Ravishing Anarkalli

by Zanita Careem
Pix by Saranapala Pamunuwa

Cylinderical red lamps and red balloons festooned the H20 night club when Anakalli made a glamorous entrance to celebrate her nineteenth birthday in a ravishing red dress worked in silver sequins and black beads. Delicious snacks in plenty were served to the guests who came from various walks of life from cricketers to designers to film stars to musicians to politicians and a large representatives of the media.

The theme of the evening was red roses reflecting the beauty of youth. It is symbolic of enduring passion, love and innocence — embodying the blossoming young celebrity. This theme was reflected in all aspects of the event — from the invitation to the décor to the cake. All the guests received a red rose with the invitation.

The highlight of the evening was the grand entrance of the birthday girl herself. Anarkalli walked in with 19 little ballerinas — symbolic of the 19 years of her life and her love for children — escorting her inside the room, followed by her mum wishing her with 19 red roses.

A large birthday card was specially designed for Anarkalli, which was then handed by two kids.

Anarkalli, the youngest star to go onto the web launched her official website with Glenda Parthipan of Emphasis and Betram Paul, Head of Marketing, Reckitt Benckiser. She dedicated it to her fans. The website — www.anarkalli.com — also followed the theme of a red rose.

This was followed by the launch of a SMS service where Anarkalli’s fans got a message from her informing them of the launch of her website.

The party was on the day before her birthday. Anarkalli cut the cake sharp at midnight with Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, CEO of Dialog and Ramesh Schaffter, Director Marketing, Janashakthi Insurance, accompanying her. Two little girls in dainty costumes of butterflies escorted her to the cake.

A couple of Anarkalli’s fans that have been corresponding with her on long-term basis were present at the event as her special guests. This was a nice gesture because they got the once in a lifetime opportunity to be at the launch of Sri Lanka’s youngest and most popular film, star’s website.

She also launched one of her songs from her debut album, which is to be released soon.

Anarkalli gave special thanks to Dialog, Veet and Janashakthi for their support in sponsoring the event, to her mum for being the wind beneath her wings, to Emphasis who conceptualised and coordinated the entire event with love and passion, to BT Options for developing the website and for all the unique and elegant creative work, to all the invitees who took time to share this special moment with her and to the media for all the support now and beyond. -Sunday Island

Memories carved in gold

It was on the twenty sixth of June Nineteen Fifty Six, Tita and Jeanne Nathanielsz were married, and to celebrate fifty years of an enduring partnership, they asked friends and family to join them at the Galle Face Hotel. The evening began with fellowship, cocktails and dinner in the Jubilee Room of this hotel which has a classic elegance very few others can compete with. It was a lovely evening with Jeanne’s daughter Jilska Payoe flying in to join in this event of a lifetime. The toast to the couple was proposed by an old friend Christo de Livera, and joining him afterwards Jilska thanked her parents for the many pleasant childhood memories and thanked the guests for gracing the occasion, many of whom flew down specially for the event, among them Jeanne’s sister Romaine Navaratnam who wore a cold shouldered evening dress in blue. The bride of fifty years ago still makes her own statement when it comes to style and for this evening she picked on a black dress over which she wore a deep copper long jacket to set off her striking necklace of coppery gold. Black was popular among many of the guests, and among them was Estelle Joachim in a shot burgundy trouser suit she added glamour to with a blackstole full of jet sequins. Marise Lyse too favoured black, as did Mavis Gardiner who was in a smart black dress. Kalyani Ranasinghe combined black with unfailing white which was in a print with the pallu of the saree patterned in floral motifs in tones of orange and green, given a touch of glitter with silver sequins Sriani de Silva had her black saree patterned in a star flower design in clusters in pink, she wore with a blouse which looked like lace embroidered in star flowers in pink on black. Her necklace was in many strands of black beads on which was a onyz pendent in typical jewellery of ethnic style. A vivid green saree was borderd in robin blue and gold on the saree Veena Jayasunderea wore with a chunky necklace and drop earrings. With her was a friend in similiar colours. Both sarees had a shadow print on the body of the silks. Among the many other guests were Anura and Shivani Siriwardhena, Carl Fernando, Janaki Fernando, and many other old friends, besides Titals many golfing buddies. It was a memorable evening of reminiscing and jolly good fun, which we hope will carry into a diamond jubilee celebration. -Sunday Island

