Life style
Travelling with Nihal Fernando
by Rajitha Ratwatte
To commemorate the 94th Birthday Nihal Fernando
which falls on August 8
CRACK OF DAWN! used to be the cry as the maestro knew the magic of the early morning light and how to harness it for photography. Crack of dawn it was, be it in the frosty cold mornings of Horton Plains or his beloved dry zone jungles or even the steamy humidity of the mighty Sinharaja. The Land Rover had to be coaxed into life (not always a simple procedure) and yours truly in the role of “charioteer” or driver in mundane parlance would set off with Nihal Fernando either in the passenger seat or perched in the back, his cameras, and lenses in wild disarray around him, to capture some of the indescribable beauty that is part of Island of Serendib “seven leagues (?) from the fountains of paradise”. We never did actually hear the fountains as was deemed possible, but we came mighty close!
It is thanks to Nihal Fernando that I got opportunities to visit some remote and even mystical areas of our country. He always seemed to be able to get permission as the authorities in those days appreciated his rare talent (inspired, he used to say by the great Lionel Wendt) to capture the subtle nuances and the very essence of his subject matter. I got to know him when he was probably in his late fifties and even then, he used to say that he could never sleep on the night before a trip into the jungles as the sheer excitement and anticipation had the adrenaline pumping in his veins.
The steady “PLOP” of the shutter of his Hasselblad camera emanating from all parts of his trusty Land Rover was a sure indication that the Maestro was in his element and short sharp instructions with regard to forward and backward movements to accommodate the light would be issued from time to time. This of course was the man at work, but my main role was to get him there through the roads of Ceylon and across many rivers and lagoons to what he sometimes called “Gods’ Own” with more than the moisture generated by the often-dusty journeys in his eyes.
No description of travels with Nihal Fernando would be complete without inclusion of his vehicle. His single cab series three long wheel base Land Rover which he bought for Rupees 14,000 in the 1960s with a mechanical winch and a power take. We never gave her a name but female she was, as that sort of temperament is only inherent to the female of the species! The cab was virtually open to the elements through various intentional and mostly unintentional openings. There was no power steering and of course air conditioning belonged to the future.
The designers of Land Rover in their infinite wisdom had placed the starter motor underneath the engine and all wading (or driving thought water – often salty) resulting in that vital piece of machinery ceasing to function on demand. On one unforgettable occasion, it was on a sandy beach at the estuary of a river on the morning following a memorable overnight camp. Imagine pushing a Land Rover to get it started on a soft sandy beach! That Land Rover seemed to relax just as much as we did once we got across the river to the rolling plains of our favourite coastal national park. Relax in the sense that her brakes just stopped working and we had to often coast to a stop with the help of a lone standing “Maliththan” tree at a campsite enjoyed by predecessors, who had loved the area just as much as we did.
The Land Rover used to be loaded to the proverbial gills for ten days of bliss beside a jungle river, so much so that the final bunch of thambili had to be put on the spare tire that was on top of the bonnet. A quick prayer to the Gods to ensure that we did not meet a curious herd of elephants on our way to the campsite was always answered.
As the Land Rover got older, NF succumbed to the superior reliability of the Japanese vehicles. Toyota Hilux took over and with it of course simple luxuries that made the eight to 10 hour journeys to our destinations much more comfortable. But when push came to shove and things were getting sticky in flood water or glutinous mud, the steady chug of the Land Rover and the superior suspension was always missed.
I was privileged enough to be given access to some breathtakingly beautiful, magical and even, mystical places thanks to Nihal Fernando allowing me to drive him there, and above all, enjoy them and appreciate them in the way that I was taught to, by the Maestro himself. The drives were often spent in companionable silence, mainly due to the Land Rover wishing to dominate the conversation with her engine and tyre noise but many is the evening I have spent beside roaring fires, or with the soothing hiss of a “Kitson” lamp in the background, a tumbler of his favourite arrack in my hand listening to a recap of the beauty we had experienced on that day. Words from a normally silent and almost shy man who was transformed when he was in his element and with, if I may venture to say, kindred spirits and people who Nihal Fernando thought had the capacity to understand.
Rajitha Ratwatte
Auckland Aotearoa – New Zealand
Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka
The 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka Chapter was held recently at the Ramada Hotel Colombo,.The event provided an evening of camaraderie , reflection of the past and present achievements,setting new benchmarks for the future
The AGM had the presence of two distinguished guests, the Chief Guest Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and the Guest of Honour British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. Their inspiring speeches were lauded by all hoteliers who were present at the occasion
A special thanks was extended to Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality UK, along with his team, sponsors, committee members, and all attendees for making the event memorable.
Dr. Harsha Jayasingh, Past President of the Institute of Hospitality (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter, emphasised the Institute’s longstanding history and the strength of its Sri Lankan branch. “The Institute of Hospitality (IH) UK has a history of 86 years, and we are proud to be the Sri Lanka Branch. IH Sri Lanka is much stronger now with many members from all areas of the hospitality industry,” he stated.
