|
|
(Accentuating the positive!)
April 15, 2014 Please Scroll Down
This newsletter is read and forwarded to more than 20,000
Sri Lankans worldwide. If you want to be on the list email
_________________________________________________
|
Happy Sri Lankan New Year
|
|
We wish all Sri Lankans
a Happy Sri Lankan New Year/ Aluth Avurudu/Puthandu
The best Celebrations are at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, Ca.
on Saturday April 12, 2014
Celebrate Your Heritage!
----------------------------
ALUTH AURUDDHA - By Charmaine
Once more a ripe gold moon affirms the season of Aluth Aurudu
The Erabadhu tree is in full bloom with its crimson flowers
And cashew nuts are abundant in heavy bunches.
The coco bird sings its melodious song from time to time
Reminding that the new year is near.
New rice from the paddy fields are harvested
Soon the jolly tunes of the Rabana will echo through the village hills
Its a time for sweetmeats, Kavun, Kokis, and Athira.
The temple bells will scatter their echoing chimes
Where devotees will offer dewy blooms
Spreading them over the altars.
Aluth Auruddha is a time for traditions and customs
A time for sharing and giving
It is a time for new beginnings.
----------------------------
Sri Lanka T20 Cricket Champions
Free to Celebrate - Safe to Celebrate
Two Champions Congratulate Each Other
Sri Lankan cricket champions Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena celebrate after Sri Lanka's championship win against India.
------------------------
Prasad Kariyawasam Tipped to be Appointed Sri Lanka's
Ambassador to the U. S.
The Parliamentary Committee on High Posts being discussed this month will include senior career service diplomat Prasad Kariyawasam as ambassador designate to the United States.
Mr. Kariyawasam has just completed his term as high commissioner to India, a position he held since December 2009. Having joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1981, he has also held diplomatic assignments in Geneva, Riyadh, Washington, and New York. Mr. Kariyawasam is married and has a son and a daughter.
-----------------------------------
|
|
The Lotus Tower - Asia's
Largest Communication Tower
The 'Lotus Tower' being built at D.R.Wijewardene Mawatha at a cost of US$ 104.3 million is one of the largest communication towers in the South Asian region. The communication and observation tower is funded by the EXIM Bank of China.
-----------------------------
|
Colombo Port City Project
A Bigger and more Beautiful Colombo
Plans for the re-development of the Colombo Port have once again begun.
To add more teeth to the plan 'Sri Lanka - a world maritime hub', a harbour city plan is to be re-implemented. Plans have been drawn up to get the space by reclaiming land from the sea (233 Hectacres). Chairman Port Authority (SLPA) Dr. Priyath Wickrama said that Port City project would be the single biggest private sector development in the history of Sri Lanka. The biggest advantage of this project is that the government does not have to spend a single cent to create this island.
------------------------------------
|
One Holiday
Two Beach Destinations
----------------------------------------
Sri Lankan Bridge Champion
The beautiful Shanti Rasiah, daughter of the late Leo and Podi Singham receiving her Bridge Player of the year ( grandmaster title )The first woman to receive this award.
----------------------------------
|
Colombo Dockyard to Deliver
Largest Passenger Ship
Colombo Dockyard will deliver one of the largest vessels in its history of shipbuilding, a 400 passenger cum 200 tonne cargo vessel for the Administration of Union Territory of Lakshadveep, India.This vessel will be deployed to cater to the increased traffic en-route from the Cochin to Lakshadveep islands as well as in the inter-island routes. The addition of these vessels will ease the movement of passengers especially during peak season, its Colombo Dockyard Managing Director and CEO Mangala Yapa said.
--------------------------------
|
Korean Air Celebrates One Year in Colombo
Korean Air celebrated one year accomplishment of online operations to Colombo and Maldives. A ceremony was held at JAIC Hilton to mark this occasion. Here Benjamin Han, Korean Air, Country Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives, Sarath C. Weerasooria, Chairman, Finco Group ( GSA of Korean Air), Jongmoon Choi , Ambassador for the Republic of Korea, Priyantha Mendis Managing Director of Alpha Tours Ltd. GSA for Korean Air in Sri Lanka and Maldives.
