Mage Sihinaya at Launching of IAAC exhibition … … … Nelum Pokuna Veeduru Mandira at Art Gallery Text and picture by JUNE Ministry of Culture & the Arts and the Newton Gunasekera's latest Sinhala JUNE Chinese Embassy in will be JUNE novel Veeduru Mandira will be launched RUZAIK FAROOK jointly sponsoring Mage Sihinaya (My at the The Colombo It Happened One Night 12 Dream) the world renowned drama pres- Public 16 District Ahadi- It Happened One Night (1934) will be screened on entation spear-headed by 39 Chinese disa- 14 Library yyah Federation June 12 at 6 pm at the American Centre, No 44, Galle bled artistes on June 12, 13 and 14 at the Mahinda auditori- and All Ceylon Road, Colombo 3. (Running Time: 105 minutes) Rajapaksa theatre in Nelum Pokuna. um, Colombo 7 on Young Mens’ Muslim Asso- Clark Gable and This drama is presented under the distinguished June 14 at 3.30 pm. ciation (YMMA) Confer- Claudette Colbert patronage of the Prime Minister, D M Jayarathne, Prof.J B Dissanay- ence will jointly organize light up the screen Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Wujianghao and ake will preside over an Islamic Art and Arabic in Frank Capra’s Defense Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on the invi- the launching cere- Calligraphy (IAAC) exhibi- classic screwball tation of the Cultural & the Arts Minister, T B Eka- mony. Prof. Chan- tion to mark the Diamond comedy. nayake. drasiri Palliyaguru, Jubilee Celebration of Cen- An out-of-work The presentation which will be put forward by the Chinthana Ranasin- tral Ahadiyyah Federation and of the All Ceylon journalist kidnaps a Chinese artistes will portray key Chinese cultural ghe and Dr. W A YMMA Conference will be held on June 16 and 17 at spoiled heiress at series including the Bodhisatva drama. Abeysinghe will the National Art Gallery, Colombo from 9 am to 7 pm. her own request in Mage Sihinaya was exhibited in 1987 in over 150 address the gather- Students of Ahadhiyyah Schools in the Colombo order to help her different cities in China and in over 25 countries in ing. District will participate and display their exhibits on reunite with her the world and had hit the zenith of world acclaims. Veeduru Mandirais this subject. husband against her a Dayawansa Jaya- Winners will be awarded with cash awards and father’s wishes. He kody publication. mementos. hopes to get an exclusive interview as a reward, but eve- rything that can go wrong does. Balloth Ekka Ba at Punchi theatre Amen Special show of the and Demal Fernando. The lighting J.Lanka computer school while Jude The movie, Amen (2002) by Costa-Gavras will be JUNE hillarious comedy Bal- effects will be by Upali Weerasinghe Srimal is the chief organizer. Tickets screened on Tuesday, June 12 at 3pm and Wednesday, loth Ekka Ba, written and make up will be by Saman are available at Sarasavi book shops June 13 at 6.30pm at Alliance Française de Colombo, and directed by Ravindra Hemarathna which will create an - Nugegoda, Sadeepa book shop - 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7. 15 Ariyarathne will be unforgettable visual experience. Borella, Salaka Senkada - Townhall In World War II, the sanitation engineer and family staged on June 15 at 3.30 Balloth Ekka Ba is presented by and Sakya book shop - Baththaram- man Kurt Gerstein is assigned by SS to be the Head of and 6.45 pm at Namel Malani Sugath Jayasinghe on behalf of Easl ulla. the Institute for Hygiene to purify the water for the Punchi theatre, Colombo 8. German Army in the front. Later, he is invited to par- Starring are the renowned ticipate in termination of plagues in the concentration Wijaya Nandasiri, Roshan camps and he develops the lethal gas Zyklon-B. When Pilapitiya, , he witnesses that the SS is killing Jews instead, he , Saman decides to denounce Hemarathna (Leelasena) and the genocide to the Anusha Dissanayake. Pope to expose to the Music will be by Shantha world and save the Peiris, stage set designed by Jewish families. The Luvolin Vandervol and stage idealist Jesuit priest management will be by Asoka Riccardo Fontana De Soyza and Shantha Udaya- from an influent Ital- kumara. The costumes will be ian family gives his designed by Gihan Fernando best efforts being the liaison of Gerstein and the leaders of the Vati- can. The movie is for general viewing and is Sokari at Negombo subtitled in English. Town hall and at NYC

