Image – Page 6 – Esteem Magazine

JULIAN SIMONSZ: THE VOICE THAT MESMERISES

A captivating voice, a humble personality and a grateful heart… Australian born Sri Lankan music sensation Julian Simonsz has it all. In a candid interview with Esteem Prime magazine Julian speaks about his love for music and of the journey that lies ahead.

A little over a year has passed since he burst into the music industry, crooning his way into the hearts of music fans across the globe with his dulcet tones. One of the most admired contestants of Season 3 of The Voice Australia, Julian Simonsz stunned one and all with his vocal prowess at the Blind Auditions, in which he was able to awe the judges with an enchanting rendition of Justin Timberlake’s Suit and Tie.

ON ENTERING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY…

The warm glow of memories sparked within, Julian speaks of his stint on the show with thinly veiled excitement. “I actually auditioned for the show the year before, but didn’t get through,” he laughs, adding earnestly that this initial rejection was what motivated him to do build a solid portfolio. In his determination to stand up and be accounted for his talent, Julian started singing covers of his favourite songs and releasing them across Youtube and Facebook, which gathered him a strong internet fan base. Many viewers were quick to praise this young singer’s extraordinary talent; and following the positive viewer reactions to his cover versions, Julian began to realize that the premise in fact carried immense potential for growth and recognition. “Nowadays globally we are so fortunate that we’ve got social media and all such things that are easily accessible. It’s just a click away and you can do music and put up for everyone to see. I first started doing covers for the sake of it, and I didn’t think strategically about it. But then I realized that new music is coming out all the time, and I thought, why don’t I take a new song as soon as it comes to the charts and take my spin on it,” he points out, adding that this gave him a solid basis for his second audition for The Voice Australia.

ON AUDITIONING FOR THE VOICE AUSTRALIA…

Julian’s words ring with sense of achievement as he recalls the iconic moment that changed his life forever. Those who are familiar with the show and excitement of being on stage will undoubtedly empathize with Julian’s sentiment as he describes the rush of adrenaline which overcame his otherwise nervous temperament; “as soon as I heard the music, I had to compose myself and keep going,’ he remarks, explaining that the slow turning of the Judges chairs one after the other on the show was both nerve wracking and exhilarating at the same time. “I just had to keep going you know, but I just wanted to stop and scream.”

ON THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC IN HIS LIFE…

The conversation veers towards his roots and Julian admits that music is in his blood; born into a family of musicians he confesses that he was initially a very self conscious performer who always preferred to hone his skills in the privacy of his bedroom. “I always thought that people would judge me and say this or that,” he explains, adding that this insecurity kept him from pursuing music until much later in his life. This further led Julian to seek his passion in the corporate field; however a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Design and a sudden change of career compelled him to review his life. “I realized that music has always been a part of it, so I thought why don’t I try to push myself with it and make a career out of it…” This revelation strengthened his self belief as he was motivated to redefine his life and strive towards perfection.

ON CREATING MUSIC…

A professionally trained musician with a Bachelor’s Degree in Audio Engineering Julian believes that one needs to develop respect for all types of music. In this regard he assures further that while he prefers to create more RnB commercialized tunes as an artist, his engineering background allows him to appreciate all types of music. “As a producer you need to know what’s out there in the market. I have learnt is that studying and watching what other artists are doing especially on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube is crucial for an artist,” he states, adding that his brand is largely inspired by artists such as Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson. An admirer of Justin Bieber’s latest compositions, Julian also insists that a singer also needs to evolve in his style or genre without losing the original vibe.

Speaking of his music, Julian states that writing the correct type of lyrics is as important as setting the appropriate melody; hence his first single I Do it For You is a classic example of a well written song with powerhouse lyrics and a soulful beat. Peaking at the 16^th spot on the Australian iTunes chart, the song is a simple yet impassioned celebration of love, which showcases Julian’s wide vocal range. His second single “Get Home To You” is another well written verse with a more upbeat melody that is both catchy and passionate. Moreover the success of his first two singles has encouraged his heart to pursue new music, and he states with a smile, “I may put an album out or an EP soon. Ideally I would like to have something before I come back to Sri Lanka in February.”

ON THE ONE NIGHT ONLY SHOW…

His eyes shine with excitement as he speaks of his upcoming concert in 2016. “Showtown Entertainment and Ants Work have organized a One Night Only show in February next year. But the venue is not yet decided,” Julian discloses, adding that he will also be flying his band down from Australia to participate in the event. “It is more entertaining when you have a band than with a backing track, because you can’t do a whole set with backing tracks, and the energy these boys give is something different,” he muses as an afterthought.