-----------------------------
|
Sri Lankans Love Gautam Gulati
Gautam Gulati, famous movie star from Delhi, India was a big hit as the bad guy "Devadatta" in the Sri Lankan movie Sri Siddhartha Gauthama. He has built up a fan base in Sri Lanka due to his good looks and acting skills. Star Plus' show "Diya Aur Baati Hum" a television series,is about Sandhya, who dreams about becoming an IPS officer. After her parents' death, her brother forces her to marry sweetshop owner Sooraj. Gautam plays protagonist Sooraj's younger brother. Check him out on Facebook.
|
|
GAUTAM GULATI As Devadatta
|
-----------------------------------
SRI LANKAN INDUCTED INTO GRAMMY ACADEMY - RECEIVES SPECIAL AWARD FOR CHARITY
 Sri Lankan born singer-song writer ALSTON KOCH celebrated three International achievements recently when he was inducted into the Grammy Academy in the USA, received an award from The President of the Commonwealth Games (Prince Tunku Imran on right of picture) & The President of the Asian Cricket Council Saeed Ashraf Ul Haq for his commitment to charities & then specially invited to open the International Carnivale in the SEYCHELLES backed by the the World's biggest tourism organisations.
Alston Kochacclaimed by the Australian & Asian media recently as 'THE FUNK MASTER' when his album 'DON'T FUNK WITH ME reached No 2 on the Top 100 Charts,winner of 3 ARIA accredited Awards for his song writing in the professional music industry will be among world famous artists appearing at the World famous CARNIVALE' in SEYCHELLES on 25th April.Alston will perform his composition 'We can beat this Climate Change' as the theme song for the opening with the backing of the
World's leading tourism organisations during the Climate Change conference.
-------------------------------------------------------
Nanda Malini & Victor Rathnayaka Concert
Saturday April 19th, 2014
 At the Fabulous Wilshire Ebell Theatre
Let's show our support to Thusitha de Silva who brings these Classic Shows to Los Angeles
|
|
Nanda Malini & Victor Rathnayaka Live in Concert - Los Angeles - click on link
--------------------------------------
|
|
Otara Named Earth Hour Sri Lanka Ambassador
Otara Gunewardene, founder and CEO of Odel, has been announced as the newest Brand Ambassador for Earth Hour Sri Lanka. As an ambassador, Gunewardene calls upon all individuals, businesses and local communities to participate in Earth Hour's monumental lights off event on Saturday, March 29 at 8:30PM. Speaking of her support Otara Gunewardene, Founder and CEO, Odel stated: "I am honoured to join international personalities such as Sachin Tendulkar and Jessica Alba by becoming an ambassador for Earth Hour Sri Lanka. Earth Hour is a global call to action; giving a voice to concerns on climate change and the need for everyone to do something positive about it.
------------------------------
|
Esto Perpetua
St. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia
Opens New State of the Art Scoreboard
------------------------------------------
|
Japan's Bansei Gets More Bullish on Lanka; invests Rs. 400 m in Hikka Resort
Japan's financial markets specialist Bansei Securities Ltd. has turned more bullish on post-war rebounding Sri Lanka's tourism sector by investing over Rs. 400 million in a resort in Hikkaduwa. Bansei's engagement and commitment in Sri Lanka for the past two years was confined to channelling Japanese investments into Government securities with a portfolio of over Rs. 25 billion whilst last year it acquired a 15% stake in Pan Asia Bank Plc for Rs. 930 million. Both these major initiatives were on the back of post-war resurgence and opportunity in Sri Lanka as envisioned by Bansei, which is a Tokyo Stock Exchange-member firm specialising in securities trading, asset management and insurance. Last year Sri Lanka was ranked as number one destination by the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA). The Board of Directors of the company comprises Bansei Securities President and CEO T. Murakami, M. Nakayama (Managing Director/CEO), Channa De Silva, Viraj Malawana, Hasitha Premaratne.
------------------------------------------
Tourism to Sri Lanka Up By 24.8%
in First Three Months 2014
Tourist arrivals during the first three months of this year increased 24.8% to 421,501 from 337,719 a year earlier. Arrivals in March reached 133,048 up 17.5% from 113,208 recorded in 2013, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority showed.
India led with 54,154 arrivals up 16.1% from 46,648, followed by United Kingdom 39,035 arrivals up 1.3% from 38,544 and Germany with 32,964 arrivals up 17.3% from 28,105 a year earlier.
Overall tourist arrivals for the three months from North America increased 10.7% to 18,440 from 16,651 with arrivals in March up 4.7% to 6,042 from 5,772, while arrivals from Latin America and the Caribbean increased 44.0% to 1,109 from 770 with arrivals in March up 30.1% to 350 from 269.