Sokari, an old folk drama staged once again with a new set of JUNE in Sri Lanka, which was actors enhancing the characteristics Nari Burathi formed of the play such as according to motion and makeup at New Town hall 13 the rural tra- with special attention ditions of given for background Nari Burathi, the latest hilarious drama JUNE shanthikarmas that were and costume designs as written and directed by Sarath Kothala- performed to goddess well. Sokari runs for wala, will stage two special shows on Sat- SARASHI SAMARASINGHE paththini seeking fertili- two hours and thirty urday (June 16) at 3.30 pm and 6.45 pm at ty and prosperity will be minutes and it contains 16 New Town hall theatre, Colombo 7. This week's `Cultural Diary' brings you details about several other staged on Wednesday of ancient characteris- With a host of popular artists such as fascinating events happening in the city. Take your pick of stage (June 13) at 8.30 am and tics that could be appre- , Kumara Thirimadura, Pubudu 10.45 am at Negombo ciable to everyone. Chathuranga, Mihira Sirithilaka, Hemantha Iriyaga- plays, exhibitions or dance performance and add colour to your Town hall theatre and on This play is directed by ma, Chinthaka Peiris, Janaka Ranasinghe and Wajira routine life. You can make merry and enjoy the adventures or sit Friday (June 15) at 8.30 state award winning Kodithuwakku along with Premalal Liyanages’ stage back, relax and enjoy a movie of your choice. Make a little am and 10.45 am at director Jaliya Raja- settings. space to kick into high gear amid the busy work schedules to Maharagama National pakshe and the main Music composition and stage management will be enjoy the exciting events happening at venues around the city. Youth Centre (NYC). organizer is Jude Srimal. by Wimalaith Dombagahawatte while Upul Sampath, This play which was Tickets ara available at Harsha Malinda and Indika Niroshana will assist in If there is an event you would like others to know, drop an email performed throughout Sarasavi book shop the stage management. to [email protected] (Please be mindful to send only the nights for seven Nugegoda and Maha- Costume designing will be by Pushpa Samanthi the essential details). Have a pleasant week. days in the past will be ragama. Kothalawala and makeup by Janaka Ranasinghe. With Chandana Nishantha Peiris’ sounds and Upul Weerasinghes’ stage lighting this thrilling drama will be organized by Jude Srimal. Tickets are available at Sarasavi book shop Nugegoda, Sadeepa book shop Lectures by Prof. Radha Chakravarty Borella and Salaka Senkada - Townhall.

JUNE Prof. Radha Chakravarty is a Cultural Centre in association with the Bangladesh and India. She has edited well-known Indian scholar, Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies Bodymaps: Stories by South Asian author and writer who teaches and the Department of English, Universi- Women and co-edited Writing Feminism: 11 English Literature at Gargi ty of Colombo. Her second lecture will be South Asian Voices and Writing Freedom: College, University of Delhi. on Representations of the body in stories South Asian Voices. She is also the author She co-edited the largest by South Asian Women at 4 pm on June of Feminism and Contemporary Women anthology of Rabindranath Tagore’s works 13,at the seminar room of Faculty of Arts Writers (2008) and Tagore and the Mod- available in English, published by Har- at University of Peradeniya. ern Novel (Routledge, forthcoming in vard University Press to mark the 150th 2011). Her essays and review articles birth anniversary of Gurudev Tagore. She Prof.Chakravarty has translated several have appeared in a number of books and is the visiting Indian Scholar to deliver of Tagore’s works, including Gora’, Boy- periodicals worldwide. lectures on literature in the Universities hood Days, Chokher Bali, Farewell Song: For further details please contact the of Colombo and Peradeniya. Prof. Cha- Shesher Kabita and The Land of Cards: Indian Cultural Centre on telephone no: karavarty will be delivering her lecture on Stories, poems and plays for children. 