Veteran music maestro Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa passed away at a private hospital yesterday evening.
The internationally acclaimed musician and award winning composer was 71 years old at the time of his death.
Having undergone a kidney transplant several years ago, Khemadasa Master returned to music direction and created music for several films, teledramas and the opera ‘Agni’ which toured the country. Dr. Khemadasa is the only known Sri Lankan musician who created opera and operatic music.
Master was influential in introducing a unique music style to Sri Lankan cinema and he also pioneered the opera format to Sri Lankan music and performing arts.
Born and bred in Talpitiya, Wadduwa, Khemadasa attended Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya and St. John’s College, Panadura. Dr. Khemadasa started his career as a flutist in Radio Ceylon and later took up music.
Khemadasa’s debut as a film composer came with Sirisena Wimalaweera’s ‘Roddie Kella’ and collaborating with acclaimed director Lester James Peries. The music he directed for films like ‘Golu Hadawatha’ and ‘Nidhanaya’ were significant in the country’s film music scene. A self taught brilliant musician, explored various styles of music around the world and he combined Sinhala folk tunes, Hindustani music, Western music and many other streams of music in his compositions while adapting them to fit contemporary music.
Dr. Khemadasa shared his music knowledge freely with a large number of young and talented pupils whom he had picked up mostly from rural areas and trained them to international standard.
Explicably, once Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue had been a decisive factor in Tamil Nadu politics. It was only the 40 odd kilometers of Palk Strait divided the then 60 million Indian Tamils from their ‘kith and kin’ here, who spoke the same language, followed the same religion and shared a common culture. Further, it was a time Indian Tamils too entertained the idea of delinking from the brown sahibs of Delhi – who didn’t speak Tamil. Thus the dream of ‘Tamil Eelam’ won millions of supporters. Muthuvel Karunanidhi was only one among them.
Several decades and more than 70,000 deaths later the conditions aren’t the same.
Tamil Nadu population in general, except for few extremist political parties, has been insensitive to Sri Lankan ethnic issue in recent times. This can be the outcome of two happenings.
Firstly, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi – purely an emotional reaction by the LTTE as a revenge for what IPKF did in North – has changed how Indians viewed Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue. Tamils in India, in spite of their race are still very much Indians. Rajiv, irrespective of the political party he represented, was a popular politician – perhaps the most popular Indian Prime Minister ever, except for his grandfather. It is not an east task for a rational Tamil to justify his support for a terrorist group that brutally killed such a leader.
Secondly and most importantly, Tamils in India no longer harbor the dream of separate Tamil state. They gain more by being a part of India. With the post –liberalisation economic developments in India Delhi has now less control over the matters in Tamil Nadu – which is considered to be one of the most developed states. Tamils are represented in Indian government at every level –in fact one became even the President. Only reason a Tamil (Kamaraj) could not become the Prime Minister after Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death was his inability to communicate in either Hindi or English. So a separate state means nothing. Why bother who rules when you get all you need?
The sudden interest shown by Tamil Nadu politicians on ethnic issue right now is a transitional phenomenon that has more to do with the forthcoming elections. As we all know, many seemingly inconsequential issues come under spotlight in the pre-election period. It will easily be forgotten the moment one candidate promises a free TV for each home and the other counters it with a better package. That is Tamil Nadu politics. A TV at home matters to most poor Indian Tamils than Prabhakaran – dead or alive.
Then what about Indian Central govt? Even if Tamil Nadu fully supports tigers, can India as a country ever think of such a crazy idea? What are the chances a Congress government with Rajiv Gandhi’s widow as its virtual leader engaging in anything even least beneficial to a terrorist organization led by a man wanted by Indian courts for serious murder charges? My guess is near zero. Indians are not fools and they have long memories.
So the bottom line is whatever said and done the impact of Karunanidhi factor in Sri Lankan politics is nil. We need not worry about it.
However, that does not prevent the forever opportunists like Wimal Weerawansa and Champika Ranawaka to jump to the fray and give their typical ‘pora talks’. Creation of imaginary enemies is essential for their own survival. That is only to give an emotional kick to the blind supporters of these cardboard ‘chandiyas’. Just like Karunanidhi, they both need maintaining the flame of racism to have ground level support. Are we surprised? DEFINITELY NO. Let these three fools do or say whatever they want to say. Let us not get distracted by their petty politics. I am sure the rest of us have better things to do than worrying about three useless racist jokers.
