2 Tuesday 12th April, 2011 henever there is a local ly get into this prestigious beauty contest, people contest! Wkeep popping the ques- Being a professional tion, "Where have all our beau- dancer, she was selected to ties gone?" The probable answer perform at a cultural show, would be 'abroad.' called Asia Explore, held in LA There are quite a few good last August (2010). lookers from Sri Lanka, now Just after her performance, domiciled in other parts of the she was approached backstage world. And some of them do by the organizers of Miss & Ms he Galle Face Hotel (estab- give their land of birth a big Asia USA. lished in 1864) has been boost by participating in inter- "The very next day, I received Tawarded one of the four national beauty pageants. an official invitation to attend Morina Dass is from Sri the Pageant Interview. And I Pacific Asia Travel Association Lanka, now residing in passed!' Grand Awards in the Heritage California. She works at the This annual event is the pre- Category for 2011. Bank of America, Los Angeles, miere cultural pageant in the An international panel of judges as a bankruptcy specialist. States, open to Asian women picked the winners from among 122 Right now, she is in the spot- living in that part of the world. light as she has been selected as This year, over 45 contestants entries from 102 organizations Ms Sri Lanka for Miss & Ms will be representing the majori- worldwide. Asia USA 2011. ty of the countries in the Asian The Galle Face Hotel was one of "I'm really excited and I'm continent. The winners will the founder members of the Sri enthusiastically looking for- receive a combination of cash Lanka Chapter of PATA over 40 ward to the main event which and gifts. takes place on August 20, 2011, Morina has been living in the years ago. at the Redondo Beach States since 2000. She is the Jayanta Kurukulasuriya's letter, "No need to be embar- Mr. Cyril Gardiner, previous Performing Arts Centre, in Los mother of two adorable kids - rassed," is totally lopsided. Chairman of the Galle Face Hotel Angeles, California. son, Kobe, and daughter, The gist of my letter was that some of our cricketers must and father of the present Chairman, Now how did Morina actual- Zorianna. singer in Sri Lanka, being the remember that they are going to be in the spotlight very often main vocalist for the group, the Mr. Sanjeev Gardiner, was an She did her studies at because they are excellent cricketers, so they need to be able to Ramba Music Band. International Director of PATA in Tangalle Girls' National School, express themselves properly in English because the cricketing Bandarawela Central College, Her acting, so far, has been world is listening to them. the 1970s. and in the States, at Los confined to only the stage. There was absolutely nothing to the effect that anyone should be The Hotel has had a long associa- Angeles West Valley Collage. "I generally get involved in embarrassed. tion with PATA and, as early as 1972, Her hobbies include model- charity shows in LA, where Sri The present scenario at SL Cricket should be some food for Lanka benefits. And I also sing the World President of PATA, Mr. ing, singing, acting, cooking, thought where Mr. whenever the opportunity Ohta, stayed at the Galle Face Hotel. writing and gardening. She is Kurukulasuriya is concerned. also quite proficient in beauty comes my way." Certain names have been Mr. Marvin Plake and Mr. Lakshman culture and bridal dressing. The official photographer is mentioned as possible captains Ratnapala, two distinguished Gihan de Silva. Photographs and Morina was a professional (to take over from Sangakkara), Executives Vice Presidents of PATA, but, unfortunately, none of them can should be sent to: were regular visitors to the Galle articles express themselves properly in English, Face Hotel. All have written about [email protected] while some can't speak English at all. If someone, lacking in English, is the Galle Face Hotel in the Hotels Tel: 0776788119 take a different twist as it appointed captain, does Mr. VIP book in glowing terms. will include all varieties of time-honored Sri Lankan Kurukulasuriya suggest that an inter- In the early 1980s, the PATA inhala Aluth Avurudu sweetmeats. preter be sent along with the team on Conference was held in India. The ritual will be held at Avurudu overseas trips! You could savour mouth- PATA Workshop, however, was con- Sthe Galadari Hotel, on watering "kavili," together Whenever a team goes overseas, ducted in Colombo, with the official Thursday, April 14th, at 3.15 with your favourite cup of they have to face the media - the cap- pm, at the hotel's atrium, to tain in particular. dinner being hosted at the Galle tea, as you enjoy the "Avuru announce the time to start Sirith" that will be per- And how would such guys, without Face Hotel. at the performing the New Year formed at the Lobby. any knowledge of English, face the media in countries like The Galle Face Hotel is liked by customs. The rituals will The Café 64 will be offer- Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies! many, both local and foreign, and it's include the boiling of milk, ing traditional sweet meats, I suppose Mr. Kurukulasuriya would suggest that the media lighting of the traditional one of my favourite places as well. till April 15th, from 9.00 am pop their questions to the interpreter, the interpreter, in turn, oil lamp, the traditional Galadari to 9.00 pm. put the question to the captain concerned, who replies in Some of my foreign friends, who female raban players and Sinhala to the interpreter, and then the interpreter puts it have experienced the Gall Face Hotel dancers. Lavinia Avurudu across to the media. Everyone would be a sleep by the set-up, have all used superlatives to The Galadari Hotel management and staff will Chaarithra time the media conference is over. describe it. host all their guest for a traditional Avurudu meal, You are invited to experience a traditional avu- Great thinking, Mr. Kurukulasuriya! which will include the age old, rich Sinhala sweet It's one of the best places in town rudu celebration at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on And the interpreter will always have to be on meats, such as Kiribath, Mung Kevum, Konda Thursday, April 14th, 2011, from 12 noon onwards, standby - ready to rush on to the playing field in - for food and ambiance. Kevum, Alluwa, Kokis, Asmi, Bibikkan, etc. at the Governor's Terrace. case the captain needs to discuss some With the dawning of the Sinhala and Tamil New The celebrations include lunch and an exclusive matter with the English-speaking Year, the English High Tea buffet, at the Lobby, will avurudu spread. umpires! Adrian Ranasinghe, Ja-Ela ot many cricket fans had the opportunity Nof travelling to Mumbai to watch the final battle between Sri Lanka and India. But they hardly missed out on the real action, Fernando, was a part because the intense cricket of the action as well. fever was very much evident in She and a group of Colombo, on Saturday, April friends decided to 2nd, 2011. check out the Cheers Rugby grounds, the Galle Pub at the Cinnamon Face green, five star pubs and Grand. outlets, were appropriately "The atmosphere decked up for the big occasion - was terrific and we all with giant screens, food outlets, had a great time, special World Cup menus, and cheering our guys," not forgetting those infec- she told "Scene tious 'papare' sounds! Around." Well-known personali- Priyanthi went on ties were seen at most of to say that although Sri Lanka didn't tri- ty of witnessing some of the umph at the end, the matches that were played in excitement prevailed Colombo, she preferred the right throughout the Cheers Pub scene. duration of the game. "I went for the Australia/Sri "It would have been greater if these venues, cheer- Lanka game, but didn't quite we had won, but still it was a ing and shouting enjoy the setup." very good scene at the Cheers themselves hoarse. Priyanthi is seen in these Pub." Colombo's photos having a good time with Priyanthi also indicated that social queen, her pals, on Saturday, April 2nd, although she had the opportuni- Priyanthi 20ll, at the Cheers Pub..