Consider the long flowing stretches of silky material that
seeks to hug the form of a feminine figure. That’s the initial description
you’d get when you look at Alizé: the fashion label that is niche yet modish —
a label that is the brainchild of Shadeena De Silva who is as vivacious as she
is ambitious and focused.
Based in the incredibly global city of Dubai, Alizé is resplendent of the many shades of colour that is native to the Middle East. Expect to see Alizé designs that carry Sahara-esque shades of yellow, orchid purples, satiny greens, rosy reds, and liquorice blacks. Alizé pieces showcases the versatility and sartorial required by the modern style connoisseur. Expect superlative quality; after all, Alizé is founded in an area that has a culture that is rich in textile fabrication and pattern-making.
When it comes to custom designs that are well structured and
storied, expect Alizé creations to be both memorable and comfortable when it
comes to presenting its discerning clientele with some truly inspired designs.
As far as its design ethos goes, the satiny and glowing gowns enjoy
unparalleled silhouettes which speak of an expertise in tailoring and
craftsmanship that is enviable to say the least.
Life is a party with Alizé, and this is something that can
be seen with regard to the variety of collections that Shadeena has
meticulously curated. Casual seems a small part of the vocabulary used in her
collections since the main theme is formalwear with a sense of luxury being
present.
In a galaxy that offers a great deal of fashionable brands,
it must be said that Alizé certainly does stand out bright and enviable for its
discerning clientele. Global in its desire, Alizé is a brand that has harped on
a local and yet exotic design theme, which is Middle Eastern in flavour. The
process of ordering also serves to be easy with a simple WhatsApp message
required to be sent to +971544405794.
Haute couture is what Alizé is with a customized design
being promised to those who desire to enjoy clothes by this truly remarkable
brand. Shadeena seems to have embraced her roots and drawn inspiration from her
home country of Sri Lanka. Besides carrying over design cues that are exotic
and exceptional remember that her beliefs firmly lay with regard to crafting
out a memorable experience that surely goes beyond fashion per se.
Shadeena prides herself in using high quality, sustainable
materials, abstract minimalism and contemporary design. With a family in Sri
Lanka that has instilled in her familial values, social responsibility and
sustainability, Shadeena’s brand is one that truly does enjoy a healthy set of
values, which are showcased in a collection of inimitable designs.
All things considered, the future plans that occupy any person behind a brand with such great potential as Alizé is to make it go global. Yet sticking to its main roots is something that should be embraced since Alizé is not planning on being everything to everybody. Rather it’s main existence serves to be one which serves up a great deal of exclusivity, and caters to those who consider themselves discerning. All in all, when it comes to linking up and connecting with potential clients, ensure a visit to Instagram where you can enjoy a heady stream of pictures and Instastories courtesy of @alizethelabel that serve up some serious eye candy that is star class to say the least. Impressive in whatever iteration, the current collection by Alizé serves up embellished gowns that would feel right at home on the red carpet in Hollywood.
You know when Naserah Tyebally extends an invitation to
an exclusive pop up at Botanik Rooftop Bar & Bistro that it’ll be a
fantastic experience. With Benjamin Cross of Mason Bali presenting a curated
affair, expect Exclusivity to be a word standing on the sidelines watching you
on the sly to be enthralled by a superlative dinner.
I’ll tell you this much: It was a fine-dining situation
that was par excellence. The litany of celebrities and socialites present was a
testament to the incredible dinner affair that was to unfold shortly. Benjamin
was his affable self appearing and presenting one meal to the next in an
ambience that only Botanik could craft out for its discerning patrons.
International in its flavour profile, the menu was
representative of a hotpot of nationalities, which is a running theme of all
Colombo Supper Club pop-ups. The list of patrons were international too with a
sense of camaraderie present among all the foodies that night who united their
one desire for their tastebuds to journey into a gourmet dream that can only be
described as being — heady.
Each course was paired with an excellent wine courtesy of
Wine World. Some of the wines that were on offer included Cuvée Jean-Louis
Blanc De Blanc Deni Sec, Marius IGP Rosé, Bellingham Homestead Chardonnay and
Santa Julia Reserva Malbec. Naserah Tyebally explains about the level of
quality that goes into the process of choosing the wines, “The wines are paired
by both the in-house sommelier of the featured restaurant and expertise of wine
world after they have had a peak at the menu.”
Yet the real star of this particular show is Chef
Benjamin Cross who crafts dishes that speak of an individual story to whoever
partakes in his gastronomic delights. Let’s start indulging in this 5-course
meal by elaborating on what was on offer.
The ambient lighting took on a different tone as the
smartly dressed waiters placed a heady platter of Pickled Vegetables, Smoked
Tuna Tonnata, Wagyu Pastrami, Mason’s in-house Smoked Salmon, Fresh Baked
Pretzel on our table. It was a tease from Mason Bali itself, and reeked of
class I knew for sure. The main hit for me was the salmon, which was a piece of
paradise in my mouth.
This fine platter segued into the second course that
included Tuna Tartare, Celery Verde, Basil Puree, and Wonton. It was a course
that was a flavour explosion par excellence. Having indulged in many Colombo
Supper Club dinners, I’m reminded about the sense of chemistry that is present
when it comes to the mating of flavours and colours.
I have never tasted scallop before yet this was my
opportunity to do so; I’ve never been a person who was into seafood, but this
was one of those moments where I truly did change my mind. We were presented
with a course of Seared Scallop, Charred Cabbage, and Tom Yum Butter. That
combo of scallop and butter was a fantastic couple to say the least.
After getting our appetites whetted with a tease here and
there when it came to the sweet, spice, and sour departments, the main grand
slam which was a presentation of Short Rib Cooked Over Charcoal, Chilli Corn,
Chimichurri, and Pickled Onion was a fitting penultimate course. Meat is what I
crave and adore, and, yes, this hit the right spot in so many ways. The
chimichurri sauce that is piquant with a curious sense of intrigue seduced the
meat from the short rib that fell ever so temptingly from the bone.
