Our special correspondent reports for Ozlanka.

"The Joan" was packed to a capacity crowd last Sunday despite recent vicious propaganda vis-à-vis the musical show "Thunsithaka Raavaya"

Music is a universal language. Norwest Friendship Foundation in Sydney illustrated this statement very well by organizing a concert in partnership with "Sarasaviya" Newspaper and the Sinhalese Cultural Forum of NSW at Joan Southerland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith.

Performances of Amarasiri Peiris, Lakshman Wijesekara and Pradeepa Dharmadasa were true to the motto of the show organizers; " Not for mere listening . but for blissful entertainment".

The noble cause of the show Thun Sithaka Raavaya was to raise funds for the upliftment of the knowledge of English language and to increase awareness of computer technology in rural Sri Lanka . As aptly pointed out by our High Commissioner HE Senaka Walgampaya PC, there is much untapped talent in our villages in Sri Lanka , which if properly harnessed could help our community immensely.

The wonderful concert - Thunsithaka Raavaya gave us a great opportunity to listen to three great vocalists of present Sri Lankan music field. All songs were of semi classical flavor and the singers themselves gave fitting but brief introductions to almost every song.

Charming Pradeepa with her graceful poise and eloquence in speech started her singing paying tribute to her music teachers, including Mrs. Nanda Kulatilake who was her first music teacher at her alma mater - Princes of Wales College Moratuwa. Coincidently Mrs. Kulatilake was also present in the audience at the time. She also mentioned the names of Messers Rohan Weerasinghe, Ananda Weerasiri, and Lakshman Wijesekara who also contributed positively to her musical education and career at later stages. She also fondly remembered Sydney artist Nayana Ananda who was one of her colleagues during her student life.

Pradeepa sang the best of her songs including "Duvili", Supem hengum etc., and made it a point to ring a bell or two in testing the memories of the audience of certain grief-stricken dark political ages of Sri Lanka .

Entered evergreen Lakshman Wijesekara amidst a thumping applause with nostalgic memories of his childhood and the golden age of Sri Lankan music. He enthralled the spellbound spectators with his popular songs such as Oba mata tharuwaki, Ey tharahin, Ira Paaya etc. His songs were a delicious assortment of "Nurthi, oriental Jazz, western pop, Indian semi classical and light oriental music. Most of his songs were composed by his best friend Maestro Rohana Weerasinghe.

The appreciative Audience was taken to new heights of breathtaking entertainment by Amarasiri Peiris. He delighted the listeners by his very popular songs such as "Landune, Oba apple malak wage" etc. All his songs were with brief descriptions which kept the enthusiastic fans in the loop throughout the show. His profound classical singing prowess added immensely to his deep masculine tone of voice. Most of his songs were written by the late Ranbanda Seneviratne, the eminent Lawyer and Lucian Bulathsinhala and were shaped in to melodic manuscripts by Maestro Premasiri Khemadasa.

Nalaka Anjana Kumara led the orchestra comprising Hemapala Gallage, Indrajith Mirihana, Ravi Kulatilake, Terreance Fernando, Nirosha Jayawardane and Dinesh Ekanayake.

Sriyani Abeynaike and Bodhi Dharmatilake participated in duets with Lakshman Wijesekara and Amarasiri Peries. Tharushi kaluarachchi, Shashini Mallawarachchi, Hansanadee Nayananada joined in chorus singing.

Veteran lyricist Bandula Nanayakkarawasam had written the script for Thunsithaka Raavaya. Surani Dissanyake and Asela Jayanath compered the show.

"Thunsithaka Raavaya" was an immense aesthetic success during recent times and was a rare and wonderful musical treat for Sri Lankans especially living in Sydney .

Norwest Friendship Foundation should be singled out for praise re their great courage and for their continuing unruffled composure in the face of adversity.

Let me quote Pundit Nehru in winding up! Our quest must be adventure; adventure in a noble enterprise!

Click to view a selection of photos from Hiran Kulathilake