Leader sweeps the journalism awards again

The Deputy Editor of  The Morning Leader, Romesh Abeywickrema accepting the B.A. Siriwardena, English Columnist of the Year Award on behalf of  D.B.S. Jeyaraj from  Chairman of  Wijeya Group of Newspapers, Ranjith Wijewardene at the Journalism Awards for Excellence ceremony at the Mount Lavinia Hotel yesterday. Jeyaraj, who is residing in Canada won the award for his Minor Matters column in The Morning Leader. – Photo by Lalith Perera

Leader Newspapers swept the board at the 2005 Journalism Awards for Excellence bagging six of the top awards at a ceremony held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel last night.

The top Mervyn de Silva ‘Journalist of the Year’ award was won by Sonali Samarasinghe. Samarasinghe set a record by winning it for the third time.

Veteran journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj won the B.A. Siriwardena award for the ‘Best English Columnist of the Year’ for his The Morning Leader column Minor Matters, whilst renowned sports writer T.M.K. Samat received the ‘Sports Journalist of the Year’ award.

Editor, The Sunday Leader Investigations Desk, Dilrukshi Handunnetti won the D.B. Dhanapala award for the ‘Best English Journalist.’

The News Editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper, Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema received the ‘Business Journalist of the Year (English)’ award, whilst Jamila Najmuddin of the Investigations Desk won the Upali Wijewardena Award for the ‘Best Feature Writer (English).’

Five long service awards were also given at the ceremony to Leslie Dahanayake of The Sunday Leader and W.V. Abeygunawardhana, Hema Gunawardhana, A. Sivanesa-selvam and Motagedera Wanigaratne.

-The Morning Leader

Sitar virtuoso Pradeep Ratnayake will be performing at the home of the L.A. Philharmonic, Walt Disney Hall

Sitar virtuoso Pradeep Ratnayake will be performing at the home of the L.A. Philharmonic, Walt Disney Hall. Pradeep performed to the thrill of audiences in Montreal, New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles in 2005. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Sri Lanka Foundation tsunami victim housing project.

Pradeep has been hailed as a logical successor to Ravi Shankar. His performance last September at the Kennedy Center was a tremendous success.

94.7 WAVE artist and # 1 contemporary pianist Freddie Ravel, Eric Marienthal on sax and Hussain Jiffry (bassist from Yanni) will fuse contemporary Jazz with tunes such as the Bee Gees’ Emotion, Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind and Freddie Ravel #1 smash hit Sunny Side Up.

The concert is a fundraiser that will allow the foundation to build another set of houses. In 2005 under the supervision of director Palitha Pelpola the foundation built 20 houses in Siribopura.

FOR TICKETSMASTER

FOR MORE INFO.

Walt Disney Concert Hall – Downtown Los Angeles

Please pass this all your friends in the U.S. and elsewhere.

If you need tickets please contact Rashantha at 213.747.1385 for groups of 6 or more.
TICKETS START AT $20.00
DON’T MISS THIS CONCERT!

Joy and music

There was the sound of joy and music when Lukshmie Puvimanasinghe asked her friends to tea at the Galle Face Hotel. It was a nostalgic evening when Lakshmie’s husband Fred decided to serenade his wife singing "You Belong To My Heart" to add a very special touch to the occasion. A gathering quite different to those present at the other two parties were there, but in no way were they less fashion wise or conscious of style. Lukshmi wore a saree as did many of the others present. Her yellow shot silk was painted in a border design of leaves in olive green and a dull shade of pink. Among the other sarees the shaded saree which ranged in colour from a veridian green to a lighter tone into a grey and a smoky black was Rohini Cooray’s choice to wear with a necklace and eardrops of grey pearls. Salwar kameezes were popular, and mother and daughter Shyami Dodanwela and Anushka Abeyratne opted for this style. The former in vivid blue combined with red, orange and black, while the latter wore purple and gold with the dupatta of the two colours dotted in white in tie and dye. On a mild variation of the theme was Kem Martenstyne in olive green, the kameez dotted in red she wore with a necklace of many strands of garnet beads. A long pearl necklace brought chic to the frog fastened mandarin styled top in a self printed light green silk Felicia Sorenson wore. A very unusual print of stripes with ring like haloes on it made the long top with a diagonal hemline Manel Wickremasinghe wore with shot wine silk pants. A kurta top in a streaky skin print made the top Janaki Fernando wore, worked in bronze beads and sequins at the neckline, while Nalini Senanayake wore black, the top sparkling with subtle beads and sequins. A print in a shade of mulberry red Mavis Gardiner had used for her shirt style top to wear with black trousers. Perhaps the two best and most suitable outfits was a white salwar kameez Romola Siva-sunderam wore with a touch of bead embroidery and white cotton saree Shobana Nagendra wore, bordered in subdued gold with green outlines, at the top, and the same with red at the hemline.