What better way to conclude a fine meal like this but to
consider dessert. Sugar and spice may be nice, but that Bread & Butter
Pudding, with Jersey Milk Ice Cream was what made this fine dining experience
so right. Poetry was never one of my strong points, but that dessert with its
exotic tones of Mason Bali rhymed perfectly well with the offerings that were
presented.
It was a fine night for sure, and waiting for the next
pop up is a strenuous exercise in patience: one that I’m not eager to
entertain. Patience is in short supply at this juncture, and I know that I’m
speaking on behalf of everyone who indulged in the many offerings of Colombo
Supper Club since its inception.
Rukshan Perera is no stranger to Sri Lanka’s music scene and
every year this amazing musician dedicates his concert to a worthy cause. As he
prepares to enthrall audiences this year, he took time out to speak to Esteem
about life, music and his love for humanity.
How would you define your connection with music?
I was blessed to be born to a musical family in the musical
town of Moratuwa. My mother Mrs. Trilla Perera was the music teacher at
Princess of Wales College Moratuwa and a church organist for almost 50 years.
Music has been a big part of my life since I was a child and my mother is the
reason for all what I do in music.
As a musician you not only sing, but also play instruments,
compose and even do a little bit of acting. What made you get in to being a
musician or what inspired the spark?
I had my first piano lesson at the age of five from my
mother. Since guitar bands were becoming popular at the time, I quickly
switched to playing guitar. With the little music I knew at the time, I formed
my first family band at the age of ten, composed our originals, and performed
our songs at a musical program at Radio Ceylon with Dr. Vijaya Corea at the age
of 12. While still schooling at Royal College, I performed for the popular 70’s
bands “The Golden Chimes” as the guitarist under Chanaka and Lankika Perera and
with “The Super Golden Chimes” as the keyboardist under Clarence Wijewardena
and Annesley Malawana, and then toured Asia and Europe with the bands “Esquire
Set” and “Serendib” with Raj Seneviratne and Indra Raj. I was able to manage
other instruments and in most bands I was in charge of arranging music and
harmony for the western songs.
I took a break from professional music and relocated to the
United States to continue higher studies and completed a Bachelor’s degree in
Information Systems, and an MBA in Management at City University of New York.
While in the university I joined the Jazz Band as the Lead Guitarist/Vocalist
and studied under Milt Hinton, a famous African American Jazz musician in the
US. After adding Jazz to my repertoire, I performed a series of jazz concerts
at the Whitney Museum of New York for 5 consecutive years. After my graduation
I worked with Philip Morris International for 20 years at the International
Headquarters in New York and in Switzerland as a Manager Systems Development,
travelling extensively in Latin America and Europe.
What made you return to Sri Lanka?
I left Sri Lanka early and have lived abroad more than half
of my life. When I retired early from my IT career in the US, my wife and I
decided to come back to Sri Lanka to make a difference in our homeland. When we
decided to return to Sri Lanka, I also wrote a song titled “Coming Home To
You”, and you meaning Sri Lanka. In the lyrics there’s a line, “give me a
chance to lend my hand, Sri Lanka I’m coming home to you”, and this is
precisely what we started doing in Sri Lanka. We go back to the US every year
for a family reunion with our children and grandchildren.
Why do you always connect your concerts with a charity and
why the Celebral Palsy Centers this year?
We cannot expect the government alone to take care of all
the special needs in Sri Lanka supporting the sick, poor, differently abled,
mentally challenged…etc. To bridge that gap, several charities and service
organizations have come forward doing marvellous work helping in several areas
– cancer hospitals, differently abled children, underprivileged, promoting
peace and reconciliation, teaching ethics and values, road safety, water and
sanitation….and the list goes on. I am a past president of the Rotary Club of
Colombo Metropolitan that does fabulous work in several communities and also a
trustee with Unity Mission Trust that promotes peace and reconciliation
throughout Sri Lanka. I feel it is our duty to support such charities if we
have the ability and if we have talents – be it music, art, acting, sports…etc.
I am blessed that I am in a position to help such charities in a small way
through my music and otherwise. Every year I raise funds at my concerts for a
deserving charity and also perform at various other concerts, sing alongs and
other events for dozens of charities as well. Cerebral Palsy is not well known
in our country and there are 40,000 people affected in Sri Lanka. While raising
funds for the Cerebral Palsy Centers in Jaffna and Kurunegala, the concert will
also raise awareness on Cerebral Palsy.
What is your opinion on the music industry in Sri Lanka?
What do we need to do to make it better?
Sri Lanka has produced several talented musicians, composers
and singers. Every generation produces fabulous musicians/singers, and it only
gets better. Though the Sri Lankan market is small compared to the US, India
and several other countries, our musicians are passionate in what they do and
always try to achieve the best. I would like to see more composers of English
music in the future.
How can music be used to take Sri Lanka to the world?
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka is behind other countries promoting
English originals that can be aired internationally. We need several parties to
work together to make this happen. Radio stations need to promote local English
originals and audiences need to appreciate local English originals at concerts
and on radio. If this is promoted, I am sure more Sri Lankan composers will
come forward with their English originals that can go international. Currently,
since originals are not promoted, the musicians take a back seat on originals
and continue to entertain audiences with cover songs at night clubs, lobbies,
concerts and dances. I hope this will change soon and give the younger generation
the boost they need to go international.
In this regard, I decided to promote English originals in
Sri Lanka and began my concert series “Rukshan Perera Live In Concert” 10 years
ago and I do ONLY my originals, all English except for a few Sinhala songs
thrown in every year. My originals come in various forms, pop, jazz, blues,
acapella and fusion and with this variety of styles of music, I entertain the
audience who also have grown a liking to my songs. This is my 10th year concert
doing all originals, and yes there are audiences who appreciate originals and I
hope the youngsters will do more in the future.
So, to answer the question, we must encourage the youngsters
to compose songs, radio stations must promote those songs for the audiences to
familiarize with the songs and watch them perform live at concerts. The next
step is to take the good songs to the international market.
