Discovering lives of others

Jayalath Manoratne relating a bird’s eye view with Sudu Redi Horu :

Ruwini Jayawardana

Jayalath Manoratne

Seasoned actor Jayalath Manoratne is back with what he excels in - stage dramas. The creator of popular stage plays like Puthra Samagama, Thala Mala Pipila, Guru Tharuwa, Andarela, Lokaya Thani Yayak and Makara has staged his 10th play titled Sudu Redi Horu recently. The drama is based on contemporary social issues which are the results of social destruction and follows the structure of our rich literature Sandesha Kavya and the concept of docu-play introduced by reputed dramatist Dayananda Gunawardena to the local drama scene.

“Sudu Redi Horu does not follow the structure of the stage dramas doing the rounds today. The Sandesha Kavya is delivered by certain species of birds and I have chosen to engage a Sudu Redi Hora (Asian Paradise Fly Catcher) for this play.

“The play revolves around what the bird witnesses during his flight and much like the bird’s name suggests, we realise that individuals in the society have disguised their true selves from others,” Manoratne explained the essence of his creation.

Apart from Manoratne, Rodney Warnakula Chandrasoma Binduhewa, Sampath Tennakoon, Ajith Lokuge, Susil Wickramasinghe, Giriraj Kaushalya, Mali Jayaweerage, Fernie Roshini make up the cast. The modern day Sandesha Kavi were written by Rathna Sri Wijesinghe. Navaratne Gamage composed the music while Ravibandu Vidyapathy was the choreographer.

A scene from Sudu Redi Horu

Swinitha Perera designed the costumes; Jagath Padmasiri was the make up artist and Lionel Bentharage made the stage settings. Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel sponsors the play.

Staging plays is not a money-spinner today but we see you constantly engaging in this field.

It is true that it had not become a field that brings in money but our media of expression is stage dramas.

I consider it our duty to keep this form of art alive.

It is a very powerful medium that drives home points in an effective manner. It acknowledges theatregoers on certain aspects of the society and prepares them to appreciate quality productions.

How did you develop the basis of this play?

The episodes took form from certain incidents which I observed from the society. The play takes the form of a satire because it pricks the core of some of the prevailing social issues. However this is done in an artistic manner.

What are the dates scheduled for the drama?

We will be staging the play at Anuradhapura and Kekirawa on November 19 and 20, Lionel Wendt on November 21, John de Silva on November 23 and Horana on November 29.

Your character in Lalith Ratnayake’s Arungal is quite popular.

(Smiles) After a long period I got to play a novel character.

It is based on an estranged relationship between a young man and his stepfather. The tele creation explores their relation with a deep angle. I play a pivotal role as the stepfather.

What else are you involved in these days?

Rathriya Manaram, my tele drama is telecast on Rupavahini on Sundays at 7.30 p.m. Sarath Dharmasiri’s Suvisi Vivarana is the next movie slotted for release. I also hope to launch the script of Sudu Redi Horu.

Wildlife Photography competition awards ceremony

Text and pictures Nimal Perera Wattala group corr.

The award winners of the Negombo Photographers’ Association. (From left) Shantha Karunaratne - (3rd B and W), Tyronne Jayantha - (2nd video docu), Nuwan Fonseka - (winner video docu), Saman Ranasinghe - (3rd digital), Rohan Fonseka (Instructor and Chairman of the wild circle), Clifford J. Murray - (winner colour and digital), Malcolm Peiris - (winner and 3rd of B and W) Priyantha Fernando - (2nd B and W), Colin Niksaratne (3rd video docu).

The Negombo Photographers Association in collaboration with “The Wild Circle” conducted their 2nd wildlife Photographic Competition awards ceremony recently at Brown’s Beach Hotel Negombo. Those who participated at this competition are the 45 members of N.P.A. who participated at the wildlife workshop at Minneriya, Kaudulla and Ritigala on 28,29, and 30th July. 250 Photographs entered the competition and 120 Photographs were selected for exhibition. The panel of judges were Dr. Janaka Gallangoda, Ranjith de Silva and Rohitha Gunawardane from Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Wildlife photography Instructor Deshashakthi Rohan Fonseka gifts the enlarged wildlife photograph, an action of elephant in Minneriya park, to Deputy Minister of Aviation Sarath Kumara Gunaratna.

