The Charge d’affaires a.i. of Switzerland and Mrs. Yves Nicolet held a reception at the Swiss Residence to celebrate Swiss National Day. The colours of Switzerland, red and white brought a festive air to the surroundings with flags and pennants under a marquee in the garden, under which toasts were drunk, with Minister of Investment Promotions Rohitha Bogollagama as the guest of honour. Besides the Minister were many dignitaries and diplomats who graced the occasion.

Many of the women, both in eastern and western attire brought glamour with their dress sense. A trio of sarees that caught the eye of the camera, all in nearly the same colour, but certainly in the same range. Priyadharshini de Zoysa wore a saree of dacca, cotton which, though cotton, is like an organza, in a weave in vivid turquoise, smoky black and gold. The saree was bordered in turquoise and the pallu was in a serrated design in the same colour. The blouse was in the blue and her jewellery was in turquoise and she carried a handbag in the same coloured sequins and beads. A deeper tone was the choice of Rukmani Wijeratne, whose saree was bordered and had a head piece in fused shades of purple a lighter blue and touches of white, over which were cloud like swirls of pattering. She too wore a necklace of turquoise and gold with earstuds to match. The third saree worn by Sherine Senadhira was in the same colour with a design of checks on it in a chalk white, with the hemlines shading into a white. Scattered on this were paisley like motifs in charcoal.

She wore a pendent of a black hued stone and her accessories were in black. The black and white printed saree Yasmin Cader wore was unbeatable for its smartness and style. The white silk was printed in floral sprigs in black with a more intricate design on the pallu.

The simple contrast of a black blouse and pearls for jewellery were the perfect finishing touches for chic sophistication. A black dress Sandya Anthony wore with loosely flowing hair and a necklace of pearls was simple and stylish. A scarf in a cerise tone wound round her neck and flowing down the sides over her brown dress which had cutaway armholes and a cowl drape at the neckline was ideal on charming and youthful guest. Primorosa Gunaratne over a black bustier had a sleeveless mushroom toned coat embroidered along the deep V neckline and down the front in white silk thread and burnished gold. A stole in the same colour flung over the shoulder was edged in a fringe of gold ballbles. A delicate necklace in pearls and fine gold chain made her ornament. Dumeetha Luthra from B.B.C. News, is the Correspondent for B.B.C. in Sri Lanka. Her choice for cocktail time was a empire waisted , deep V necked sleeveless dress in unfailing black, she wore with a string of pearls for an ornament. It was an evening of meeting and greeting people, most of whom are those we meet often in the diplomatic cocktail circuit and is like renewing old acquaintances.

Tags: The Sunday Island, South Asia, World News, Switzerland