The year’s scintillating musical fiesta, ‘Sannaliyane’, the fund-raising musical extravaganza of the Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) at Army Headquarters with a galaxy of popular vocalists and artistes, will be on the boards at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on March 30, 2014.
Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army during a Media briefing on Wednesday (12) at Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Mess Hall, spelt out the noble objectives behind launch of a musical event of this magnitude, based on the theme, like “Sannaliyane” which is also attributed to Maestro Pandith Amaradeva whose immortal song demonstrated the life cycle from birth to death in essence.
Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army, Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU), Pandith W D Amaradeva, Mr Bandara Eheliyagoda, Prof Sunil Ariyaratne, Dr Rohana Weerasinghe, Mr Channa Wijewardena, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Adjutant General, Major General R. V Udawatte, Head of Event Committee, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Military Spokesman, Brigadier K.J Jayaweera, Director Media, were associated with the Media briefing.
Pointing out that the Army with the guidance of HE the President and Secretary Defence and Urban Development, has taken all possible welfare measures for the wellbeing of all disable and dependent War Heroes who have dedicated their maximum for the sake of their motherland, the Commander said ‘Brave Hearts’ project of the Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) which has undertaken many such welfare projects, has embarked on constructing wellness resorts for lifetime care, houses for War Heroes, reception halls, distribution of scholarships, limbs, medicine, medical equipment and accessories, in addition to all what is provided by Army welfare wings.
“Few perhaps know that the Army has a number of oriental and western bands that can back any singer in the country. So are more than 500 odd Calipso bands which cater to aesthetic flavor for any occasion or event. As has been done by Ministry of Defence, ‘Sannaliyane’ would lay the foundation for aesthetic renaissance in the Army”, the Commander said.
Introducing the major tripartite objectives of the project before the audience, the Commander said that families of fallen War Heroes, disable War Heroes and all others who sacrificed in numerous ways should be given maximum support and patronage, enabling them to live better for the rest of their lives. Secondly, this will serve a tribute to the country’s maestro, Pandith Amaradeva and as the third motive, the project is a measure to promote aesthetic values among the public too, the Commander added.
“As proved, the Army has undertaken many challenges in its life-span and promotion of aesthetic values in this manner is much more timely than ever before. This is going to be the most colossal stage show, perhaps ever be staged in Colombo. More than 100 Army musicians as well as a similar number of members of the Army cultural troupe are to add colour and variety to the two-hour long musical fiesta,” the Commander pointed out.
Praising and thanking the sponsors of the programme and members of the Media, Lieutenant General Ratnayake said that had all of them failed to coordinate this event, giving maximum support, it would be difficult for the Army to shoulder the expenses alone.
The mega event, themed ‘Sannaliyane’ as a token of tribute to the country’s maestro, Pandith WD Amaradeva, is to rend the air with awe-inspiring and rhythmic beats that covers the life span from birth, youth and to death with immortal hits, like ‘Mindada Heesara’, ‘Kolomthota’, ‘Pipuna Kusuma’, ‘Sasara Wasanathuru’, ‘Ipida Mere’, ‘Shantha Me Re Yaame’, etc sung by soothing voices of veteran vocalists, including Visharada Victor Ratnayake, Sanath Nandasiri, Sunil Edirisinghe, Nanda Malini, Kolithabhanu Dissanayake, Edward Jayakody, Jagath Wickremasinghe, Luxman Wijesekara, Amarasiri Peiris, et al.
The entertainment, featuring many surprises and spectacles, organized under the aegis of Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army and Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) on behalf of the "Brave Hearts" fund-raiser project of the ASVU, has been scripted by Mr Bandara Eheliyagoda to the music, managed by Dr Rohana Weerasinghe.
Choreography for the mega show has been meticulously crafted by Kalasuri Channa Wijewardene and Pandith Amaradeva is to kick off the fiesta with his hits that cover all three stages of life; birth, maturity and death.
Messrs Pandith Amaradeva, Prof Sunil Ariyaratne, Dr Rohana Weerasinghe, Mr Bandara Eheliyagoda and Mr Channa Wijewardena also addressed the gathering highlighting the novelty and conceptual notion of the project which will be a new experience.
An ensemble of 100 Army musicians is scheduled to back those veterans under able directions of Dr Rohana Weerasinghe, the veteran Music Director and composer.
Tickets for the dazzling event are now available at Cargills Food City outlets.
Sri Lanka Insurance (Pvt) Ltd, Wickramaratne Groups of Companies, Frontier Automotive (Pvt) Ltd, Abans (Pvt) Ltd, Holcim Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Bank of Ceylon, Melwire Group (Melwa), S S Gnanam & Company, Saman Traders, S S Company, Ramadia (Ranmal Holiday Resort) (Pvt) Ltd, Pathma Weaving Mills (Pvt) Ltd, Aruna Agencies (Pvt) Ltd, Azeez & Sons (Pvt) Ltd and S. M. A Azeez Brothers (Pvt) Ltd are supporting the project as Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsors respectively.
Towards the end of the event, model cheques for respective sponsorships were presented to the Commander of the Army by representatives of above-mentioned sponsors. Both Commander of the Army and Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake accepted those gestures with thanks.
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