Quick Fire:
Favourite Song to Perform: I enjoy performing Mr. George
Benson’s songs because I like scatting with my guitar – a jazz skill for jazz
singers/guitarists.
Favourite Singer (International): George Benson, Stevie
Wonder, Billy Joel.
Favourite Singer: (Local) Natasha Rathnayake, Kevin Almeida
Dream Concert Venue: Madison Square Gardens (New York)
Motto in Life: Find the satisfaction in helping others.
Written by Nishu Gunawardana
Many
local and international travelers who descend upon the Southern coast of Sri
Lanka prefer to now stay at smaller boutique hotels and, resorts and villas
that allow them to enjoy the serenity of the South. Bentota has long been a
tourist destination dotted with the larger hotels and an emergence of smaller
properties is bringing the attention back to this fishing village.
Each
property has a unique story to tell and named after its house number, Boutique
87 is no different. As the story goes the original house at the entrance of the
property used to belong to a Portuguese lady who had moved to Sri Lanka in the
1970s and made Bentota her home. The house right opposite hers was of Southern
artisans specializing in weaving handlooms and lace. When the Galle Road was to
be constructed the artisans would lose their ancestral home and their
livelihood. Coming to the rescue and enlisting the help of her friend the great
Geoffrey Bawa who also lived nearby, the artisan home was deconstructed and
rebuilt in her back garden stone by stone.
Surrounded
by acres of garden, a man-made lake, a private pool and the distinct Bawa touch
surreptitiously hidden among the gardens, Boutique 87 is a Manor House Concept
property of just two secluded suites. This is the epitome of luxury combined
with privacy and the property generally encourages the entire house to be
booked as one for smaller groups. Although scenic garden weddings are also a
specialty this also requires for the house to be booked in its totality.
Locating
the property is a breeze as most locals know it by name and even if you drive
down Google Maps is pretty accurate. There is no signage and the only thing to
look out for is the namesake House No.87. Greeted by the local staff who man
the vast span of gardens we were showed to our suite which embodies Bawa’s
minimalism with precise attention. Be mindful that the rooms are of an open
concept and in fact the entire house opens up to the great outdoors. The rear
of the house leads to another characteristic Bawa mirror garden and ancient
statues. The rooms also do not have cable TV etc. as the concept is to
completely detach yourself from the digital world. Wi-Fi is still available
though for those who can’t do without their phones and devices.
The
property is also home to a variety of flora and fauna, in particular a flock of
chickens and roosters, turkeys, purple-faced langur, and an occasional wild
boar as well. A walk through the gardens will also show you traces of an old
church, a man-made lake and secluded alcoves dotted with ancient artefacts.
The
food served at your whim and fancy is mainly local delicacies prepared by the
staff who use produce from the gardens itself. We had traditional rice and
curry for lunch accompanied by the flock of chickens who came to visit our
table placed under one the largest Banyan trees in the garden. Dinner was again
in the garden under the stars with minimal lighting for that romantic touch.
Warm soup, roasted pumpkin salad and a mixed grill of Bentota’s best catch for
the day made for the best meal we had during our stay. The seafood was
impeccably prepared and we particularly loved the garlic sauce that it was
served with. Breakfast the next day was again local wares to be served by the
lake but the heavens opened up on us and we ended up having hoppers and pol
rotti in the warmth of our suite watching the torrential downpour.
Everything
about Boutique 87 is slow-paced and once you enter your suite a large bell hung
in the verandah or in the garden is the only way to call on the staff. They
generally leave you to yourself but are quick to respond to any need you may
have. Also be mindful that the property doesn’t stock up on supplies so you
need to inform your preferences at the time of booking. The property also does
not allow kids under 12 owing to the expensive artefacts and promotes it more
as a getaway for couples, older travelers or small groups of friends.
So
here’s our rating…
Location
**** (Conveniently located on the old Galle Road)
Ambiance ***** (The
beauty of nature is indescribable!)
Service **** (Privacy is paramount and the staff are non-intrusive!)
Veganism or the practice of abstaining from animal products in a dietary sense is more than just a lifestyle choice. In a country like Sri Lanka where our ancients are known to have been so, the lifestyle is today however considered quite expensive to maintain. This is mainly due to the fact that foods considered “vegan” are rather expensive or so people perceive. The choice to be vegan also comes with the constant throw-back that you are missing out on life’s best. However, a brother-sister duo have taken it upon themselves to change people’s minds (and diets!) to vegan, and with desserts at that. Yes, you read write. Some of the best desserts in the world can be vegan!
Desserts by VIC is Sri Lanka’s very first Vegan Dessert Bar. Initially operating as a delivery only service they opened up their café at Colombo 5 early December, just in time for Christmas. Predominantly run by members of the family the café does have a homely feel to it with the familiar smell of baked goodies wafting through the air. You can either choose to enjoy your desserts right there or take them home which is what we did.
Now bear in mind that Desserts by VIC do not have a standard menu. What they have is a standard product range of brownies, cupcakes and cakes but the flavours may vary. For instance the Christmas Menu has everything from death by Chocolate Cake to Christmas Cookies and Gingerbread Brownies. What we sampled was off this menu.
Wanting to try a little bit of everything we got ourselves a Christmas Cookie, Gingerbread Chocolate Brownie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcake, Triple Chocolate Cupcake, and two slices of Sticky Toffee Cake and Death by Chocolate.The Christmas Cookie was star-shaped and teal blue and was more of the crumbly than gooey variety, and more biscuit-like in texture. It also wasn’t overly sweet which we liked. The Gingerbread Brownie followed a similar texture and had a very strong taste of the ginger which we felt overpowered the chocolate just a bit too much. It would however be ideal with a cup of tea for us Lankans.
It would be hard to pick a favourite between the two cupcakes. The Peanut Butter frosting was pretty amazing and really gave the chocolate cupcake a lift in terms of flavour. The triple chocolate was so good that we just forgot that we were eating “healthy”! Both versions were again lighter on the sweetness and did also have a tinge of bitterness from the chocolate which was nice.
