Bennett's Sulanga for foreign Film Festivals

"SULANGA" (The Wind), the second celluloid creation by award winning director Bennett Rathnayake has been selected for the Indian International Film Festival which will commence next week.

"The film has been selected to the competition section of the festival commencing from November 24, " Bennett told Stage & Screen with triumph. His film is scheduled to be screened on three days.

His film is woven around a middle aged university lecturer - Senarathne (Sanath Gunathilake) and his wife - Krishanthi (Dilhani Ashokamala).

Benette says this was his first film selected to this particular festival. "I am happy that my film was selected to a festival like this which is considered very significant and it really boosts my courage."

Bennett is scheduled to leave for India shortly and afterwards to Egypt to attend the Cairo Film Festival which also has selected his film. The Cairo Film Festival is to be held from November 29.

Sulanga commenced screening on September 22 in Sri Lanka. Deviating from his previous film Aswesuma which went on to gain international recognition, Bennett this time had chosen a far different plot.

A case has come before the Family Court. Krishanthi is filing for a divorce from her husband Senarathne, whom she met and married when she was an undergraduate student. She is pregnant with their second child.

Krishanthi accuses her husband of having an affair with Kumari, a younger woman. Senarathne claims she has misunderstood the whole situation and pleads with her to keep the family together. Kumari is from a poor rural family.

Her mother struggled to bring her up in a way that Kumari could escape from the poverty she was born into. Giving evidence and under cross-examination, each one of them narrates their own version of life's search for happiness.

They promise to tell the truth but each one's truth is different. Truth means one thing in a Court of Law. But what is truth when it comes before the court of the heart? The film's script is also by Bennett himself while music is by Rohana Weerasinghe.

Cinematography is by Biju Vishvanath and Assistant Director is Anura Deshapriya. Art Director is Lal Harendranath while make up is by Ranjith Wickramasinghe. Lyrics are by Prof. Sunil Ariyarathne.

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Pradeep Ratnayake - The sitar virtuoso in California

IN THE Midst of Sri Lanka Foundation Awards - 2005, a grand Success, Oscars of a different kind!

Amidst a galaxy of grandly clad Sri Lankan women and equally attired men, Sri Lanka Foundation, a non-profit national foundation based in Los Angeles, California, USA, held its third annual Sri Lanka Foundation Awards-2005 at the prestigious Globe Theatre, Universal Studios, California on November 5, 2005.

A solo violinist entertained the guests while they helped themselves to some delicious hors d'oeuvres and the spirits of all kinds, both regular and premium.

Once the doors opened, the guests moved into a one of the most tastefully decorated halls, Globe Theatre where some very prestigious events have taken place over the past decades.

Huge banners falling from the roof depicting the various ancient "Korale" flags added to the ambience by which almost all were overwhelmed.

Five pretty Sri Lankan damsels embellished the evening with a fashion show that modeled the beautiful Indian saris and lengas sponsored by Lashkara, an exclusive Indian boutique in San Fernando Valley.

The highlight of the evening was the award ceremony itself, but Pradeep Ratnayake, the Sitar Virtuoso from Sri Lanka kept the audience mesmerized by his unique rendition of Sitar play. He was equal to the occasion with his mastery of play that nearly caressed the entire audience into a trance.

Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa, an old boy of Ananda College, Professor of Medicine, Chief of Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Director of Regional Osteoporosis Centre of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey and Dr. Tony Chandraratna, an old Josephian, Chief of Division of Cardiology and Director of Echocardiography, Long Beach VA Medical Centre and Professor of medicine, University of California, Irvine won the coveted Lifetime Achievement Awards this year.

Both Dr. Wimalawansa and Dr. Chandraratna have obtained more than 7 patents each in the medical field and continue to conduct research in their respective fields of specialization.

Nirosha Nimalasuriya was awarded the "Srimerican of the Year-2005" for her pioneering work at the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat while being a top-notch attorney at Cleary, Gottleib, Steen & Hamilton in New York.

In addition to the above awards, Gamini Ratnavira, renowned photographer, Lakshman Wickramarachchi, lucrative 40 perfume store owner, Don McCoy, a pioneer in de-mining in Sri Lanka won the Exceptional Achievement Awards and Ronika Kalpage, Tharanga Gunatilake and Charles Perera carried away the Exceptional Performance Awards.

Twenty seven Tsunami Service awards were presented to twenty seven worthy, compassionate winners in recognition of their contribution to the cause of humanity.

The occasion was graced by Sri Lankan Ambassador in The USA Bernard Goonatilleke and Consul General in Los Angeles H.K.J.R. Bandara.

When asked by the Press, Executive Director of the Sri Lanka Foundation Palitha Pelpola stated that the Foundation has established a good name among Sri Lankans living in the USA and receives ample encouragement and support, both financial and moral from their compatriots.

He thanked Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, the Founder/President of SLF, a well known Medical Doctor and a philanthropist in USA for having the foresight to conceptualize a program like the Sri Lanka Foundation Awards and following through with the support of Sri Lankans and non-Sri Lankans.

He also said that the Foundation is planning to hold a fully-fledged concert by Pradeep Ratnayake and his Pradeepanjalee Troupe in June next year. Also in the pipeline is a College Scholarship program for needy Sri Lankan students.

- Palitha Pelpola

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WANTED: Actors and actresses for 'Sinhabahu'

NAMEL Weeramuni is looking for musically oriented actors and actresses for the English version of Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra's "Sinhabahu", which he considers is the greatest play that had been done in Sri Lanka so far on the stage.

Though Namel called it the English version it is considered a translation, and a clever one, for which he won the award for the best translation at the State Literary Awards in 2000.

Those who are interested to try their hands in the production as actors and actresses plus in other areas may contact Namel for Auditions. He could be contacted by telephone over: 2864981/2672121/0777735413 or at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre, 37, Cotta Road, Borella, Colombo 8.