ON SPRINTING DOWN THE ROAD TO SUCCESS…

Expressing his views on the road ahead, Julian says that he strives to give 100 percent at every juncture of his life. However the journey towards the zenith is not all smooth sailing, he says; and even though he is a rookie in the industry, Julian appears to have sound knowledge of the problems and challenges in his line of work. “Selling my type of music is hard, so coming off the show I was trying to focus on commercializing my music instead of being as raw as I could. In Australia you have to try to get on the radio by doing commercial music, otherwise they don’t want to hear you, so I took my style and made it a little bit more ‘pop-like’ to cater a wider audience.” And yet, Julian is also on the lookout for an opportunity to experiment with his style and reinvent himself with every new piece. The spirit of innovation notwithstanding, he strongly recognizes the value of being true to one’s roots.

FINAL WORDS OF WISDOM…

With the support of family and friends, Julian has managed to stay humble amidst his rising popularity; eloquent on his views of living a balanced life, he says that an artist should always have a grounding point that keeps him in check. “I guess the good thing about what I do is I’ve got a couple of online businesses and as my studio is at home I can make time for my music and my family.” His reality check thus established, he is able to move from strength to strength; and armed with faith and perseverance, he honours the name of Sri Lanka with each bold step. A bright star in the horizon, we wish Julian Simonsz a future bejeweled with prosperity and happiness.

Links to his music:

w: www.juliansimonsz.com

f: http://www.facebook.com/JulianSimonszJulez

t: http://twitter.com/Julian_Simonsz

i: http://instagram.com/julian_simonsz/

y: http://www.youtube.com/user/julezsimonsz

Dillai’s Madness

I remember those brush strokes well; they adorned her spacious house that carried a hint of madness wrapped in a shawl of eccentricities that espoused her character so well.

Carrying a bouquet of yellow flowers (yellow symbolizing friendship) I was tempted to touch those paintings that were dark and yet depressingly sensual in their honest creation. There were no vibrant greens, lively blues and passionate yellows that painted her feelings; they were the earthy browns, decrepit blacks and sad crimsons instead.

This was Dillai stripped bare for the world to see. As I hugged her with a sense of familiarity I took in the hair, the talent and the face I knew so well, but which I left close to a decade ago at MindsFCB. I recall too many good memories; now we both laugh at her no-nonsense demands for better copy with final art work about to be shipped off in mere seconds to publishing oblivion.

I was told the hallmark of a real friendship was that you carry on from where you left off, and that is what we did. Ten years is a long time, and during that time she bore two beautiful children, and had started her own venture (The Next Big Think) with someone (that someone goes by the name of Megan Shatrughan) which mirrors her inimitable eccentricities.

That night just over a month ago marked an adventure in the shape of an art exhibition that drew gasps of appreciation for a labor of love that was unlike any other. Dillai spent three arduous years in the wee hours of the morning courting her madness; flirting with themes that we abhor; painfully painting, and enthusiastically telling a story that we all needed to hear. It was a story about those that personify her version of paradise in the fringes of Sri Lankan society.

There were 32 odd paintings that day; 22 have been sold. Her exhibition that showcased her own paradise resplendent with people and puddles was graced by Colombo’s advertising glitterati, diplomats, intellectuals along with family and friends.

Who’d have thought eccentricity could be this brilliant. Who’d have thought we would all see a bit of Dillai’s madness and stringent work ethic gracing the walls of Lionel Wendt, and for a fortunate few — their own homes.

Danu: A Talented and Beautiful Human Being

By: Michelle Alles

We met up with someone we all know and love – it’s none other than Danu Innasithamby! A former student of St. Peter’s College, Danu is no stranger to the public eye and it is his infectious personality that has helped him build a name for himself on radio, TV and print media.