The cakes though was what really took our breath away. We died and went to heaven with the first bite of the Death by Chocolate (!!!). The cake itself was moist and once frozen, which is how we like it was just amazing. We actually don’t have words to describe the frosting. That’s how good it was. The cake version of a classic English pudding was also such a Christmassy treat. The cake tasted of nutmeg and spices with the sticky toffee bits making it nice and chewy. The frosting on this one was also very light and added such a kick of sweetness to every bite.
Desserts by VIC also do liquor-infused cupcakes like Margarita and Piña Colada which unfortunately us being teetotalers were unable to try but please if you do, tell us what you think.
After consuming all that dessert the fact that you don’t feel guilty is such a win for us that we might even go vegan… (Won’t be able to do this job if we do!!!!!)
So here’s our rating… Location *** (A little hard to find but follow Google Maps!) Ambiance *** (Homely!) Service **** (The siblings love to chat about what it means to be vegan!) Food ***** (Surprisingly good!) Overall *** ¾
Ratings ***** We Love It! **** Got It Right! *** Getting There! ** Not So Great! * Needs Serious Re-Thinking!
Information:Opening Times: 9am – 8pm(9pm on Friday and Saturday)Address: No 24/10Sri Sidhartha Road, Colombo 05. Phone Number: 0760 075454Email: dessertsbyvic@gmail.com
Reviewed by Nishu Gunawardana Photo Credit: Sanura Gunawardana
Traversing via train to the cool climes of Kandy is an
experience in itself; the bumpy ride strangely had an almost Zen-like quality
as we ended up at the land of the hills. Disembarking and entering the town of
Kandy was a nostalgic moment albeit one that brought back many childhood
memories. The trip towards OZO Kandy only served to pad up those memories with
a sense of wistfulness.
The blues of the OZO properties serenade your senses and
covers them up with a duvet of comfort. It was the sense of taste that was
cosseted this particular morning at the breakfast buffet table. Replete with a
spread of deliciousness that encapsulated the best of Western and Eastern, I
was happy to indulge in all things delicious at their main restaurant EAT.
Cheekily, I asked for a cheese omelette with four eggs, which the chef arming
one particular breakfast station smilingly whipped up.
It’s okay to be slightly greedy I thought, and that
greediness was extended to my sense of comfort, which was present at the suite
I was shown to. There’s something about the beds at Amari Galle and Villas
Wadduwa that makes them absolute nests of comfort. OZO Kandy keeps up with this
particular theme of rest and relaxation.
OZO Kandy’s media fact file states the following —
High-quality beds with pillow top mattresses give guests what they need for the
perfect night’s sleep. Guests are able to stay connected during their stay, all
rooms come equipped with a multimedia connectivity panel, IPTV and free Wi-Fi
access is available throughout the hotel. — which is axiomatic as it gets.
With this in mind, I guess it’s no surprise that the 122
guestrooms of this fine property is aptly categorized (dreamily so) as: Sleep,
Dream, Dream Lake and OZO Suites. The duvets covering the bed are thick and
exceptional in what they offer; however, I should happily mention that the
well-facilitated bathroom with its OZO-blue tiles are resplendent of that theme
of comfort.
The powerful shower head with its stream of warm water that
inexorably massages your stress away is a cumulative galaxy of pleasure. The
fumes of lemongrass-tinged shower gels sought to emit that whisper of intention
my lips — OZO Kandy, there’s no chance of me leaving towards the misery of
Colombo anytime soon.
I was told that at any point of time during the day the
blinds can be drawn to create a cave of comforting darkness within the room (in
my case — a luxuriously festooned suite). Absolute peace of mind is offered for
weary business travelers whose only consolation is rejuvenation. The lighting
is ambient and non-intrusive, and is channeled through the master switches near
the bedside.
BOMMU is the rooftop bar placed ever so temptingly near the
pool that is also well-represented with that mystical OZO Blue. What a heady
photoshoot it was with our photographer — Vishmika — capturing those
pixel-perfect photos with his coterie of gadgets while I sought to give in to
the promises of inebriation served by a Passionfruit Mojito and a
crimson-tinged Daiquiri.
Tease me, will you? Those were my words during the dinner
buffet that night. I’m still salivating over the Beef Curry that was chock full
of Lankan spices — think cloves, cardamons, cinnamon, pepper, coriander seeds,
fennel and a spate of others — and basked in a velvety blanket of rich, thick
coconut milk.
Certain things remain with you during a hotel review besides
the magnanimous array of food, service, facilities and official explanations;
at OZO Kandy it was the investment that has gone into presenting a well-rounded
product, which served not food, facilities and fanfare, but excellence to
enjoy.
A complete disclosure at this juncture: buffets during lunch
and dinner are based on the number of guests present. When numbers are down,
one should expect a range of excellent dishes from OZO Kandy’s carefully
curated à la carte menus.
A testament to how good the food was came in the form of a
fervent acknowledgement of pleasure from the adjoining table as a spoonful of
spaghetti plugged with a rich, tangy bolognese met enthusiastic lips. I concur
with that happy grunt as I indulged in that same dish.
Creme brûlée has a way of being agreeable whatever the
situation, and agreeable is what I was as I jumped into bed — just the three of
us: one large duvet, a happy tummy, and I.
My journey back to Colombo (albeit 2kgs heavier) was a sad
one; I felt wistful and was overcome with a yearning for another OZO Kandy stay
— sooner the better I hoped.
Text by Rohitha Perera
Photography by Vishmika Chathuranga (Impulse
Inc.)
A lonely elephant, his mighty head downcast, sways in an age
old rhythm of stress and unhappiness as he strains against shackles that bind
him to a tree in a backyard of a temple. He longs for his jungle home,
remembers the long walks with his herd, the mud baths that soothe but mostly he
remembers his freedom. This temple is not where he is meant to be. In a
travesty of their natural movement, elephants parade around holding each others
tails, amble ungainly on three legs and sit on ridiculously small stools to the
applause of patrons at the national zoological gardens in Dehiwala. One can
only wonder at the amount of pain the mahouts bull hook would have caused these
animals to bring them to this level of docility. This zoo is not where they are
meant to be.
