My Dedication

Music Academy

In  June 1997, I  visited  Sri Lanka and  took some presents  from Melbourne to be distributed among the inmates of the de Soysa  Maternity  Hospital  in Colombo. Once I  went  there, I saw the conditions of the hospital  which  made  me  realise that  I could  do much better than  merely give  presents to individuals. I returned  home  to  Melbourne planning a concert through which I'd try and raise a substantial  amount of money  in  aid  of  this  maternity  hospital.  As a  result of  this  trip, I  organised, directed, and presented "Concertina 5" in Dandenong, Victoria on the 11th   of October. This was a massive cultural concert which received the support of many Sri lankans in Melbourne. I had a variety of singers and dancers performing on the night together with my students and I raised a profit of AUD 1,800.00 which was sent to the de Soysa Maternity Hospital in Colombo,  by me.

       Me lighting the traditional lamp  with                Dandenong  Mayor Greg Harris  and his  wife  to inaugurate the musical evening

         Rohana sings a patriotic Sinhala song

                      

              Veteran Sinhala cultural artiste Karu           and  I sing a duet as usual.

     Gamini sings a popular Sinhala song of the 60's.

             A  section of the performers young and old        sing together.

    Karu and wife Ramani sing a duet.   

              Kumu, a dear friend and manager of my ''concert food stalls'', enjoyed singing on the night.

     My older son Chamara sings           a song about a mother's love

  Thillaka sings her favourite      Sinhala fast beat songs

                Karu and Champika performing a           scene  from a comic act

      A group of young dancers entertains the crowd

           

 My students do their fabulous rainbow silk dance

Chamara 6 and brother Kanchana 3 sing a popular Sinhala song

 Expert announcer Ramani and I wrap up the night thanking the fantastic audience for their support

A good friend and an ardent supporter of my efforts, Kusum, gave me this beautiful bouquet of orchids