If you ever happen to meet Danu for the first time, he would come off to you as shy and reclusive, but when he warms up to you with time, you will see that he is a lovely person and a complete source of entertainment to speak to. We had a very interesting conversation with about quite a lot of things and especially a cause that’s very close to his heart…

An Interesting Start to an Illustrious Career

“So when I was waiting for my O/L results (sort of a long time ago!) I was doing a play called ‘Animal Farm’ by Feroze Kamardeen and trying to think what else to do with my life,” he reminisces. “I knew I wasn’t going to do my A/L’s so I decided to try another way. I was a little lost back then; I wanted to do something in the creative industry but wasn’t sure what exactly it was. I was studying graphic designing as well, so I made some phone calls to the radio and TV stations to figure out what I could do there. I spoke to someone at Sun FM and said “I want to go on air because I want to be like you!” he laughs. “They asked me to come for an interview and I didn’t even have a CV or much to put on it to start with except my school records, choir, drama, etc. anyway they gave me the job in 10 minutes so that turned out well! After some time, I moved to E! FM and worked there for 4 years and then joined MTV not for TV, but to actually to work in Marketing and Programming. I was also in charge of conceptualizing TV shows. And then on the first day of work, someone told me that I need to get on TV and that’s how it all began! I started off with Planet Pulse and that became very popular and the number one show for the channel. I left MTV in 2012 and the following year joined LITE FM as the Head of Programming which is under TNL RN and I have been there ever since. In addition to my shows on air, I also host Hi! TV’s ‘Buzz with Danu’ (which received a fully digital makeover last year while still retaining its print presence) and also WTF by Danu, which doesn’t mean anything bad! It stands for What, Where, Who and When To Find and it’s a guide to making interesting discoveries all over Sri Lanka and experiencing locations, people and so on. I wanted to give it a very shocking name and WTF seemed appropriate.” he said with that big infectious smile of his.

Danu Innasithamby Foundation: Giving Back

Danu has officially launched his charity known as Danu Innasithamby Foundation. “I wanted my family name on it because we’re pretty well known in Jaffna and I want to develop more areas there. The mission of the foundation is to use entertainment and showbiz for a good cause. We currently run 2 full-time projects and one of them which I initiated is called ‘Love Changes Everything’ which is focused on helping children with cancer. We work with the paediatric section of the Cancer Hospital and we have people working with us on a volunteer basis. The reason for the name is that it was my mother’s favourite song,” he said. “The other project is called ‘Sri Lanka Smiles’. There’s so much talent in this country but they don’t have the mileage or resources to do something more with it. So we match the reason or cause with the resource that can assist them. The first case we supported was a girl from the Science Faculty of UOC who didn’t have a computer but had passed her first year which is quite admirable and spoke to me of an indomitable spirit. We spoke to Dell Sri Lanka and they were willing to donate a laptop so that ended happily. That’s how ‘Sri Lanka Smiles’ works; causes that need attention are posted on our Facebook page and we search for donors. There is always a story to find a donor for and it feels good to know that we are making a difference for people.” he said.

A Dynamic and Down To Earth Personality

Being a person who relates very well to people is what makes Danu the success he is. He attributes this to his upbringing and background. “I was 7 and my sister 13 when we came to Colombo with basically nothing in our hands. My father had passed away so it was just the three of us – my mom, my sister and I. We didn’t have anything or anyone and we literally lived off each other. So I have faced different challenges in life and that is why I think I can understand people better,” he said. “Looking back, I see that I came into this industry at the right time, while it was growing and now the entertainment in Sri Lanka is at a good standard in terms of TV and radio. It’s very competitive and when compared with some channels and stations in the region, I think it is world class because we speak well and our music is good. Even in terms of TV, we have some quality shows; even our commercials are quite spectacular and can give anyone a run for their money!”

We asked Danu about his likes and dislikes and he told us that he dislikes Math! (Well most of us feel that way!) “I’ve never really understood why the world needed Math! I also dislike making plans – it totally stresses me out. Even when I go abroad, I just have the travel agent do everything for me because I don’t like having to plan anything! I love fashion and dressing up – I just love clothes and I also love drama and theatre.” he enthuses.

The Highs and Lows of Media

When asked about the rewarding and demanding aspects of the media field, he said, “There are many people in the field right now but not everybody makes an impact. The reason being that people take these jobs for granted; actually it’s very important to correctly position yourself in the field right from the start of your career. What we need to keep in mind is that we of the media never have an off day. Like everyone else, I also have days when I feel like jumping into a hole, but I can’t afford to let it show because if I snap at someone today and they hear me on air tomorrow, they’ll wonder if this is the same person they met yesterday! You have to be real and remember that every time you come to a show, you are here to entertain someone who might be having much more problems than you! So if you are going to add to their issues, then you might as well not be in this field,” he said. “The rewards of being in this field are that you get to meet so many different people from various walks of life who are differently talented and you get to observe so much of interesting and exciting things – it’s fun and there’s never a dull day! It’s also a very good feeling when listeners or viewers tell us that we made their day or took their mind off their problems just by making them laugh or feel good about themselves and there’s no better reward for that!” he noted.

