News
Australian producer seeks SL songwriters for feature film
An Australian film producer of Sri Lankan origin is seeking songwriters from Sri Lanka for the soundtrack of his new movie called ‘The Naked Eye’.
Surith Fernando, who started as a child-actor in Sri Lanka and worked as a producer for Rupavahini, the state-television broadcaster, before moving to Sydney, wants to track down music composers for English songs.
His planned new film, ‘The Naked Eye’, will be set in Sri Lanka, with the main creative team also from the island and main characters played by Sri Lankan and Australian actors.
“My main intention is to find a couple of new song composers in order to compose songs in English. We are aiming for an international audience,” said Fernando, who has developed documentaries for both Australian broadcasters ABC and SBS.
Fernando has also worked as an assistant director on short films and made his own short films.
His latest venture, which he calls his “warm-up”, is a short film called ‘An Orange And The Eye’ and is on film festivals at the moment.
‘An Orange And The Eye’, done with real people, not professional actors, can be seen on the link https://vimeo.com/646340386 (Password – AnOrangeEye2021)
“I look forward to sharing my cinematic statement with the audience worldwide to celebrate our human spirit,” says Fernando. “I have left it to the audience to get to know a little bit of the human nature of the two characters in our film. They are not actors but real people in our society.”
Currently, he is developing ‘The Naked Eye’ and ‘The Owl Hunt’, a low budget feature film set in Australia.
‘The Naked Eye’ is Fernando’s first feature film, a musical in the English language, set in Sri Lanka.
Its principal creative team is from Sri Lanka for music, choreography and production design, with Fernando as the writer and director.
Surith checking the camera in one of his productions
“I have not completed selecting my cast and crew from Sri Lanka and these days I am on the look for creative talent,” he said.
Fernando began his career as a child actor in Sri Lanka, with numerous roles in theatre and radio drama. He was selected by Rupavahini Corporation for a three-year producer traineeship.
He was granted a three-month release to write and direct a successful youth production, a musical drama called ‘Vyanga’ for Ceylon Theatres Ltd.
“I developed my musical style and passion while directing my first stage play ‘Yyanga’ for Ceylon Theatres in 1985,” Fernando said.
On completing the three-year traineeship, he was permanently employed as a producer by Rupavahini where he produced numerous studio and outside broadcasting productions for public broadcast.
In 1989 Fernando won a producer’s scholarship in TV broadcasting and arrived in Sydney to study film and TV at the Australian national academy, Australian Film, Television Radio School.
A writer, producer and director, Fernando likes to describe himself with the words, “English is my second language. Imagery is my first.”
The Indonesian Naval Ship, ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’, arrived at the port of Colombo today (22 Jan 26) on a scheduled port call for logistics replenishment and a goodwill mission.
In keeping with time-honored naval tradition the ship was accorded a ceremonial welcome upon arrival.
The 90.71m – long Sigma Corvette FS is commanded by Commander Annugerah Anurullah.
During the stay in Colombo, the crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city limits.
Further, this visit provides an avenue to enhance professional interaction and courtesy engagements among two navies.
The Royal Navy of Oman Ship ‘AL SEEB’ arrived at the Port of Colombo on a logistics replenishment visit today (22 Jan 26).
The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.
The 75m – long ship is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Hamad Bin Mohammed Aldarmaki. The port call will facilitate professional interaction and goodwill exchanges between the two navies.
During her stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo.
News
Mechanism to be established involving university academics and experts for Education Reforms – President
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Government is taking steps to establish a comprehensive mechanism, supported by an appropriate legal framework, to bring together university academics, experts and all relevant parties in order to resolve issues arising during the implementation of education reforms.
The President made these remarks during a discussion with the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) held on Wednesday (21) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the discussion, FUTA members emphasized the challenges encountered while trying to implement educational reforms through a framework established by the National Institute of Education, in line with the current laws and regulations.
They further emphasized that while their association acknowledges the need for new education reforms, the urgency of such reforms is greater for students in rural schools than for those in urban schools.
The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations further stated that they appreciate the decision taken by the Government, under the leadership of the President, to address the issues arising from education reforms and affirmed their readiness to contribute to this process.
As a continuation of the previous discussion, proposals addressing the challenges faced by academics within the university system, along with possible solutions, were presented to the President. In response, the President emphasized that the Government would take all possible measures to safeguard the university system and strengthen education.
The discussion also covered proposed amendments to the Universities Act.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake noted that, in the aftermath of the recent disaster, the Government has been effectively implementing a nationwide rebuilding programme, addressing economic stability, development and all critical sectors. The President also called upon university academics to actively support these reconstruction efforts.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Anura Karunathilaka, as well as representatives of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations, including its President, Prof. P. R. Weerathunga, Vice President M. A. M. Sameem and Secretary Charudaththe Ilangasinghe.
Two dead and several missing in New Zealand landslides
England succumb to spin-bowling choke as Sri Lanka go 1-0 up
U – 19 World Cup: Why a slow chase was better than a fast one for Pakistan against Zimbabwe
Mendis’ 93 not out lifts Sri Lanka to 271 for 6, despite Rashid three-for
We didn’t get justice from ICC: Bangladesh sports advisor
Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’ arrives in Colombo
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Editorial5 days agoIllusory rule of law
-
News6 days agoUNDP’s assessment confirms widespread economic fallout from Cyclone Ditwah
-
Editorial6 days agoCrime and cops
-
Features5 days agoDaydreams on a winter’s day
-
Editorial7 days agoThe Chakka Clash
-
Features5 days agoSurprise move of both the Minister and myself from Agriculture to Education
-
Features4 days agoExtended mind thesis:A Buddhist perspective
-
Features5 days agoThe Story of Furniture in Sri Lanka