life to the characters of the story their teacher suggested. The cast will consist of 45 students.

The dance group leader joined Daily News Teen to express her ideas of this grand event.

“We have been practising since April. We are having this after a long time. It will open a new door to experience Kandyan Dancing. We don’t have Kanyan Dancing in school. This show will promote traditional dancing and will definitely get more people interested. It is a completely new thing for us. We will get the maximum participation for this production,” she said.

The Deputy Leader Sashini Ranaweera ,18, said that her friends support her. “ My friends support me to get ready for the show. Through this we learn to appreciate cultural values. I balance my studies. I started dancing when I was in Grade Four. Dancing is a good thing to do as a hobby. I enjoy dancing a lot. It is relaxing and I am sure people will enjoy the show,” Sashini said.

Hiranya Perera, 17, said that the dance show is interesting. “I started dancing when I was small as a hobby. I chose it on my own. My parents encouraged me.

I have three characters - a swan, girl and a pahan dancer. As I am used to dancing I didn’t find this show difficult,” she said.

“It is a good experience. I was the leader of the earlier show. Then we did a mixed one. This time it is different. When I took up dancing it was a little difficult but now I am used to it. I bring out the characters of a swan, a girl and an Indian princess. Bringing out history is a good decision and this is a good production,” Tahani Perera, 19 added.

Dilini Dissanayake, 17, is king Wijaya in the ballet. “ It is a new experience. Playing Wijaya’s character was a bit hard but my teacher helped me. We practised a lot. I like dancing and I have been dancing since Grade Four,” she said.

“I am the Yaka in the ballet. I come from the Yaksha tribe. It was a new experience for me. I enjoyed the show a lot. This show is a good way of getting along with others.

I hope to continue dancing after I finish schooling. Every one is supportive. It was easy to get along with others,” Lasni Silva,18 said.

“Our parents were very supportive. They were patient and assisted us. Our teachers also assisted us.

The art teacher helped us to do the props. Those students who are not involved in dancing helped us a lot.

The girls in the Hewisi band supplied the instruments,” they said.

The teens thanked dance teacher, Chithrangani Fonseka, Principal, Nirmalee Wickremasinghe and teacher- in-charge Indira De Silva for their untiring support.

“Every one should come and watch it. It doesn’t matter if you don’t dance but one should learn to appreciate our culture.

“We have a rich culture and we should be proud of it,” they said.

Pictures by Palitha Gunasena

Bhakthi Gee Charika:

Buddhist-Catholic Unity

Nimal Perera,Wattala group corr.

UNITY: A historical Bakthi Gee Charika Programme which showed the Buddhist-Catholic unity was held in Balagala, Hendala recently.

The programme was presented by students of the Daham School of Ashokaramaya, Balagala and sponsored

 by Deepaloka Welfare Association, Balagala.

Over 1,000 people comprising students, parents and villagers participated. Among them were Buddhists and Catholics.

Chief Incumbent of Ashokaramaya, Balagala, Ven. Batagalle Punyakitti Thera, Parish Priest, Nayakakanda Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Gregory Jayantha and Catholic Sisters participated with the members of the Deepaloka Welfare Association, Balagala.

The Bakthi Gee Charika programme started from the Roman Catholic Church, Balagala and concluded at the Ashokaramaya Temple.

Ven. Batagalle Punyakitti Thera said this was a historical moment.

“Buddhist and Catholic unity is essential in villages”, he said.

Rev. Fr. Gregory Jayatntha said he was satisfied about the unity of both Buddhists and Catholics.

“This will be an example for other organisations,” he said.

They thanked the students and teachers of the Ashokarama Daham School and the Deepaloka Welfare Association, Balagala.

Thomian scouts at World Jamboree in England

Six Scouts from S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia left the country to attend the 21st World Scouts Jamboree in Hylands Park, Chemsford, Essex England from July 28 to August 8.

The six Thomian Scouts who are part of the Sri Lankan contingent are Sarinda Peiris, Gihan de Silva, Dinuka Ranasinghe, Romesh de Fonseka, Niluksha Bastianz and Thiran Sellahewa.

Last year’s Assistant Troup Leader of the Thomian Scout Troup Sarinda Peiris said: “We are all excited about attending the World Jamboree in England. It’s definitely going to be a great experience and the international exposure we would get cannot be described in words.

And this year’s World Jamboree is a once in a life time experience, as this year marks the Centenary Year of Scouting. We are very fortunate and honoured to represent the country at the World Jamboree”.

Before their departure, the Sri Lankan Contingent called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees.

Bravo! Lyceum French students

WINNERS: Grade 9 French students of Lyceum International School Nugegoda, accepted the challenge to take part in an International competition “Correspondences de classes” launched by the International Federation of

 French Teachers in Paris.

Students learning French in two countries had to correspond by exchanging 10 letters from each group, and one group had to submit the collection of 20 letters in the form of a project, to the organisers of this contest, using the theme, “to be young today’.

Twenty of Lyceum Grade 9 students learning French, selected Freies Gymnasium Zepemick in Berlin, a gym-school where eight students of their 8a class are learning French.

A booklet of the hard copies of the innovative and creative emails won the hearts of the jury in Paris, who declared Lyceum International School, Nugegoda the winners from thousands of contestant schools from all over the world. Only three schools were from Asia.

The Lyceum students introduced themselves in a unique and creative manner, exposing Sri Lankan culture.

Best school writer in Southern Province

Bandula Gunasekera Matara staff correspondent

WINNER: Student of Richmond College Galle (Bio Science Section) Vichitra Chintaka Samarasinghe won the Gold Medal award for the best school writer in Southern Sri Lanka at the literary competition conducted to mark the 120th birth anniversary of Munidasa Kumarathunga.

Out of over 3500 essays submitted by students in Southern province, Chintaka obtained the highest marks both in the Sinhala and English Medium.

On July 20 he was honoured as the best school writer of Southern Lanka at the ‘Kala Uyana’ Youth Auditorium in the presence of over 1500 fellow students and special invitees.

Chintaka has won eight All Island awards and two foreign awards for his brilliance in oratory and essay writing. He is a student journalist as well.