My electorate Bandaragama is one area the impact of yesterday’s heavy rain was felt worst. Many roads were under water and some like Bandaragama-Gonapola road (above) were physically damaged.
The Consumer Affairs Authority yesterday informed a Colombo Magistrate that a Singapore laboratory report had confirmed that the samples of milk powder imported by Edna Chocolates (Ceylon) Limited were found to contain melamine.
CAA’s Counsel Dilum Thabrew told Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Thilakaratne that the result of the test conducted by ALS Laboratories in Singapore had confirmed that milk powder imported by Edna Chocolates from China contained melamine.
At this stage the Magistrate said the public should be made aware of this to restrain them from consuming Edna Chocolates. He also said while the court had restrained the manufacture and distribution of Edna products, it was wrong for the Edna Chocolate company to hold media conferences announcing that its products were melamine free. He also said the company requested him to revise the earlier order to allow them to continue with their production. It was made even before the Singapore report was received. He queried on what basis the company made such a request in court without knowing the actual situation.
The counsel for CAA said the laboratory which carried out the test was an internationally reputed one and he would not comment about the report of the respondent to confirm its milk powder was melamine free.
He requested the magistrate to destroy ex –stocks of the Chinese Milk Powder that were in the stores of Edna Chocolate (Ceylon ) Limited.
The Magistrate said if the public still preferred to consume Edna Chocolate the government nor the court should be held responsible for it.
He questioned the CAA whether other manufacturers who make edibles from milk powder had obtained clearance certificates for melamine.
At time when old Mother Hubbard has taken over the fortunes of Athletics, it is encouraging to see another contender dashing towards stardom.
Now it is known that this eighteen-year old student from Gateway College, Shehan Ambepitiya who hails from a not so well to do family from Rajagiriya has already won three gold medals at the just concluded Junior Commonwealth Athletic Championships in “Pune’ India.
A little known fact in his 10.43 100 metre effort in ‘Pune’ is that with this he has equalled the nine year old national record established by Chinthaka de Zoysa way back in 1999 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
He won the ‘gold’ medals in the 100, 200 and the 4 x 100 metre events. Besides Shehan the only other medal winners at the meet were his 4 x 100 relay partners – Keith de Mel, Roshan Chamara Silva and Ranil Jayawardena. Besides the above there were twenty two others who took part at this event which included the more familiar names of Jithmi Jayawickrema (national tennis champion), Mayumi Rahim, Andrew Abeysinghe and Inoka Karunaratne (all in swimming).
Ambepitiya whose father is a small time vendor does not possess the wherewithal to provide for his prodigy off-spring as he has another daughter who is ailing with a kidney problem. However, Munchee Biuscuts have come to the assistance of this advanced level student in his activities.
Perhaps Percy uncle thinks himself as a mastermind in taming terrorists to be used in his agenda. What he conveniently forgets is trusting terrorists is an act like taming demons. Even a stupid ‘kattadiya’ can do that but it comes with a high risk. Like demons, terrorists can never be fully tamed. Their inherent animalistic behavior never disappears and will come out under most difficult situations.
Yesterday’s incident’s certainly proves that point.
As Daily Mirror reports, a tense situation now prevails in Batticaloa with the armed cadres of TMVP Leader MP Karuna Amman and his Deputy, Chief Minister Pillayan on a collision course over the ownership of the party’s printing press in the town. The army and the police are on alert over the developing situation, the police said.
Few weeks back, at a shoe seller in Panadura I made an interesting observation.
DSI products were marked with the famous ‘Surya Sinha’ logo but not all Sri Lankan made shoes were that lucky. Surprise! Surprise!! The lion of the sun endorsed even some foreign brands. I was told they are imported and sold by a very ‘local’ vendor.
Why Mr. Surya Sinha does not support almost 100% locally manufactured brands but insists us buying products of suddas or cheenas?
Is it a mistake or is there more to that?
