News
Gamini Abeysinghe and Kamalangani Perusinghe’s legacy shines on
Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London
In a vibrant celebration of Sri Lankan theatrical heritage, the echoes of Sugathapala de Silva’s renowned 1960s stage play Bodingkarayo recently reverberated through the halls of the Winston Churchill Theatre in Ruislip, London.
The curtains rose once again, but this time under the expert guidance of veteran film star Gamini Abeysinghe, who transported this classic onto the international stage.
Abeysinghe, a luminary of 1960s cinema, handpicked a cast from the Sri Lankan community living in the UK, meticulously honing their talents to breathe life into the iconic play. The packed auditorium bore witness to the masterful rendition, warmly acknowledging the immense dedication poured into the production by both the producer and the actors.
Gamini
The cast included Achala Walpola, Lionel Bandara, Vithana Dhanaratne, Buminda Karunatilleke, Pandula Ranatunge, Ruwini Ranatunge, Amitha Kularatne, Hema Koralalage, Dulari Dilki Dissanayake, Milakshi Gunathilleke, Chameera Dondenu, Dulanjali Alahapperuma and Mihiri Ranawake, each contributing to the Sinhala stage hit of yesteryear replayed for the London audience.
This wasn’t the first time Abeysinghe had orchestrated such a revival. In 2012, he brought R.R. Samarakoon’s Kelani Palama to life in London, assembling a cast from the Lankan talent pool in the UK drawing audiences to numerous shows across the UK and Paris.
In an exclusive interview with this correspondent, Abeysinghe reminisced about his humble beginnings in the industry recalling his journey from Galle to Colombo in response to a newspaper advertisement in 1957. This led him to his debut in the film Daskama..
“Karunaratne Abeysekara was impressed by my performance and gave me the screen name Gamini Abeysinghe,” he reflected. “I was the first Gamini on the Silver Screen even before Gamini Fonseka.”
He fondly recounted his collaborations with Sinhala cinema stalwarts including D.R. Nanayakkara, Rukmani Devi, Tony Ransinghe, Malani Fonseka, Fareena Lai, Don Sirisena, Asoka Ponnamperuma, Lionel Deraniyagala, David Dharmakeerthi, L.M.Perera, Tissa Wijesurendra, Vijaya Kumaratunge, Wimal Kumara de Costa, Roy de Silva, Sumana Amarasinghe, Dommie Jayawardane, Bandu Samarasinghe, Eddie Junior and Mark Samaranayake acknowledging their contributions to his early years in the industry.
“I’ve acted in nine films including Me Desa Kumatada, Hadawathaka Wasanthaya, Sinawai Inawai, Sangeetha, and Sudu Pareviyo before I migrated to England in 1975,” he added.
In the diaspora, Abeysinghe’s dedication to fostering Sri Lankan culture remained strong. He actively engaged with the Sinhala Association of the United Kingdom, steering annual Sinhala New Year events and nurturing local talent through the establishment of the “Hela Parapura” cultural society.
While Abeysinghe carved his path in theatre and cinema, his life intertwined with that of Kamalangani Perusinghe, a renowned dancing teacher in Sri Lanka. Their love story began in Colombo when Abeysinghe, merely 15-years old, met Kamalangani, then 14.
Kamalangani, a protégé of the famed dancer Panibharatha, came into the limelight in the 1960s, leaving an indelible mark with her performances in ballets like Sama Vijaya and Bathe Upatha. Speaking to this correspondent, she shared her journey from teaching at Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya in Panadura to becoming a lecturer at the Teachers’ College of Aesthetic Education, Giragama, before relocating to England.
She established the Kamalagani Art Center in the UK meeting the need of the Lankan commuity in the UK by teaching dance to numerous children and adults.Together, Abeysinghe and Kamalangani have created a legacy that continues to thrive through their tireless dedication to keeping Sri Lankan performing arts alive in distant lands.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