A evening Lukshmi is sure to cherish and will bring happy memories to many present at this celebration.

-Sunday Island

SITAR FUSED WITH JAZZ – Freddie Ravel, Eric Marienthal Join Pradeep

Sitar virtuoso Pradeep Ratnayake will be performing at the home of the L.A. Philharmonic, Walt Disney Hall. Pradeep performed to the thrill of audiences in Montreal, New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles in 2005. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Sri Lanka Foundation tsunami victim housing project.

Pradeep has been hailed as a logical successor to Ravi Shankar. His performance last September at the Kennedy Center was a tremendous success.

94.7 WAVE artist and # 1 contemporary pianist Freddie Ravel, Eric Marienthal on sax and Hussain Jiffry (bassist from Yanni) will fuse contemporary Jazz with tunes such as the Bee Gees’ Emotion, Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind and Freddie Ravel #1 smash hit Sunny Side Up.

The concert is a fundraiser that will allow the foundation to build another set of houses. In 2005 under the supervision of director Palitha Pelpola the foundation built 20 houses in Siribopura.

FOR TICKETSMASTER

FOR MORE INFO.

Walt Disney Concert Hall – Downtown Los Angeles

Please pass this all your friends in the U.S. and elsewhere.

If you need tickets please contact Rashantha at 213.747.1385 for groups of 6 or more.
TICKETS START AT $20.00
DON’T MISS THIS CONCERT!

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The Brides of June: From the exotic to the classic

The decor at the wedding reception hosted by internationally famous artist Senaka Senanayake and his wife Jennifer, in honour of their son Suren and his bride Alexandra, the daughter of Olov Koling and the late Catherina Koling in the Grand Ballroom of the Colombo Hilton, no one present will ever forget. Contributing to this in no small measure was the decor and the Poruwa which filled the long corridor lounge, leading into the ballroom that held your breath with its colour and originality, executed in bamboo, crab claws and other tropical flowers. The decor was based on the painting by Senaka which formed the backdrop to the poruwa, which was besides on the card, and ran through the entire theme of exotic splendour. Within the ballroom itself there was the contrast of the elegance of white.

The bride made a picture of a blend of the west and the east in a saree of ivory silk exquisitely embroidered in antique gold, in a range of gold designs done in beads, sequins, stones and thread which made a tapestrie of a garment of regal elegance. Draped in the gujarati style the blouse was square necked and had a suggestion of a sleeve, to set off a magnificent necklace consisting of an heirloom pendent of diamonds on a several strand collar of pearls. A cluster of flowers adorned her hair, and she carried a posy of yellow toned orchids and little flowers in a gold hue. A retinue of bridesmaids went for the classic Indian sarees of mysore georgette in a red closely dotted in red and gold, and bordered in green and gold they wore with cold shoulder blouses, long gold earrings and garlands in their hair the styles worn by the guests were as spectacular, with the groom’s mother Jenny in a kingfisher blue saree with dazzling sprays of sequin embroidery, and a double border in deep blue and silver sequins, she combined with an unusual set of jewellery, in what looked like square cut smoky topaz. A similiar shade of blue shaded into orange and a fushia at the hemlines of the saree Ramani Fernando wore bordered in gold. The neckline of her blouse was the perfect frame for a necklace of red stones and diamonds. Nalini, the grandmother of the groom had her Kandyan saree in a pale green and gold brocade like weave with a ‘ihe’ in gold, with the blouse in the same tone of colour, she wore with traditional padakkam and earstuds to propose an exhilarating and amusing toast to the couple.