Wisdom Words

When asked what advice he would give a person new to media, Danu stated, “Remember to be real and be you. There’s no point having an accent on air and having it slip when you’re done with your show. First find your unique feature – happy, witty, funny, anything! Make a trademark for yourself with this characteristic – and stick with it until you die!” he laughs. “I’m the only person in this entire trade to have promoted people who can be considered my competitors on my columns and I have no problem with that! See, if you like me, you’ll listen to or watch me no matter what! If you don’t, it’s pointless me saying bad about another person because you’ll follow their show regardless. You might tune in to my show and another show if you like both of us so I think there’s space for everyone in this field and I also think a healthy environment and a peaceful setting is nicer because you’re known for a very short time and you would want to be remembered as a good person.” he remarked.

Future Plans

“One of the reasons that I started my foundation is because I want to use the platform I possess and the people I have met for a good reason; many people want to help but they don’t know where to donate to. Donations are not always about finances; I have met wonderful people and I can enlist their help in supporting people who don’t have that exposure. I have been helped when I needed it the most and to me, these people are God on Earth, so I want everyone to have a chance to be able fulfil their desires and achieve their goals; it’s sad to hear someone say that they were never given an opportunity. By God’s Grace, I was put in the right place at the right time, for me to be able to do the right thing so I want to focus more on this cause.” he concluded.

An App Called Katha

WHAT IT IS

Katha is a mobile app that connects interesting voice content creators with listeners. Essentially a voice version of Twitter, with an interface dedicated for sending and receiving voice clips.

It’s designed and built locally and founded by Mudith Uswatta and Mahen Rathnayaka; the two are co-founders. Mahen is the CEO currently and works on it full time while Mudith works on it part time.

HOW IT WORKS

Anyone can create a channel on Katha. Others can subscribe to a channel to receive the voice clips they send out. Other than messaging all your subscribers you can also send private messages to you contacts on the app.

Subscription to channels can be free or paid for. The Katha team encourages anyone who wants to run a public channel (use Katha for anything other than private messaging) to become a verified channel. This essentially means that such channels have been personally curated by the Katha team. Verified channels are indicated by a special marker on the app.

Length of messages between normal users is limited at 5 mins. Verified channels can send out longer messages.

Katha also offers question and answer channels. These channels enable subscribers to send questions to the channel owner. The channel owner can then answer them as a private message.

HOW KATHA PLANS ON MAKING MONEY

Creating channels on Katha is free. The team plans to monetize by taking a commission on channels that charge a fee from their subscribers (in the form of monthly subscription). The content creator (channel) will receive the lion share of the revenue while Katha takes a small cut.

Katha are also looking at partnering with brands for promotions etc.

HOW WE GOT STARTED

Mudith and Mahen were friends for some time and both were interested in startups. They decided to participate in the Colombo Hackathon and pitch something even though they had no idea or any product to demo. They showed up and pitched an idea that was quite different to Katha. Some of the judges were people running the Lankan Angel Network (LAN) and they offered an opportunity in a venture capital competition that was running at the time called Venture Engine.

So they found ourselves in the middle of this competition and refined their idea based on the feedback they received from pitching this to investors and other entrepreneurs. They made it to the finals of this competition and LAN wanted to fund them by providing some seed capital to run a pilot test of the concept.

Finalizing the specifics of the deal took some time as there were various issues such as Mudith not being there full-time, some investors not being based in Sri Lanka etc. The team got the investment around May 2015 and got started; since June they’ve been developing the app.

WHO IS USING IT RIGHT NOW

The team is currently running a beta test with a limited test group of users. They plan to launch the app publicly in November.

They have already partnered with companies who will be their first channels. A few are research companies; they will be using it to disseminate market research using the app. Then there are channels like Yamu who will be running question and answer type of channels.

Katha strongly appeals to young musicians and bands. Local activists have also expressed interest in using the app. It was recently introduced at a conference by the head of Groudviews (a popular political blog) as a tool they plan to use next year.