Dr. Jayasingh highlighted the significant role of tourism in Sri Lanka’s economy,. He said tourism it is the third-largest source of revenue for the country. “Tourism accounts for about 13.3% of total foreign exchange earnings and employs 450,000 people directly and indirectly. The hospitality industry in this island of pearl holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creations, and cultural exchange,” he added.
He also pointed out more women should be attracted to the industry and advocated for the use of technology in hospitality sector to attract the younger generation.
The newly appointed Chairman Ramesh Dassanayake spoke about the challenges faced by the industry, including the reluctance of youth to join the sector. . Dassanayake expressed concerns over the migration of staff between hotels and the overall ‘brain drain’ in the sector. ” We must maintain high standards in the hotel We must try to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, we must have with many facilities Hence, hotel schools and other professional institutions involved in skills development mustincrease their intakes,” he pointed out.
Chief Guest Sajith Premadasa emphasised the importance of eco tourism and said “We need to have an environmental policy related to tourism in place,” . .
The 32nd AGM of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Sri Lanka Chapter, was a testament to the strength and potential of Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. The insights and commitments shared during the event set a new benchmark for the future.(ZC)
Pix by Thushara Attapathu
Life style
He recognizes human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
Visit of Sri Gurudev to Sri Lanka
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and Global Ambassador of Peace Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Sri Gurudev) was in Sri Lanka on a three day tour on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunewardene. Gurudev who inspired a wave of volunteerism and service to moot one of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world – The Art of Living – visited the various projects under the aegis of the foundation and launched twelve vocational and technical centers around the island. He was accompanied by thousands of followers from Sri Lanka and around the world.
Gurudev who visited Sri Lanka for the sixth time also had a first day cover launched in honour of his visit. He is a strong proponent of spreading happiness, using the unique Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, meditation and practical wisdom to unite people, empower individuals and transform communities. His programmes provide techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life, while his non-profit organisations recognize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
The Art of Living which has more than 30,000 teachers and over one million volunteers across 180 countries has touched in excess of five hundred million people around the world. CNN called it “Life Changing” and The Washington Post headlined it, “Fresh air to millions”.
In Trincomalee, Gurudev met with war victims and had a heartwarming engagement with the children from the children’s homes run by the Foundation. He also visited the Koneswara Temple in Trincomalee and graced the Kumbhabhishekam at Seetha ecogPnize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion. Amman temple at Nuwara Eliya. He held discussions with the trustees on the progress of the foundation’s social service projects, while also holding a special event – Ekamuthuwa – attended by a large number of dignitaries and his devotees from around the world.
His time with the Prime Minister was spent discussing the prospects of unity in diversity and uniting Sri Lanka by adding happiness into the formula of living. In addition he had discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, prominent business stewards and civil society leaders.
by Zanita Careem
Envison your dream wedding day come to life at the Epitome Hotel, a prestigious city hotel in Kurunegala offering an unrivalled luxury rendors experience for weddings.
The venue is designed to embody opulence and luxury from all quarters for a spectacular wedding in kurunegala,Thier ballroom is the largest banquet facility in Sri Lanka It can be divided into six luxurious pillarless wedding halls on the ground floor and 25pax smaller banquet halls.
It can be easily named as a five star heaven in the heart of the city contributing to a myriad of immense experiences tailored to inspire and delight wedding experiences.
From opulent décor set up to exquisite table decor, lavish food, every detail is meticulously curated to spark your imagination and ignite creativity for a perfect wedding. The previous prestigious wedding shows season one and season two attracted large crowds
were unique events which gave the wedding vendors and potential clients had an opportunity to connect and interact with each other. Beyond being a showcase it was a chance for the wedding vendors to unite and contribute to the vibrancy of the wedding industry. The wedding show covered all area of the bridal industry providing a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became the most popular bridal exhibitions in Kurunegala.This bridal exhibitions allowed brides and grooms to experience first hand the products and services available from suppliers in Sri Lanka
These wedding shows held at The Epitome created a benchmark and gave an opportunity for vendors to create connections to the utmost satisfaction said Harshan Lakshita Executive Director. of the magnificent Hotel
Our wedding shows featured experts and professionals in every field‘ It covered all areas of the bridal industry provided a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became most popular bridal exhibition in this region.We are always open to everyone to join us at our wedding shows in the future. It is an opportunity to discover the incredible talent within our local wedding and bridal vendors to make meaningful relationships and plan thier special day at our breathtaking hotel The Epitome said General Manager Kavinda Caldera
The Epitome Hotel’s bridal show which will be held end of June will buzz with great ideas,advice and inspiration for all those who plan thier dream wedding
…….
The Hotel Epitome’s Wedding Season 3 will marked excellence, celebration and inspiration for those in the wedding industry. The exhibition halls will resonate with ideas on exquisite bridal wear to decor, florists , photography etc and showshowcase the rich tapestry of talent within the local wedding industry. .
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