It will take pages to write about all the wonderful sarees that added glamour and glitter to the occasion. Among them was a black saree boldly printed in large red poppies, which had a border in several rows of red sequins Ramali Wijewardene wore with ruby jewellery. A beautiful choker necklace in pearls and stones of several colours was the choice of Ruani Wijenaike to wear with a aquamarine saree bordered and dotted in gold and colour. Smart and sophisticated was Najma Mallick’s saree of a crushed grey and gold shot tissue simply bordered in midnight blue with gold embroidery and sequin work where the fabrics met. A collar necklace of gold and pearls made her ornament. Five stripes of gold sequins on a gold toned silk made the saree Yolanda Holms wore draped in one of her individual styles she wore with shoulder length eardrops in gold and pearls. There was elegance and the dazzle of rainbow colours and designs to enhance this evening of gala elegance. This unforgettable decor was done by Janaki de Soysa of the Flowers of Summer and the event coordinated to perfection by Nayantara Fonseka and her team. -Sunday Island

The Swiss Ambassador says farewell

All the friends and distinguished dignitaries gathered at the farewell party, the departing Ambassador of Switzerland and Mrs. Bernadino Regazzoni gave was loath to say good-bye this debonair and charming diplomat and his lovely wife and children. Even the rain could not hold back the invitees who listened to the genial ambassador make a nostalgic farewell speech. Perhaps naturally to honour this couple of endearing charm, the women guests in particular made, a statement of style. Mrs. Regazzoni’s designer dress in bare shouldered style in black was patterned in large red satin finished dots. Her hair was in an upswept style and she wore gold necklace and her shoes were in black. Necklaces made fashion news, and in variations on a theme were Tara Cooray in a ruby and gold piece of kashmiri design she wore with a red saree. A necklace of cabochon turquoise was the choice of Swarna Mallawaarachchi to wear with long spindle eardrops and a salwar top in shot deep turquoise to which she brought a touch of unusual colour with a red shawl. A necklace of coppery gold pearls in two sixes made the necklace Mela Karunanayake wore with a white top and black skirt, she gave a couturier touch to with a flared fluted ruffle on a side falling from the waist. A citrus yellow embroidered in the same coloured thread in a all-over design with little silver beads woven into it was Rukmani Wijeratne’s choice to wear with a necklace of diamonds and aquamarines. There were many friends from the east and west who brought the fashions from the universe with them for this evening. -Sunday Island

Bowers in a garden atmosphere

by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne

The other wedding which was also held at the Grand Ballroom of the Colombo Hilton Hotel had the room turned into a garden of white flowers, bowers and pillars when Chaturi, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Fernando was married to Cheruka, the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Fonseka. The theme for the event was in white and shades of aquamarine. The bride had her gossamer saree of white entirely embroidered in a corded lace, re-embroidered in sequins, beads and pearls. The sleeves of the blouse was worked to match the saree and featured a sweetheart neckline to set off her necklace of diamonds in a unusual design. Her tiered veil flowed from a high hairstyle and she carried a cascade bouquet of white orchids mingled with silver and a touch of green. Her bridesmaids wore simple sarees in a pale leaf green with fine borders on them and blouses which had, a pleated panel at the back. Kumarini, the mother of the bride had her saree of aquamarine worked in a jigsaw of sequins, and a narrow border in the same colour. Her necklace and drop earrings were in aquamarines and diamonds.

 The groom’s mother Sandra wore a saree of white net shading into a more vibrant aquamarine on which was embroidered a border of encrusted silver, green and silver jeek and beads and sequins. Her necklace was of emeralds and diamonds and she wore a green and silver ornament in her hair. One sister of the groom Anusha Sethwalla had her saree of a unusual shade of cafe-au-lait worked in a exquisite border in light and dark aquamarine and silver, to wear with a diamond necklace and earstuds, and a wristful of aqua bangles mingled with silver. The heirloom Berunda Paksha pendent of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls Ranjanie Wijewardene wore was a priceless piece of the jewellers art. To highlight this ornament of beauty she wore a simple white saree scattered with little dots and bordered in red and worked in gold. Her accessories were in red and she wore red gerberas in her hair. Among the other fashionably clad guests was Shakila Tennekoone in a rust and gold woven brocade silk saree which had a border in bronze and gold, she wore with a collar necklace and kudu drop earrings in ethnic style. If one was to cover all the beautiful clothes worn on these too evenings we would need a supplement in the newspapers. The decor for this evening was the artistry of Heshan Fernando, the reputed floral artist from Moratuwa. -Sunday Island