The truth is, Mawbima Lanka (www.mawbimalanka.com), irrespective of whatever they claim, is no more patriotic than Sakwithi Ranasinghe. They boast to be a nonprofit organization with unpaid directors, but one does not have to be a Peter Ducker to understand their petty objectives are nothing but commercial. This is nothing but a tiny mafia that has taken the advantage of riding on the Rajapakse-Weerawansa sponsored ‘Sinhala-Buddhist’ political wave to get a competitive advantages to their products, which otherwise they would never have.
Basically it is an elitist closed-door club for few rich vendors. One does not automatically become a member by being a local manufacturer. There is a considerable fee involved. Unless a vendor pays that entry fee they are not going to send lion to market to sell your product. This explains why so many small local manufacturers are never recognized and endorsed by Mr. Surya Sinha.
Once you are within that mafia you can do whatever you want. It does not matter you import shoes from China or Taiwan. You can still have the lion blend them with patriotic oil and sell like hotcakes.
The game is further made easier by politicians ever willing to sell ‘patriotism’. Donate couple of millions to Wimal Weerawansa’s party fund, or still better offer a Disneyland tour to his wife, and he is always ready to carry your flag ahead in the name of patritism. (This is actually one allegation against Weerawansa by his former JVP colleagues) It was on the interests of Surya Sinha’s Wimal Weerawansa immediately jumped to protest against the long-awaited Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Sri Lanka during the SAARC summit time.
Lastly, Surya Sinha logo has nothing to do with the quality of a product. Best example is Lemon Puff of Ceylon Biscuits. Where ‘our’ or not; and whether manufactured by ‘patriotic’ companies or not, a product containing Melamine can be dangerous – especially if they are consumed by children.
Now Ceylon Biscuits in deep manure after Swiss authorities found Melamine in Lemon Puff, my gut feeling is Surya Sinha mafia will now come to save their own guy. Should we let them do it with the cost of risking the health of our little children?
Remember, Prabhakaran is not the only killer and Sakwithi Ranasinghe is not the only crook in this land.
This is something serious. Munchee Lemon Puff is a popular product any parent will buy for their kids. Ceylon biscuits have done the right thing by withdrawing the product from the market but it is not enough. There should be an independent investigation and that should focus not just Lemon Puff but other products by Munchee. It will be even better if samples of every dairy product either manufactured locally or imported checked for Melamine before they are released to the market. This is not an occasion we can afford to take chances.
This is how Sify News reported the story.
Melamine found, Sri Lankan biscuit maker withdraws product
Thursday, 16 October , 2008
Colombo: A leading biscuit producing company in Sri Lanka has decided “to temporarily withdraw Munchee Lemon Puff biscuits from the market,” a couple of days after the Switzerland Health Ministry claimed that it has traced melamine in it.
The Ceylon Biscuits Limited, which has been producing a variety of biscuits for the past 40 years and covering over 40 overseas markets including India, said in a news release that the temporary decision was taken as part of its “action to eliminate doubts regarding the product in the interest of consumers.”
Claiming that it “does not use any milk powder or milk products sourced from China in the manufacture of any of their products,” the company said that it uses milk ingredients only from Australia, Holland and Canada.
It said that the Munchee Lemon Puff is manufactured according to international standards.
Authorities in Geneva identified the three products as White Rabbit sweets from China, Milk Cookies S&P from Thailand, and Munchee Lemon Puff biscuits from Sri Lanka.
Sales of White Rabbit’s milk-flavoured sweets were halted in China last week after they were found to contain melamine – an industrial chemical that was added to Chinese milk to make its protein content seem higher.
The suicide bomb attack at Pirivena Junction, Boralesgamuwa in Maharagama had targeted Agriculture Minister Maithripala Sirisena, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.
The female bomber had jumped into a motorcade carrying the minister, killing herself and injuring seven others, but the minister was unharmed.
Among the wounded are deputy minister Siripala Gamlath and a secretary of Minister Sirisena.
Five injured are being treated at Colombo South General Hospital at Kalubowila, said its director.
Two of the seriously injured had been transferred to Colombo National Hospital.
Minister Sirisena had been returning from an official function at Bandaragama this morning when the attack happened.
Please add your condolence messages for Retired Major General Janaka Perera and his wife and UNP Anuradhapura Organiser Rajah Johnpulle and his wife here with name. They will be passed to the respective family members.
My deepest sympathises go for the family members of all victims.
