News
Fiddlers on the roof
Theatre enthusiasts in Colombo are in for a treat as the renowned theatre group, The Workshop Players, present Fiddler on the Roof at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. Sponsored by Cargills, this highly anticipated production will run from October 4th to 13th. Directed by the celebrated Jerome L. de Silva, returning to the helm after a significant hiatus, the production is bolstered by the talents of Assistant Director Sean Amarasekera and Producer Johann Andrew Perera.
Adding to the creative force behind the scenes, Artistic Director for Music Surein de S. Wijeyeratne and Artistic Director for Choreography Joshua Fernandez bring their expertise to guide the young and talented cast.
Fiddler on the Roof, the beloved musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and a book by Joseph Stein has played somewhere in the world every single night since its Broadway debut 60 years ago & spawned the well-known 1971 Oscar winning movie.
Set in the small village of Anatevka in pre-revolutionary Russia in 1905, Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of Tevye, a humble dairyman, who strives to uphold his family’s traditions in a rapidly changing world. As Tevye faces the challenges of finding suitable husbands for his daughters, he must also confront the shifting social landscape and the pressures it places on his way of life. With humor, warmth, and a deep sense of resilience, the story captures Tevye’s struggles to balance the old with the new, all while his family’s future hangs in the balance. The title metaphorically represents Tevye’s life—like a fiddler on a roof, precariously balancing tradition while trying to embrace change.
The Workshop Players have not taken on a mega musical production such as this since 2017. Talking about why they chose this particular play and the joys of directing it, Jerome de Silva said, “I believe that the story of Fiddler is so relevant to us Sri Lankans that are a multi-cultural, multi religious, with varying ethnicities. Society still believes in tradition and the adherence to it, and the heartbreak that ensues when tradition is broken. This is the story of OUR lives, but LOVE triumphs over all.
Directing Fiddler has made me realise how fragile life is, and life for us is a delicate balancing act like that of the Fiddler on the Roof.”
Commenting on the experience of directing this young cast of actors and singers, Sean Amarasekera said, “Since its inception in 1992, The Workshop Players have always been about continuing the Traditions of Musical Theatre from one generation to the next. So, Fiddler on The Roof, one of the finest & final musicals of the Golden Age of Broadway & probably the first Concept Musical, was the perfect baton to pass on to this cast of mainly new blood”. Sean is happy to say, “The flame still burns strong.”
Having taken on the role of Music Director for a number of Workshop Players productions, Surien de S Wijeyeratne expressed his views on how Fiddler on the Roof inspired him and challenged him. “Fiddler is the universal story of the displaced and persecuted minority. It’s a story that transcends time, geographical boundaries and political philosophies. Making this come alive is to breathe life into the very essence of the human experience, and being able to do that through music is magical”,” he said.
Speaking of his involvement with the Workshop Players and the specific choreography that was required to make this show a success, Joshua Fernandez said, “The choreography styles are quite unorthodox to us as Sri Lankans and that has been the principal challenge with this production. But as always with a ‘can do attitude’ bunch like The Workshop Players, we will pull it off”.
Fiddler on the Roof promises a memorable experience with its dynamic cast, engaging dance routines, and unforgettable music. Enjoy beloved classics like ‘If I Were a Rich Man’ and ‘Matchmaker’, all brought to life through vibrant choreography and spirited performances.
COPF final report on USD 2.5 mn cyber fraud recommends action against all responsible
The US$2.5 million loss incurred during Sri Lanka’s foreign debt repayment to Australia was a clear case of a cybercrime and theft, Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday.
Presenting the COPF final report on the cyber fraud, Dr. de Silva said the incident amounted to a serious financial crime and called for a comprehensive investigation, by law enforcement authorities, to identify and prosecute all those responsible.
The report revealed serious governance, procedural and operational failures that enabled the fraudulent transfer of public funds, while recommending sweeping reforms to strengthen cybersecurity, financial controls and public debt management systems.
According to the report, officials of the Treasury and the Central Bank bore responsibility for governance lapses that contributed to the failures. It also highlighted the fact that the Ministry of Finance was operating an outdated Microsoft Exchange Server after security support had ended, while basic safeguards, such as multi-factor authentication, had not been implemented.
The COPF said suspicious payment instructions linked to debt repayments involving India, the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium had also been detected, preventing further losses. However, the US$ 2.5 million fraud materialised only in the repayment transaction involving Australia.
The report has noted that officials had failed to verify lender email domains, relied on unverified email communications and lacked adequate internal controls, allowing the fraud to continue for months.
Although the investigation uncovered system-wide weaknesses across several institutions, only four mid-level Finance Ministry officials had been suspended so far, the report said.
The COPF has recommended a special audit of the foreign debt repayment process, strengthened cybersecurity measures across state institutions, updated financial regulations and improvements to public debt management systems.
by Saman Indrajith
News
Opposition signs no-confidence motion against Justice Minister for dereliction of duty over Negombo Prison deaths
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, together with Opposition MPs, yesterday signed a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) in Parliament against Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.The move comes in response to the unrest at the Negombo Prison, where both prison officers and inmates were killed.
Opposition members said the Minister had failed to fulfill his responsibility and accountability regarding their safety.According to the Opposition group, the NCM seeks to hold the Minister directly accountable for lapses in ensuring protection within the prison system.
The Attorney General yesterday informed the Supreme Court that the government has decided to review the legality of agreements entered into by the previous administration to hand over the country’s electronic visa issuance operations to private companies.
Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena, appearing for the Attorney General, made the submission when the Supreme Court took up the fundamental rights petitions filed by former MPs President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, Patali Champika Ranawaka, and Rauff Hakeem, challenging the previous Cabinet’s decision to outsource the e-visa system.
The petitions were heard before a three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeyesekere.
The Additional Solicitor General informed court that the current Cabinet had appointed a subcommittee to examine the legality of the agreements with the private companies and requested time to report on its findings, stating that the review was still underway.
President’s Counsel Sumanthiran, appearing as one of the petitioners, told the court that although the present government had indicated its intention to cancel the transaction, the petitioners wished to proceed with the case.
He noted that members of the current Cabinet had been named as respondents in the petitions.The Supreme Court directed the petitioners to issue notice on the members of the current Cabinet, named as respondents, and fixed September 29 for further proceedings.
History takes centre stage as Mandhana, Harmanpreet fifties steer India
Spain leave it late to book semifinal date with France
Showers will occur in the Sabaragamuwa, Western and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
US$ 2.5 mn cyber heist exposes system failures
Opposition signs no-confidence motion against Justice Minister for dereliction of duty over Negombo Prison deaths
AG informs SC of e-visa agreement review
‘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
-
News7 days agoSingapore-based Buddhist monk marks nearly four decades of humanitarian service
-
News1 day agoHerath warns prospective migrant workers not to get fleeced by racketeers
-
News5 days agoAI concerned over proposed SL military deployment in Haiti
-
Midweek Review3 days agoUnexpected focus on ‘pieces of tin’ worn by military men
-
Latest News4 days agoNyamhuri and Ngarava stun Bangladesh by defending 141
-
Features7 days agoThe NPP’s New Challenge: Balancing Easter Lawfare and Economic Welfare
-
News2 days agoNegombo Prison riot: Ensuring protection of prisoners fundamental responsibility of the state – UN
-
Editorial3 days agoPrison riots and political battles