Ozlanka's special correspondent reporting (14th July 2007)

Popular Sri Lankan artistes Rohana Beddage and Bandula Wijeweera performed to a packed and overflowing house, the outstandingly popular ‘Maamai Benai' musical comedy. The show was held at the at the Ryde Community Centre on Saturday 14 evening.

The audience rollicked to the tunes of ‘Koswatu Kande', ‘Helena', ‘Mage Sudu Benandita' and other lyrics for 3 long hours. The show was the successful effort of the SPUR Youth Group and sponsored by its many advertisers and by Ozlanka website, and the Hela Handa, Rasa, and SBS radio channels.

The event was superbly organised including fill-in performances. The background music was provided by the Sydney instrumentalists Mahinda Guruge, Terence Fernando, Mahendra Jayawardena, Nirosha Jayawardena, Dinesh Perera, Suresh Pereira and Ravi Kulatilake. Several sessionsof outstanding traditional dancing was provided by the Mala Abeywickrema troupe.

The purpose of the show was to raise funds to provide scholarships to the children of disabled servicemen in Sri Lanka . The invitees to the show included the Acting Sri Lanka Consul General Gothami Indikadahena and the Senior Diplomat Mr Pushpakumara.

SPUR Youth Members in their message appealed to the community ‘today, at a time of extreme crisis, SPUR needs new blood, the energetic youngsters with access to new technology and ideas to strengthen its mission.' The SPUR Youth Members message further said, ‘This is your opportunity. While being grateful to your contribution to this particular event today, we welcome you to join with us in this peaceful mission against racism, separatism, injustice and the suffering caused to children, by launching a program to assist Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim children in their education and welfare. This is the least we can do to our brothers and sisters in the battle field, who are helping to protect our interests, friends and relatives'

Chalaka Jayasinghe, the President of SPUR Youth said in a short address queried ‘if we could achieve this fabulously successful event in a such a short space of time for the sake of the children of disabled servicemen, if we really put our heads together what more cannot we achieve ?'

Chameen Baddegoda, Secretary of SPUR Youth in a short message says 'It is well known that some international communities indirectly help these extremist elements due to their various political agendas (in Sri Lanka ). If you carefully study the situation you will realise Sri Lanka is caught up in a similar to that shown in the film ‘Blood Diamond'. Some extreme elements and some Sri Lankan politicians are being manipulated by the so called international community to their advantage'.

Nimal Liyanage, President of SPUR NSW in his message thanked all for the participation, and the generosity extended as a gratitude to the many lakhs of an unending line of patriots who had sacrificed their life and limb over a period of 2000 years, to preserve Sri Lanka .

The performances and the management of the event were extremely well received by the audience, and the attendees provided support and generosity by donations. ‘Mamai Benai' performances will now proceed to Melbourne , Brisbane and Auckland over the coming weeks, thanks to the coordinated efforts of SPUR Youth team.

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