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This year's
Bak Maha Ulela organised by the Sri
Lanka Educational, Cultural and Welfare
Foundation was held at two new
venues - the Outdoor Games and Sports at
the Kenton Recreation Ground and the
Cultural performance at the adjoining
Kadwa Patidar Centre, both on Kenmore
Avenue, Harrow HA3 8LU. Although a large
and distinguished crowd was present at
both venues, the SLECWF regrets very
much that a larger number of people were
unable to join the celebration because
of the restrictions imposed on this
popular national event.
London Mayor
Boris Johnson caught the mood of the
event in a message sent to the SLECWF
President, Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi,
Sangha Nayaka Thero which stated "The
SLECWF provides an invaluable service to
Sri Lankans and I commend the charitable
and community work you provide for these
and other religious communities through
the events and activities organised by
the Foundation. London's Sri Lankan
community has made a huge contribution
to the social and cultural life of
London and I would like to see it
continue and joined by and thrive
especially with the Sri Lankan New Year
festival in London which is attended by
thousands of visitors each year."
Venerable
Galayaye Piyadassi, MBE, Chief Sangha
Nayaka Thero of the UK and President of
the Sri Lanka Educational, Cultural &
Welfare Foundation, who presided,
addressed the large gathering. Among the
distinguished guests present were: Ven.
Deegale Mahinda Thero, Senior Lecturer,
Bath Spa University; Reverend Father
Rohitha Rodrigo, Sri Lanka Catholic
Chaplaincy, Willesden Green; HE P.M.
Amza, Acting High Commissioner Sri Lanka
and Mrs Amza; Councillor Azad Omar, the
Worshipful Mayor of Harrow; Councillor
Harbhajan Singh, the Worshipful Mayor of
Brent; Hon. Bob Blackman, Member of
Parliament, Harrow East; Hon. Matthew
Offord, Member of Parliament for Hendon
and Mrs Claire Offord;
Hon. Navin
Shah, London Assembly Member for Brent
and Harrow; Mrs Mei Sim Lai,
Representative Deputy Lieutenant for
Brent and Mr David Peters; Councillor
Mano Dharmarajah, Harrow; Councillor
Nizam Ismail, Harrow; Councillor Rekha
Shah, Harrow; Councillor Kareema
Marikkar, Harrow; Councillor Kana
Naheerathan, Brent; Councillor Lakshmi
Shah, East Ham; Mr Kishore Hidaramani,
Chairman, Hidaramani Group; Mr Cyril
Madadeniya - Manager, Bank of Ceylon and
Mrs Madadeniya; Mr Ranjith De Silva,
Manager SriLankan Airlines; Mr K.
Pathmanathan, Minister - Counsellor,
High Commission of Sri Lanka; Mr Ranjan
Herath, Partner/Director, Harrow
Solicitors & Advocates; Mr Nalin Perera,
Public Relations Officer, Ceylon Tourist
Board; Mr. Chris Ananda, Marketing
Executive, Dialog Vizz Mobile; Ms Ashoka
Wijesinghe, Manager, Trico Freight UK
Ltd.
The
morning's outdoor event attracted a
larger than usual crowd due to the
restrictions for the afternoon Cultural
show. The organisers foreseen this had
made special arrangements - with a big
marquee to sell food in the park - and
trade stalls - Lanka Traders selling Sri
Lanka products and Dialog Vizz mobile -
to popularise new calling cards to Sri
Lanka.
Mr Chaminda
Kularatne, Minister/Counsellor, High
Commission of Sri Lanka, officiated the
Outdoor events by hoisting the Sri Lanka
flag at 10am, to the beating of rabaan
and followed by the singing of the
National Anthem. This was followed by
the Avurudu Caritra (ritual
observations), presided by Ven Galayaye
Piyadassi, President, SLECWF. Mr
Chaminda Kularatna and the sponsors -
the Manager Bank Of Ceylon, Tourist
Board, Sri Lankan AirLines, Harrow
Solicitors & Advocates, Trico,
Dialg-Vizz mobile. The games and sports
programme was arranged by Ven. Keulgama
Chandananda and Mr. Jagath Ranasinghe.
The highlights were Climbing the Grease
Pole, Pillow Fighting on the bar,
Coconut Leaf Mat Weaving, Coconut
Scraping, Blind Man's Bluff, etc.
The Cultural
Show from 2:30 to 5:30 in the hall was
superbly choreographed by Professor
Mudiyanse Dissanayake, ably assisted by
Sangeetha Visaradha Archana Dissanayake,
and Mr A.P. and Mrs. Rasika Attanayake
for the shorter time schedule and the
dropping of the Musical Programme with
singers from Sri Lanka. The dancing by
the 6 year old Ravi Bandara, that
included spinning (malakkama) and
somersaults dressed in full Kandyan
Dance attire as well as the Bollywood
style Song and Dance routine drew
rapturous applause from the packed hall
audience. Each and every one who came
was very happy with the new venue and
the new format of the Cultural
Programme.
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