Yet another elephant, bedecked with glittering cloth, runs
amok at a perehera, frightened by the blinding lights, the fire that sprouts
and the deafening drums. Her fear inadvertently causes injury to people who
directly or indirectly put her in this situation. This perehera is not where
she is meant to be.
In a remote jungle in Habarana, a baby elephant tentatively
prods his mother’s lifeless body with mounting alarm while in the vicinity lie
six other bodies of once majestic female elephants, their carcasses a testimony
to the evil that is man.
Sri Lanka’s domestication of wild elephants goes back all
the way to the time of our kings who used elephants as a mark of prestige and
for military might; this trend of domestication continues to the present due to
cultural norms and monetary gain.
According to statistics, there are over 230 captive
elephants in Sri Lanka. Even though this figure may not seem substantial in the
face of an estimated 5800 wild elephant population in our country, elephants
are not meant to be domesticated, paraded in cultural pageants not ridden for
pleasure. Nor are they meant to be brutally slaughtered due to an ever
escalating human elephant conflict that has largely arisen due to humans
encroaching on their habitat. It is a gut wrenching fact that approximately a
hundred years ago, more than 20,000 wild elephants have freely roamed our land.
The relatively good news however, is that not everyone is
their enemy. The Department of Wildlife conservation (DWLC) and the
Non-Government Organisation Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS)
work toward protecting these gentle giants despite numerous social and
political hindrances. Over the years, DWLC has adopted and developed
conservation methods such as electric fences, use of deterrents, establishment
of new national parks and elephant corridors and habitat enrichment of current
elephant regions.
The SLWCS has introduced a simple yet effective method of
keeping elephants away from cultivating areas thus mitigating the human elephant
conflict to an extent. Through the “Project Orange Elephant”, the SLWCS has
planted orange trees in several villages in the Wasgamuwa area and the citrus
smell – to which the elephants are naturally averse to – has worked well to
protect home gardens.
The elephant transit home in the Udawalawe National Park was
established by the DWC in 1995. This jungle sanctuary is a haven to orphaned
baby elephants until they are strong enough to be released back to the wild. It
is indeed heartening to seeing these young ones jostle each other and hurry on
chubby legs to where the staff await with bottles of milk.
So it seems in theory that much is being done to protect the
Sri Lankan elephant. But the sad truth is that it is not enough, not by a long
shot, as reports reveal that Sri Lanka recorded the highest deaths due to the
human elephant conflict this year.
If you would like to learn about them and help in
conservation efforts, a place to start is ‘Volunteering journeys’ where
volunteers can participate in activities such as monitoring elephants in the
wild, building sanctuaries and managing the human elephant conflict.
As a mother, I have taken my children to the zoo, watched
the elephants ‘dance’ and taken them on elephant rides and watched the perehera
with them. But I have learnt that inadvertently, our actions aimed at making
our children’s eyes widen with pleasure, bring tears to the eyes of these
gentle creatures we love. So I am doing my part by teaching them today that it
is not right to watch our elephants caged or paraded around for our pleasure.
If we can do this collectively, if we do not visit places that have elephants
in captivity, we can make a difference to the plight of the elephant in our
country. As animal lovers and concerned citizens, we can do our part to add to
the efforts taken by the DWC and the SLWCS.
The legendary memory of an elephant, a vital aspect in their
lives, is also a deterrent in the efforts to curb the human elephant conflict.
In the Minneriya National Park, we encountered an elephant they call ‘Bonnet’
who charges most vehicles and has injured many. Her baby was run over by a park
vehicle and killed. There will be many, many more stories like this. There
already are many, many stories like this. It seems an uphill task but love and
compassion should overcome even the anger of a wounded animal if given
ceaselessly. Let us love them and if that does not come naturally, let us let
them live.
Colombo’s newest entrant into the dining scene, The
Pizza Bakery, is arguably also the most stylish option for casual, family-style
dining. Launched recently at the One Galle Face Mall, The Pizza Bakery brings a
touch of Naples, Italy to sunny Sri Lanka with their signature Woodfired
Italian Sourdough Pizzas.
Founded by brothers AB and Nikhil Gupta, The
Pizza Bakery is the result of their passion for creating the perfect pizza. The
brothers take pride in their sourdough, which is free of additives and fermented
for 48-hours to make it light and airy. It is then hand-stretched Napoli-style
before being popped into a specially made wood-fired oven for that lightly
charred and smoky flavour.
The stylish pizzeria serves a wide variety of
authentic Woodfired Sourdough Pizzas with a choice of chicken, lamb,
beef and seafood toppings along with a variety of vegetarian options such as
the Popo’s Veggie delight with sundried tomatoes, and Pizza Verde with a
generous amount of pesto.
“Our unique 12-inch hand-stretched and wood-fired
sourdough pizza is not something many people in Colombo have heard of and the
response has been great. I believe it is our passion for the product which
makes us stand out, and all our pizzas are carefully made with the best quality
ingredients,” said AB Gupta, Co-Founder of The Pizza Bakery. “We are excited to
be here in Colombo and look forward to serving a slice of Naples to all the
pizza lovers out there.”
Apart from their signature pizzas, The Pizza
Bakery also offers their own delicious take on garlic bread – stuffed to
perfection with caramelized onions and mozzarella cheese, using the same
natural sourdough used for their pizzas.
The food is best enjoyed with a selection of drinks
available to order from their full bar within the chic, monochromatic interiors
which feature a quirky array of hand-painted Mona Lisa murals on the wall. Lively
music drifts effortlessly throughout the space, and the ambience is easy-going,
yet tasteful and elegant, making it the perfect place to hang out with friends
and family, or bring a date.
The Pizza Bakery is committed in its quest for
sticking to authentic pizza, which means they do not use any processed cheese
& source only the freshest ingredients both locally & around the world
to make the ultimate pizza. In addition to their signature pizzas, they also serve
a range of gourmet appetisers, pasta & desserts.