The Wildlife Photograph Instructor and the Chairman of the “The Wild Circle” Deshashakthi Rohan Fonseka conducted this workshop with his South African wildlife experience. Rohan says he makes 25 wildlife photographers and nature lovers within two years from field of wedding photography. The veteran and popular wedding photographer Clifford J. Murray says “Now I can capture my weddings in very quick time and also naturally. Wildlife can change our mind enabling us to keep cool.”

He won one international wildlife award and so many local photography awards in the past two years. In this competition he won the colour and digital category.

The chief guest at this awards ceremony was Deputy Minister of Aviation Sarath Kumara Gunaratna, Doctor Sudarshini Fernandopulle, wife of late Minister of Highways Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. Nimal Lansa Mayor of Negombo, Andrew Jayamanne and Rev. Fr. Dinesh Fernando were the special invitees. After this awards ceremony the exhibit wildlife photographs were open for sale. The photographs were exhibited in the hotel garden area.

There were so many wildlife and nature lovers who spent the day at Brown’s Beach Hotel, Negombo.

Sansara Bandhana to be launched

Thilaka Kudahetti’s latest Sinhala novel Sansara Bandhana will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Colombo 10 on November 18 at 10 a.m.

Kudahetti is the author of several other novels such as Nethata Andunak Se, Vathsunu Pavana, Durga Tharanaya, Neela Desa Pura, Vathura, Bharatha Yogin Saha Isivarayin Samaga, Piramida Bhuthayo Egiptu Sannasin Samaga, Avul Haraya, Anthassarayo and several other teledrama scripts.

Sansara Bandhana is published by Dayawansa Jayakody Book Publishers, Colombo 10.
 

Violin and piano recital today

An evening of classical music will be presented by Ananda Dabare (violin) and Eshantha Peiris (piano) at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7.30 pm on November 18. The concert programme, which includes Caesar Franck’s sonata for violin and piano in A major, Tchaikovsky’s ‘Meditation’, Brahms’ D minor sonata for violin and piano, and Saint-Saens’ ‘Introduction and Rondo Capriccio’, presents a variety of Romantic-era music ranging from the deeply profound to the dazzlingly virtuosi to the unabashedly tuneful, and promises to be a treat for all lovers of classical music.

Ananda Dabare is no stranger to the local classical music scene, having established himself as a sought-after violin teacher since his return to Sri Lanka in 1993. He had previously received a scholarship to study violin in Russia, honing his skills at the Moscow conservatory and the Odessa conservatory, where he earned the degree of Master of Fine Arts.

He is concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka, and founder and director of the Krasna Chamber Ensemble. Pianist Eshantha Peiris has recently returned from New York, where he studied piano performance and music composition at New York University.

Since his return, Eshantha has been actively involved in the local classical jazz and choral music scenes, and has established the Aumkar School of Multicultural Arts.

Tributes to the queen of song

Deepthi and Latha hand over a copy of the biography to President Mahinda Rajapakse before the event.

Deepthi hands over a copy of the biography to Latha

Latha: Hela Gee Rajina, a felicitation ceremony to mark the 75th birth anniversary of veteran vocalist, Latha Walpola, was held at BMICH recently.

A biography of the gifted vocalist, written by veteran journalist, Deepthi Fonseka, was also launched. Many reputed figures from diverse areas were present at this colourful event in which actors performed dance items to some of Walpola’s popular tracks. Jagath Wickramasinghe arranged the music, Wasantha Kumara Kobawaka wrote the script and veteran lyricist Bandara Ehaliyagoda was in charge of the stage management during the event. Here are some of the highlights of the event captured on lens by photographers Rukmal Gamage and Thushara Fernando

Greetings from Shanthi Leka. Nita Fernando, Veena Jayakody, Jeewarani Kurukulasooriya, Swinitha Weerasinghe, Kanthi Gunathunga, and Claris de Silva are also in the picture	Latha inaugurating the ceremony by lighting the candle

Sabeetha Perera with dancers	Queen of song, Latha, with Queen of the silver screen, Malani Fonseka

Sangeetha Weeraratne and Channa Wijewardena

RJ