Tuesday, February 15, 2011

New York's Asia Society Reverberates to the Rhythms of Kandyan Drums

By Pushpi Weerakoon

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations hosted a well attended Concert and Reception at the prestigious Asia Society for the diplomatic community, senior UN personnel and members of the business and social elite of New York to mark the 63rd anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence. Over 120 Permanent Missions were represented at the event. The guests were treated to a memorable evening of classical music, jazz and traditional Sri Lankan dance by Sri Lanka’s own artistes. Maestro Rohan de Silva was at the piano with Ms. Sujeeva Hapugalle, Paul Metzke enthralled the audience with the guitar and Ms. Yolande Bavan, the perennial jazz favorite, kept their toes tapping. The Chitrasena dance group enraptured the audience with throbbing Kandyan drums and Kohomba Kankari for the first time.

New York Sri Lankan expatriates celebrate the National Independence Day


By Pushpi Weerakoon

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations hosted a Concert and Reception at the Forest Hills High school New York to mark the 63rd anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence. Over 1200 Sri Lankan expatriates and well wishers were present at the event, the largest gathering in the history of Independence celebrations in New York. The guests were treated to a memorable evening by the renowned Chithrasena Vajira dance ensemble, in addition to the music and drama performed by the Sri Lankan community, representing all five boroughs in New York, the state of New Jersey and Boston.