2684698 and Email: iccrcolombo@gmail. Tagore’s Short Stories in English at 12 Other works in translation include com or Centre for Contemporary Indian noon on June 11 at the Department of Bankimchandra Chatterjee’s Kapalkunda- Studies, University of Colombo (CCIS) A musical performance English of the University of Colombo. la, In the Name of the Mother by Mahas- on telephone no: 2591610 and Email: The lecture is organized by the Indian weta Devi and Crossings: Stories from [email protected] by Abaji and Pradeep A musical performance by Abaji from JUNE France and Pradeep Ratnayake from Sri Lanka will be held on Friday (June 15) at French Spring in Kandy AF Colombo presents Fête de la Musique 7 pm at the Bandaranaike Memorial Inter- 15 national Conference Hall (BMICH), Baud- ‘French Spring Festivals’ already exist since more Alliance Française de Colombo, the choice... Individuals,School Bands,Schools Music dhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, open air JUNE than 20 years, in several South Asian capitals. They are JUNE premier French Language and Cultural Clubs,Interact Clubs, Music Groups,Ballet Schools theatre and on Sunday (June 17) at 5.30 pm at organized annually by the French cultural network and Centre in Sri Lanka since 1955, is once or Groups,Dancing Schools,Music Associations Rahula College, Matara. local partners with the aim again organising Fête de La Musique etc. are all welcome! So… if you can sing, dance or Abaji is a multi-instrumentalist, of Lebanese origin, 15 of strengthening the links 16 (International Music Day) on (Satur- perform this day is for YOU to shine alongside now working in France. In his fifth album, released in between local and French day) June 16 from 10 am to 5 pm at numerous professional artistes! 2009, he sings in the five languages spoken by his artists, and to present high quality their air conditioned auditorium at No.11, Barnes Its Free of Charge and the Organisers Alliance family: French, Arabic, Turkish, Greek and Armenian. artistic projects and performances to Place, Colombo 7. Française de Colombo will provide the hall, sound His compositions are also the reflection of multiple the public. This year, for the first time, This unique musical event has a long and colour- systems and also background music by the timeless influences extending from the Occident to the Orient. a French Spring Festival is organized in ful history, beginning in France on June 21, 1982. and ever popular Annesley Malewana and Super Pradeep Ratnayake is a sitarist whose skills are as Sri Lanka with the objective of reinforc- Today this celebration of music is held all over the Chimes free or you could play your Own musical a musicians and composer have gained worldwide ing the cultural links which already world and every year professional and amateur instrument or have your recognition. His extensive musical knowlwdge, based exist between our two countries. musicians alike take to the streets and parks on this Own music or group. on exhaustive research, has enabled him to compose The event will be sponsored by the day to celebrate the arrival of Summer after a dis- It is going to be a day full pieces reflecting a wide range of influences, including French Embassy and the Hotel Suisse, mal Spring. It is free of charge and thousands and of fun and entertainment Sri Lankan, Indian, Europe- and organized by the Alliance française thousands of people flock to these parks and from morning till evening an and North American. de Kandy and the Kandy Music Society – will be held on the June streets to witness performers embracing all kinds with a carnival atmosphere. Abaji will also conduct 15 at 6.30 pm at Hotel Suisse. of music from jazz to hip-hop and nothing is out of Entrance is free of charge some workshops in collabo- A classical evening will be presented in place. and food and soft drinks ration with the Departments the Hill Capital with the exceptional contri- Here in Sri Lanka , This is your chance to expose are available at reasonable of Performing Arts of the bution of the French artist Frédéric Pelassy your hidden musical rates. Colombo and Kelaniya Uni- – one of the world’s finest violinists of his talents, it is for every- For more information versities, respectively. generation - and the well known Sri Lankan one amateurs, profes- please contact the Alliance For further information on pianist Bridget Halpé. sionals (No Age Française de Colombo at Matara performance please The programme will include works by Limit–Children as No.11, Barnes Place, contact Alliance Française Beethoven, Massenet, Debussy, Paganini well as Adults ), and Colombo 7 - Tel 2694162 / de Matara/Galle. Tel: 041 and Saint-Saëns. you can Sing in any 2693467 to Obtain applica- 2232060 or Email: alfra- Entrance free. language of your tion forms. [email protected])