By Anura Gunasekera

Lyceum International Schools delivered its 13th edition of “Maathra“, a composite of opera, dance and theatre, at the BMICH premises, on October 12. It was an in-house creation, produced by Lyceum teachers specializing in dance, theatre and allied disciplines, and performed entirely by students selected from of the Lyceum group of schools.

When the first edition of the event was displayed to the public in 2008, it is unlikely that the organizers would have envisaged its impact on viewers, and the sense of anticipation it would go on to create in the minds of the public, year after year; nor that it would re-invent itself with each performance, reaching new levels of excellence with each successive year. That is an aspect the writer can personally vouch for, not having missed a performance since its inception.

Maathra is a rich, multi-faceted tapestry, an auditory and visual feast, woven from local narratives, folk tales, traditional dances, myths and legends, values and beliefs, and segments of the country’s rich history. It is a composite of the cultural and historical diversity that is Sri Lanka.

Maathra showcases and promotes this enchanting variety, exploring through each individual performance, the aesthetic and rhythmic elements that distinguish Sri Lankan art forms, whilst projecting the historical content. By engaging with such a broad spectrum of cultural aspects, Maathra makes a significant contribution to the broader conversation about our national identity, and inculcates in the performers and viewers, pride in that identity, and the cultural and historical wealth this country has to offer.

In a highly globalized society, connected by instant communication which indiscriminately transmits, and glamorizes, both the vulgar and the tasteful, Maathra reminds viewers that, in meaning and value, what this country possesses is absolutely unique in richness and depth. Maathra is a performance which helps all those involved, audience and participants, to re-anchor themselves to that cultural wealth, which constitute our national roots and foundation. Maathra is not just about dance, theatre and music, but also about who we Sri Lankans are. The performances cut across racial, religious and cultural divides, and embraced the national community as a whole.

The selection of themes of the latest edition was clearly designed with the above in view.

“Sigiri“, the story of the parricide king, Kashyapa, celebrated the matchless grandeur of the fortress in the sky and the cloud-maidens who adorned it, whilst “Devadasi” introduced to the audience, an ancient temple service tradition with South Indian roots. “Gaadi”, recreated vignettes of the life-style of the diminished Hulawaly community, decades ago very much part of our national landscape, whilst “Andare”, the court jester of the Sinhala kings, evoked much laughter.

“Hiru Kule” revived a fascinating legend of our roots and depicted king Ravana at his menacing best and “Tikiri Kumaru”, took the audience back to the youth of warrior king, Rajasinghe the First. “Hansa” , recalled the brilliant literary tradition of “Sandesa” poetry and “Siri Dalada”, paid homage to the sacred Tooth Relic. ‘Manikyabhiman,” was a tribute to the treasure-laden land and the gem-mining tradition of Sabaragamuwa, and “Isurumuni”, a special performance by the Lyceum alumni, brought to life the ancient lovers cast in stone.

“Nertha Yaathra” traced the evolution of traditional dance forms in Sri Lanka, and its enrichment through other influences, especially the gradual inclusion of women performers in a previously male-dominated tradition. “Siv Hela Rakun” was an accolade to the legendary origins of our nation, from the ” Yakka, Naga, Deva and Raksha”

Each item did not last more than a few minutes but the illustration of the themes, through song, dance and music, in a brilliant fusion of traditional dance styles and contemporary balletic forms, offered to the audience, vivid and unmistakable depictions of each theme.

This production of ‘Maathra” brought together 68 dedicated teachers and 762 students. A feature of the production was the wide age range of the performers. Each item constituted of at least 40 performers, ranging in age from pre-teens to late teens. Some of the performers had grown and matured in dance with the event itself, participating in at least seven to eight consecutive performances over a decade.

The event, in its totality, was conceived and led by the dynamic duo, Rasika and Nisha Kotalawela, under the guidance of Dr.Mohan Lal Grero and Dr. Mrs Kumari Grero. In fact, it is the Kotalawela duo, who have been responsible for the Maathra production from the very first instance.

The beautiful melodies which accompanied each item had been produced by renowned artists, whilst the glittering costumes, inspired by strictly traditional motifs, crafted by leading designers.

A production, involving over a 1.000 people, mostly high-spirited children, requires intricate planning, which actually begins anew, immediately, on completion of each show ! The seamless progression of items, moving from one to the other with hardly a break, with clock-work precision, despite the complex choreography, was testament to the competence of the organizing group, and the discipline of the performers themselves. The fluid coordination within and between performances, belies the fact that the cast had been assembled, just for this event, from eight Lyceum branches across five provinces.

The performance was graced by many prominent figures from the cultural, dance and theatre communities of the island. Undoubtedly, the proudest would have been the parents of the performers, watching their children displaying such virtuosity.

Lyceum International takes pride in providing appropriate platforms for its students to showcase their talents and skills. As ‘Maathra” has demonstrated each year, despite an international school’s customary detachment from national educational curricula, disciplines rooted in national culture clearly receive priority attention at Lyceum. This ensures that wherever they are as adults, the children of Lyceum remain firmly anchored to the culture which bred them.

The significance of Maathra transcends its attraction as a colourful pageant. It has a much deeper meaning and an impact. Whilst receiving an international education which prepares them for higher education abroad, the students of Lyceum, as ambassadors of our national culture, take with them, to other universities, to other lands, and to other nations, the message of our rich national heritage. That is Lyceum International School’s service to the nation.

Pakistan High Commission Awards

Pakistan High Commission, Colombo in collaboration with Higher Education Commission, Pakistan held Allama Iqbal Scholarship Award distribution ceremony rcently.The scholarship is named after Allama Muhammad Iqbal, one of the greatest philosophers and visionary also known as “Poet of the East”. Allama Iqbal inspired countless individuals through his profound thoughts and unwavering commitment to education.

The Allama Iqbal scholarship program for the deserving Sri Lankan students was started in 2019. This year, for the 6th Batch of the programme 200 fully funded scholarships have been awarded to the students. At present, around 500 students are already pursuing their academic degrees at graduate, postgraduate and PhD level. The next intake will start in February 2025.

High Commissioner of Pakistan, Maj. Gen. (R) Faheem Ul Aziz, HI (M), in his remarks stated that awarding these scholarships to Sri Lankan students is yet another testament to the excellent brotherly relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He urged the students to embrace this opportunity with determination and resilience. He further added: “As you pursue your studies, remember that you are ambassadors of your country and your culture. Engage with your peers, share your experiences, and be a bridge between our nations. The knowledge and understanding you gain will be invaluable as we work together to address the challenges we face in our ever-changing world.”

General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) was the Chief Guest of the event which was attended by prominent personalities from various walks of life including businessmen, academicians, and government officials. The Chief Guest, the High Commissioner and other notable dignitaries distributed the scholarship awards among the students.

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