The Pizza Bakery is open daily from 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm (closes
on 11:30pm on weekends). For more information please visit their Instagram page
@thepizzabakery.lk
No, it’s not about the song
“ready for the victory” by the German duo Modern Talking, but about a more
special individual, a legend, who has brought honor and glory to the paradise
island, and has made his mark in the international sports arena, and the passion
and commitment he had for the sport has brought him to a position which is
unbeatable, and no Sri Lankan would achieve for a long time. No, it’s not about
the song “ready for the victory” by the German duo Modern Talking, but about a
more special individual, a legend, who has brought honor and glory to the
paradise island, and has made his mark in the international sports arena, and
the passion and commitment he had for the sport has brought him to a position
which is unbeatable, and no Sri Lankan would achieve for a long time. The pride
and glory he has gained are not only for himself, but also for the country.
Having the Sri Lankan flag displayed on his Lamborghini in all the races where
he participates, he is the proud ambassador and representative of this
beautiful island, to show the rest of the world that the “Sri Lankan spirit“
dazzles as always. The pride he has brought this tiny island is endless, and he
is proud that he was able to bring all that prestige on his own. His
achievements, were not offered to him on a silver plate, it was all about hard
work and commitment. His only ambition is to bring more prestige to the country
and more fame. Those in the motor racing arena will definitely know his name,
since he has become the number one brand ambassador in motor racing, and a
proud son of mother Lanka. Needless to say, our guest is none other else than
the legendary Dilantha Malagamuwa, the number one motor legend if there ever
was in Sri Lanka. Racing is his whole life, and his passion. The way he entered
the motor racing arena is one fascinating story, and there’s so much one can
learn. No other Sri Lankan has been able to break his record up to now, or even
in the world, and he still rocks on, and will continue till the end.
Born in Kurunegala, Dilantha
completed his primary education at St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala and Trinity
College, Kandy. From his younger days he showed signs of being a motor racing
champion, starting racing at the age of 16 and winning a motorcycle race. His
two sisters encouraged him and persuaded his father to buy a Yamaha TZ 350. In
1983, Dilantha participated in his first international race in Calcutta,
securing the 6th place and at that race he Matsumoto Kenmei, a Japanese
motorbike racer, who invited him to come to Japan, to develop his motor racing
skills, which was the turning point of his motor racing career. In 1985, he
went to Japan, and some years later became the first non-Japanese Asian to
compete in the Japan top level formula Nippon (F3000). Up to now, he has won
numerous awards and achievements, and has been highly praised in both
international and local media as one of the best motor racing drivers Sri Lanka
had ever produced. Some of his achievements include, Champion of the N1 Championship
in Japan 1995, Champion, Malaysia Super car series 2006, 1st runner up, Aston
Martin Asia cup 2008/2009, Champion, GT Asia, 2010, 1st runner up, Lamborghini
Super Trofeo Asian series 2014, Champion, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asian series
2015, Champion, NGK Enduro 3 hour endurance race, Dubai, and winning the 3rd
place at the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals, Imola, Italy, 2017, and AM
Class, 5th place overall. These are only a few of those achievements he has won
throughout the years, and the list goes on. In 1997, after competing in Japan’s
top level Formula Nippon, the Prime Minister of Japan, Keizo Obuchi,
felicitated Dilantha for his effort in becoming the first Non – Japanese Asian
to achieve this feat. In 2012, Dilantha was awarded the national colors and a
special recognition by the Sri Lanka Auto Sports Association in 2012, and was
selected as the Brand Ambassador for the SLIM 14th Brand Excellence awards with
an attractive theme titled as “Will you race ahead of the rest?”. His racing
school, “Dilango Racing“ which was established in 2009 was given the Runner Up
Presidential Award for being the “Most Outstanding Leisure Sports Provider of
the Year 2015“ and also another runner up Presidential Award to Dilantha
himself, for being the “Most Outstanding Standing Sportsman of the year 2015”.
He again bagged two awards at the Sports First Platinum Award 2016, as the
“Best Motor Sport Athlete of the Year“ and “Most Popular Player of the Year”.
Dilantha also received the Sri Lankan of the Year award in 2018 in the sports
category, for his contribution towards motor racing in Sri Lanka. The event was
hosted by Ada Derana, at a gala event which was held at the Hilton Colombo.
This Motor Racing legend, who has
a friendly and a down to earth personality joined me for a brief chat at his
residence, on his motor racing career, achievements, experiences and best
moments, which I thoroughly enjoyed listening to, for it was so interesting.
Q: So Dilantha, how are things
going on with your Motor racing career these days?
A: It’s good. The new
championships start in March and goes on till November. I’m getting ready for
that and trying to find sponsors etc. Sometimes it could be two championships.
I’m not sure if I can do both, but one championship is confirmed, which is the
GT Sports club. The testing is on the second week of March and first race is
also in the second week of April.
Q: Who, or what influenced you to
start your racing career?
A: Actually I had the passion for
cars and bikes, but what inspired me was film! That was what inspired me to
become a racing driver.
Q: What were the challenges you
had to face when you first started racing?
A: I don’t think nobody has ever
been through the challenges which I had to go through. My first race was when I
was 16, and my father was against my racing but they didn’t know my first race,
which I took part and he only got to know after the race. I won the first race,
on a 5060 when I was 16, and then I immediately wanted to get on to a TZ 350.
