Life style
Modern Brides and Grooms collection by LOVI Ceylon and friends
Brides and Grooms of Sri Lanka – Reimagined
“Together we’re creating moments of happiness and cherished memories for the new couple and their families” said Founder and CEO of LOVI Ceylon, Asanka de Mel, as he introduced LOVI Ceylon’s Groom collection. Each groom’s look was paired with extraordinary creations from Sri Lanka’s top bridal designers, jewelers, florists, hair and make-up artiste and was captured by story-telling photographers.
The presentation graciously hosted by the Taj Samudra and Shangri-La hotels saw 30 leading designers working hand in hand to infuse fresh ideas, celebrate cultural diversity and show-off Sri Lankan couture—the island’s hand craft heritage.
The stunning bridal costumes were painstakingly made by renowned designers Messrs. Dhananjaya Bandara, Rishard Raheem, and Michael Wijesuriya as well as Mses. Indi Yapa Abeywardena of Brides by INDI, Sonali Dharmawardena, Darshi Keerthisena of Buddhi Batiks, Ramona Oshini, Sandani Perera of IKIGAI Bridal, and Jaish Parathalingam of Aashkii. The newcomer, Ms. Anusha David also presented her couture creations under the label Gabriel.
“We want our Groom and all of the men in the wedding including the groomsmen, dads, young boys and friends, to be themselves–to feel rooted in culture, well dressed and at ease on the wedding day,” says Asanka. Celebrating the religious and cultural traditions including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Kandyan, Malay, Muslim, Sinhala, Tamil and western traditions of the island LOVI Ceylon’s Grooms’ range presented modern sarongs paired with formal shirts, jackets, kurtas and more. They were paired with sarees, dresses, lehengas, pant suits and an array of breathtaking outfits. There were many looks offered for the Sri Lankan diaspora, as well as couples seeking inspiration for destination weddings.
As the designs progressed from sketch to stitching, our jewelry partners Careems, Lalitha, Mallika Hemachandra, Tiesh and Vogue jewelers added their brilliant sparkles with handcrafted fine jewelry made of precious metals encrusted with diamonds, sapphires and rubies. And what wedding would be complete without flowers? Bringing the latest floral creations were florists Designer Flowers, Flowers by Joan and Karen Forbes, Lassana Flora, and Supreme Flora who made the spectacular bridal outfits blossom with their creations.
Breathing life into these wonderful creations with superb hair and make-up was anchor of the shoot, Ms. Nadiya Fernando and her collaborator Omesh, while Ramani Fernando Salons, Shane Perera, Viran Peter, Brides by Leena and Talia designs, also worked magic on the models.
The father son duo Dinuka and Dineth Fonseka of Studio3000 took on the herculean task of capturing all the creations as the anchor photography partner. The works of Ashene Bernard, Amarante Studio, Geeshan Bandara, and Portrait Culture were also presented in imaginative and artistic captures.
De Mel expressed his thanks to the wonderful models who brought the visions and fancies of the designers to life, as well as poet and author Ashok Ferrey for being the MC of the shoot and providing an eloquent commentary, delivered with his inimitable panache!
“We have world class craftsmanship here, it’s fun to work with so many experts, who just happen to be friends, to present a beautiful collection that could nudge the course of Sri Lankan clothing identity” said Asanka when asked about the work that went into this.
As he rightly reminded the gentlemen to choose wisely, “on that special wedding day, when all eyes are on her–her eyes are on you!”
Fashion
Maathra- A Tribute to National Culture
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.
Life style
Scholarships To Sri Lankan Students
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.
Life style
Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers sustainable luxury stays in the scenic Eastern Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is home to some of the world’s most breathtaking coastal destinations, and Sun Siyam Pasikudah stands out as an extraordinary resort offering a unique experience on the island’s eastern coast. Having undergone a transformative renovation, creating an idyllic blend of opulent comfort and eco-conscious living, the 34 pavilions are surrounded by lush tropical greenery combined with locally crafted cane furnishings.
At the resort, you’ll find yourself in a tropical oasis known for its serene coastline. With spacious villas that open up to breathtaking ocean views, the resort offers the perfect beachfront escape for those seeking peace and relaxation. At Sun Siyam Pasikudah, luxury doesn’t come at the expense of the environment. The resort is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring local materials and an eco-friendly design.
The villas are adorned with handcrafted furnishings made by local artisans, giving each space a unique touch that reflects the rich culture of Sri Lanka. Plus, the resort is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by utilizing solar energy and implementing water conservation practices
By choosing to stay here, you contribute to their ongoing commitment to preserving the stunning natural landscape of Pasikudah. Sun Siyam Pasikudah recently launched the CarePhant project, supporting the well-being of a young elephant named Kalo at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe, Sri Lanka.
Celebrate the flavors of Sri Lanka with expertly curated menus that combine traditional dishes with modern flair. The resort’s dining options serve locally sourced ingredients, from fresh seafood to exotic spices, delivering an authentic gastronomic experience. You’ll also have the chance to learn more about Sri Lankan cuisine with interactive cooking sessions hosted by the resort’s top chefs.
Dive deep into the vibrant culture of Sri Lanka with the unique experiences offered at Sun Siyam Pasikudah. From guided tours of nearby historical sites, such as the ancient ruins of Polonnaruwa and the famed Sigiriya Rock Fortress, to engaging storytelling sessions with local elders, your stay will be enriched with cultural insights. The resort also hosts regular traditional dance performances, showcasing the rhythms and stories that have shaped Sri Lankan heritage.
For the adventurous local traveler, the resort offers a variety of exciting water sports. From jet skiing to windsurfing and kayaking, the calm waters of Pasikudah Bay are perfect for thrilling activities. Discover the underwater world with a snorkeling or scuba diving excursion, where you can explore colorful coral reefs and marine life. For the thrill-seekers, consider a guided kite surfing lesson, or explore the nearby nature reserves to spot exotic wildlife.
Recharge your mind, body, and spirit at the resort’s tranquil spa, which offers a range of treatments inspired by ancient Sri Lankan wellness practices. Indulge in a signature herbal massage or a rejuvenating facial using locally sourced ingredients like coconut oil and spices. The resort also provides daily yoga classes on the beach.
. For families, the resort provides ample accommodation with luxurious two-bedroom pavilions, ensuring privacy and convenience for everyone. Many villas feature private pools, allowing them to unwind in style. Whether it’s a romantic getaway or a family retreat, Sun Siyam Pasikudah’s accommodations provide the ultimate combination of luxury, space, and relaxation.
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