Arrivals from Western Europe, still the largest market for Sri Lanka, increased 12.6% to 143,760 from 127,655 with arrivals in March up 4.5% to 44,824 from 42,891, while arrivals from Eastern Europe increased 56.5% to 66,421 from 42,442 with arrivals in March up 49.1% to 18,657 from 12,513.
Arrivals from Africa increased 55.8% to 2,493 from 1,600 with arrivals in March up 61.4% to 873 from 541, while arrivals from the Middle East increased 14.7% to 18,390 from 16,027 with arrivals in March up 18.8% to 6,629 from 5,580.
Arrivals form East Asia, the third largest market, increased 53.0% to 72,639 from 47,461 with arrivals in March up 43.5% to 21,751 from 15,162, while arrivals from South Asia, the second largest market, increased 17.5% to 84,278 from 71,710 with arrivals in March up 15.9% to 29,907 from 25,799.
Arrivals from Australasia increased 4.2% to 13,971 from 13,403
----------------------------------------------
|
Jehan Aloysius on Center Stage
Well-known theatre personality Jehan Aloysius who is an actor, playwright and director needs no introduction, especially for those involved in theatre and drama. He became involved in the public stage at the age of 13 years. A past pupil of St. Joseph's College, he started working with theatre people at a young age. "It propelled me forward very quickly, because I started working with directors such as Jerome de Silva, Jith Peiris, Feroze Kamardeen and so on. I became a director for a production on public stage at 18 years. After that, I established my troupe Centre Stage Productions in 2001, of which I am the Artistic Director," he says. He was a student at the University of Colombo where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and he is one of the few people who works full-time in theatre.
----------------------------------------
Sri Lankan New Year
Woodley Park, Van Nuys, Ca
|
|
SLAASC New Year @ Woodley part 5 Final.m4v
|
-----------------------------
In the Beautiful Jungles of Sri Lanka
A Leopard Relaxes
Photo by Rajiv Welikala
---------------------------------------------------
Elephant House Installs Vending Machine
Elephant House launched Sri Lanka's first soft drink vending machine at the Crescat Boulevard food court last week. Stocked with the country's most loved beverage brands including Elephant House Cream Soda, EGB, Lemonade, Necto, Elephant House Bitter Lemon, Orange Crush, Elephant House Soda, KIK Cola and their light variants, Elephant House will deploy similar machines in food courts at K-Zone Ja Ela and K-Zone Moratuwa this month. Here President - Keells Consumer Foods Group Jit Gunaratne (left) and Head of Beverages - Elephant House and Vice President - John Keells Holdings Daminda Gamlath at the launch.
------------------------------------------------------
|
Elephant Walk - Made in Ceylon - 1954
Elephant Walk was a classic movie made in Ceylon in 1954. Although it starred Elizabeth Taylor, she never set foot in Ceylon. Vivien Leigh was to be the actress, who unfortunately had a nervous breakdown while filming in Ceylon. All Elizabeth Taylor's shots and acting were done in England. Abraham Sofaer played the role of Appuhamy.
-------------------------
Recipes from Roma's Kitchen
Scotch Eggs with Sausage and Herbs.
Ingredients.
5 medium free range Eggs
1/2 lb Sausage meat (you may use any sausage meat of your choice)
2 Tbs of Parsley,Sage and Thyme
1 Tbs of Spring onions/Green onions
1/2 tspn Nutmeg
2Tbs Plain Flour with Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 lb.Breadcrumbs
Oil for frying
Method.
1.Hard boil 4 eggs by covering in cold water,bringing to a boil
and simmering for five minutes. Pop them in cold water to cool
quickly.This avoids a dark ring around the yolk.
2.Beat the 5th.egg in a shallow dish and leave aside. Put the
flour with seasonings in another plate and the breadcrumbs in
another.
3.Add the herbs,spring onions and nutmeg and mix into the sausage
with your figers till everything is incorporated well. Divide the
mixture into four portions. Flatten each portion and wrap around
each egg firmly and evenly,with no empty patches. Dip in the beaten
egg and then the breadcrumbs.
4.Heat a good 5 cms.oil in a saucepan that can take all four eggs
together or two at a time.The oil should be hot when you place the
eggs in. Fry till golden brown all around and the meat is cooked.
This will take around 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and drain on paper
towels to drain.
5.Cut in half and place around your festive Yellow Rice platter. It
adds a lovely touch to your family Lunch on Easter Sunday.
Happy Easter.I hope you have fun with this recipe.
-------------------------------------------
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