Because 5060 was too slow for me. My father was against it but my two sisters
somehow influenced him and made him buy me the bike. But he said, if there’s
one accident, I have to give up, and I had to promise. I just made a false
promise, but I had my own way. So the first race was in Kurunegala, I won the
third place there. And from 5060 I went straight on to the 350, in the second
race I had a fall and broke my leg, and my father said don’t race, but I never
gave up. I really wanted to go for international races. So when I was 19, in
1983, I went to India. That also my father did not know. I took my bike from
Kurunegala to Thalaimannar, from there to Rameshwaram on a ferry, and then to
Madras. But I was not allowed to race in Madras because Sri Lankan officials
objected because I went on a private entry, because they didn’t give me the
official entry. So they didn’t allow me, but the next race was after a week in
Calcutta so I raced there and came back. My father came to know after that and
went to India to bring me back, and in India, I met this Japanese person named
Matsumoto Kenmei, and at that time I was trying to go to Europe or the States
to race, but then he was very kind to me and he said that I should come to
Japan, if you really want to become a champion. He was fooling with me the
whole time because I had the oldest bike, and I was also the youngest guy. He
never thought I’ll come to Japan, so he said Japan is a better country. I told
him one day I want to become a world champion. He knew it would never happen,
he underestimated me at that time, but then he gave me his address, and when I
was coming back to Sri Lanka I lost my wallet, and lost his address, and after
I came to Sri Lanka I told my father I want to go to Japan. He didn’t allow it,
and after around one and a half years, I sold my car, bought a one-way ticket,
and with Rs.4000 I went to Japan, and I raced there and had to live in a van
for the first 6 months. My parents did not know for a while where I was. It
took me two years to buy my first bike. I tried to meet Matsumoto, I went to
circuits many times, but I was not allowed to go and see him because I didn’t
have a pass, and when I told people that He was a friend of mine, no one
believed me. Anyway after a while I realized everything was very tough. I thought
everything was easy, but motor racing is very expensive. So after an year, I
started my own business exporting bikes and all that, because I wanted to find
the funds to race, and then in 1987, I went to Japan again, and that was the
year I bought my first bike, and I started racing bikes, then I started racing
cars from 1989, and I became the first Non – Japanese Asian to win a
championship in Japan, in 1995, and in 1997, I became the first Non –Japanese
Asian to reach the highest level of motorsports in Japan. I was felicitated by
the Prime Minister of Japan at that time, and the national television, NHK
wanted to do my documentary. First I didn’t want them to know, because
motorsports is a very glamourous sport. Everyone is very wealthy. And they didn’t
know that I was working 22 hours to race, you know. I bring motor cycles, I
wash them, I clean them and do the paper work, I did everything by myself. So I
didn’t want anyone to see this on TV because no one would believe it. Anyway
the NHK Director invited me to the programme which was called “Hello Nippon”
.He said, “Dilantha, you were inspired by films, and if people see your
documentary, they’ll be inspired” and that I should do it. So I finally agreed
and we did the documentary and the last shooting was at the Fuji circuit, and
they didn’t tell me that this is the last shooting and they said “cameras on“
and lo behold, Matsumoto, the guy I met walks in after 14 years! and the first
thing he asked me was, “how did you do this?” we were both emotional, and our
eyes were full of tears, and the first thing he said was, I learnt never to
underestimate any person thereafter in life. Everything was tough, every day is
tough, but I never take it as being tough because it’s my passion, and I
challenge myself every day. After that I wanted to race in many championships,
including European championships, and am still going on.
Q: We do get local motor races
such as the Fox Hill super cross, Katukurunda motor races etc, but do you think
these are enough?
A: Compared to what you do
overseas, we don’t even run a single race that is parallel to international
racing. If you see the formulas we run, it’s pre- 1985. So it’s like, its
almost 30 year old cars we are still using. We don’t have proper gear, we
haven’t properly prepared those cars, no proper racing track, and if you see in
any part of the world, even in a national championship the least is about 30
minutes. Here it lasts only for 5 or 10 minutes maximum. And in this super
cross, they run together. In other countries, they send one car after the
other. Here you can’t see because of the dust and the person from behind can’t
see. Autocross is different because you don’t that kind of dust. Even on the
cars there’s no safety. Racing was started in Sri Lanka in 1934, if I’m not
mistaken, and we were the first in Asia to start racing. We used to beat India
because they didn’t have the motorcycles that we had. Now they have three
circuits, Formula One circuit, even in Japan, China, Singapore, it’s the same.
But still we don’t even have our own tracks, it’s the same situation with the
races we run. And they run on the same track, motorcycles, cars on the same
day, nowhere in the world they do that you know. So they have messed up
everything and they will never change it. Now see, I’m racing internationally,
David Peiris’s son is racing because he can afford it, and then Ashan is racing
in Dubai and trying to do something, but where are we really? We have to run a
championship parallel to other championships in the world. Their systems are
also totally different, and just a bunch of people, they decide the rules, and
running them. Now, we have Niroshan Perera, he’s the FIA Asia zone head, and we
don’t even use him. So he goes to other countries. To do anything we have to have
a proper circuit here, and run it with proper rules and regulations. Most of
the racing cars we use are over 20 years. The rules and regulations keep on
changing, so it’s not properly done like any other sport here.
Q: Motor sports are popular all
across the world. However, Motor racing is considered as a risky sport. What’s
your opinion on this?
A: Any sport is risky. But this
is more risky because of the speed and accidents etc. I think the most popular
are football and motorsports. Cricket they say, is popular, but motor sports
are popular over 100 countries. Giants like America, Japan, China, Germany and
all these European countries, they don’t have cricket, but as I said
motorsports is a glamorous sport that is competed within the prestigious companies,
so it’s “a battle for prestige” They spend billions and billions but then, I
could go and beat all of them! The difference in motor sports is, it’s not only
yourself. You need a car, tyres, brakes, in cricket you only need a bat and a
ball. But here its technique is not enough. You got to have the funds, you got
to have the proper machine, and you have to compete with the most powerful,
prestigious companies in the world. I think they spend about 18-20 billion an
year for this sport. So it’s totally different. But still, I could go and hang
on with them, still beat them. And then I have all the Asian records where I
won 8 or 9 championships and also several first runner up championships. In
motorsports, a championship goes on for a year. During each race you have to
collect points, so the whole year is a championship. So you have to be very
consistent and everything has to be perfect. So winning a championship is very
difficult. I won mostly Asian championships, because I went to Europe only in
2017 to race. Though they call it the Asian championships, people from all over
the world come and compete because it’s held in Asia. Motor sports are not
restricted to one particular area like games like cricket, etc. So in that way,
it’s not just an Asia championship. So, all that was done!
Q: Speaking about Dilango Racing,
which was established in 2009, what’s your progress from that end? Can you tell
us about it?
A: The reason why I decided to
have my own thing was, every day I was driving for other teams and they control
you. When someone controls you, you can’t give 100% performance. Because
sometimes in races they say over the radio, “don’t overtake, don’t do this,
don’t do that” so they control me and I ant run the race the way I want. So in
2009 I thought that I’ll start my own racing team, and then we started Dilango
racing. And that’s the time we won most of the championships, from 2009
onwards, because it was controlled by me. There was no controller and I checked
everything. Everyone around the world now knows Dilango racing, on the world
championships we were third, but in the coming years we’ll win 2,3 world
championships for Sri Lanka. So we were able to build that brand, “Dilango”
because one thing is, TV coverage is very high on racing, there’s about 1.4
billion viewers watching, so I think all the manufacturers, when you say
“Dilango racing” although it’s small, everyone knows, because at the end of the
day, it’s the results. So we have proven and got good results, and the best
results.
Q: What do you think of the
sports field in Sri Lanka in general?
A: I think except for cricketers,
everyone else is struggling you know. There are no professionals. When you say
a “professional driver” although they call me a professional driver, I’m not a
professional driver because I’m not paid. I have to find my own funds. So the
only “paid” sport in Sri Lanka is cricket. Everyone else is struggling. So in a
way it’s very unfair, not being fair to other sports be it chess, basketball,
netball carom or any other sport, they are not being looked after. So in that
way I feel it’s very unfair, but still with all that, compared to cricket, they
don’t even get 1% of what cricket gets. Not even media coverage. But with all
that, there are a lot of athletes, sports people who bring fame For Sri Lanka.
At least when they are competing, they should be looked after. The problem is,
the officials don’t know what they are doing, and they take all the benefits
from what should go to the sportsmen or sports women, but I think most of the
funds go to the federations, so I feel very sad. They are talking about
promoting sports in Sri Lanka, but the first thing they should do is to build
the grounds! Some grounds have grass and some are just sand. In other stadiums,
they don’t have a proper running track. They should do the basics and it’s not
done. Sometimes when I go to these grounds I feel very sorry, because some are
running with shoes and some are not. How can you have a race even? So it’s very
unfair. The infrastructure has to be done immediately.
Q: As a seasoned Motor racer,
what’s the advice you can give to newcomers?
A: A good thing which has
happened in Sri Lanka is that Mr. David Peiris has put up the Bandaragama
Carting Centre on his own expense. That is the best place for a starter. Even
for top proper drivers, to practice go carts etc, this is one of the best
places. So, hats off to him, he has done that. If anyone wants to start proper
racing, they should go to this Go Cart track, and they have these basic Go
Carts, but then you can buy a higher performance one and they can practice
there. Unfortunately we don’t have a circuit here, but you can go to
Katukurunda and start practicing, because everyone asks me “how can I go
overseas and race, I want to race, can you support” etc. Financially I can’t
support, when they ask how to do this and that, I know they’ll never do it,
because when I didn’t have even email or internet, I still found my way,
physically going there and finding things, so I know they are just dreaming!
They don’t have the commitment, if they have the commitment they should know by
themselves. So they don’t have that. They all want to be in the comfort zone.
They just want to go to Katukurunda, do 1 or 2 races, they have no dreams of
going overseas and winning championships, but there are some good riders who go
to these Asian championships, so we have to support them. For me, I knew I
won’t get any support, so I went and worked 22 hours, to do it. I’m trying to
do a venture called “Dilango Taxis” like Uber and Pickme, and we’re going to
launch it in another two weeks. What I want to do is, out of the profits we
want to help athletes. Because other than the cricketers, they all have to
borrow money. We have to help these people, that’s how they bring fame to Sri Lanka,
in any part of the world, they respect sportsmen and sportswomen. They are
considered as heroes. You don’t call a politician or an artist a hero, but
sports people are heroes. So if you see the top countries in the world, they
spend so much money on sports to bring fame to their country. So it’s pride.
People who bring pride is doing on their own. They are not supported. That’s
very unfortunate, you know.
Q: Do you have any role models in
life? And what’s your motto in life?
A: I never had role models. I
think if you have a role model, there would have been barriers. You might
imitate someone else. I learnt things from others you know, if someone said
something good and if someone did something good, I tried to learn from that.
But I never had role models. I just follow myself. And my motto in life will
be, “nothing is impossible!”
Q: What’s the car model you are
using right now?
A: For the last ten years I have
been driving Lamborghini. In 2009, I was driving Porsche and Aston Martin both,
but in 2009, Lamborghini approached me and asked me if I would like to race a
Lamborghini. Although the Lamborghini was very popular among people, they
didn’t have the proper race cars. So nobody paid much attention, but I said
I’ll give it a try, and then in 2010, I started racing a Lamborghini, and I won
the Asian championship. That was the first time, I think, that Lamborghini won
a GT championship in Asia. From that day onwards, we have a very close
relationship. Without factory support, it’s not easy to win. And to get factory
support, you have to be a top driver in the world, but because of our
connection, they treat me very well and maybe until I retire, I might be with
Lamborghini.
Q: Looking back at your journey
through out these years, how do you feel?
A: I think I’m very proud, you know, because, no one knows my story other than myself. I should say, very proudly, no Sri Lankan has ever, either businessman or sportsperson or anyone, has spent his own money and brought fame for Sri Lanka. No one has even come close to what I have done for Sri Lanka. So I’m very proud of that, and I’m doing it because I love this country and it’s my passion, and always challenge myself, and I always want to become a better person every day, so I keep challenging myself. That’s why I don’t have a role model; I want to be better than me every day. So that’s how I keep winning. So I’m very proud because now it’s almost 36 years since I have been in the international races, as I told there’s no one in Sri Lanka who has ever done it. Not that I’m trying to boast, but I’m very proud of it. And I want someone else also to do the same thing. I haven’t saved money, but I have best glory to Sri Lanka, and no one has ever, even in the racing history has put up their own country flag with their own expenses, to bring fame for their country. When I think about it, I feel very proud.
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