Angel Keepers: Your Child’s Home Away From Home

By: Michelle Alles

In today’s society where most young mothers are busy career women and two-income families are a must, having a safe and secure place for the care of their kids is a necessity. Dr Theonie Chandrasena and Ms Imesha Herath are here to ease the minds of most mothers in the city with Angel Keepers, a day care home for kids. Observing the pretty high chairs in one corner, I was surprised to find that they cater to taking care of babies as young as 3 months! Competitively priced and conveniently located in Colombo 05, the facility has a welcoming atmosphere and is spacious with beautiful paintings on the walls; is just the kind of place any child would feel comfortable in. Speaking to Dr Chandrasena and Ms Herath, who are mothers of children of various ages, we found out that the reason them starting the day care facility is that they want to provide this service for many mothers as they didn’t have this privilege back when their children were younger. “It was a main concern of ours that there wasn’t any facility that you can drop your children off and be confident in how well they were taken care of. When I came back from the US about 6 years ago, I had very young children so I had to stay at home doing absolutely nothing for more than a year except taking care of the kids because I didn’t have that option. I understand what it’s like for a woman to give up or even put the brakes on her career for motherhood, so I want to be able to give most mothers an opportunity to go work with peace of mind knowing that their kids are taken care of and safe.” said Dr Chandrasena.

Ms Herath noted that theirs is a relatively new concept as there are preschools with a day care but Angel Keepers are just a day care in itself. “There’s no day care here that takes care of babies as young as 3-4 months when the mums have to get back to work right after maternity leave ends and most day care centres are attached to a pre-school where kids join at the age of 2 ½ years. We provide care for babies from 3 months upwards and since we have personalised attention for the very young ones, naturally we have limited them to a very small number. They are provided with pretty much everything, including diapers and all we ask for is a change of clothing and the formula they drink.” she said.

Dr Chandrasena observed that there is a shift in the norms as well. “In the past, grandmas were quite happy to stay at home and take care of their grandchildren, but now they want to enjoy their life as well and very rightly so. Also the age of loyal domestic help who have been with the family for years has now passed. Today the hired help is someone whose background you might not know very well and sometimes they might leave in search of higher salary which leaves you in the lurch as where to leave your kids. Having experienced all this, we want to provide a place where kids will be safe and mothers can pursue their careers knowing that their kids are taken care of.”

Showing me around the place, Dr Chandrasena added “There are trained and reliable staff at all times, meals are provided and the food is made fresh. It’s basically a clean and healthy environment where children will be safe and able to learn and explore; the kind of setting that we want for our own children, the play area is beautiful and definitely a place that children will enjoy spending time in. There is also a reading room with all kinds of books to encourage the value of reading in children from a young age.”

At Angel Keepers, Dr Chandrasena and Ms Herath undertake to care for children between the ages of 3 months to 12 years. The facility is open 6 days a week from 7 am – 7 pm with different schedules for different age groups. There are a variety of things to keep them entertained such as arts and crafts, playing and story time which we make a big deal of in a bid to distract them away from all the electronic gadgets and encourage them to read more books. For the older ones, there is help available for them with their homework. Actually, children don’t need to constantly be told what to do and play is very important for them, so we provide a structure based environment for them to explore and learn independence. They stressed the need of cultivating emotional intelligence in children which is a key area that is not focused on. “We want them as they are growing up to learn the value of empathy because if this is instilled in them from an early age, they would grow up to be strong and responsible people.” they stated.

“Once we expand, we are also looking at providing transport so that we can pick up the little ones from their pre-schools and bring them here,” Dr Chandrasena said. “The ladies are very happy with this prospect and are looking forward to pursuing their careers with peace of mind!” she laughed. Dr Chandrasena and Ms Herath also generously provide an after-hours service. “We have been through this too, we know that after a hard day at work, one might want to go out and chill for a while!” they laughed. “So we opted to take the responsibility of the kids from 7pm – 1 am too, so if the parents want to go out or have any official functions to attend, we’ll take care of the kids until they’re done.” they said with a smile.

I’m sure most mothers won’t be too afraid to get back to work after maternity leave with a facility like Angel Keepers around!

Angel Keepers is located at No. 8, Kalinga Place, Off Sulaiman Avenue, Jawatta Road, Colombo 05.

Tel: (+94) 717 790 790

Email: angelkeepers.lk@outlook.com

TESS DE KRETSER: PRESERVING CULTURAL INTEGRITY THROUGH OLCOTE IN CEYLON

… by Gopitha Kiribandara

The heritage of a mysterious past beckons from behind the curtains of Olcote in Ceylon… an old world order, long since forgotten, suddenly springs to mind as the writer feels its presence as soon as she steps through the large, framing gateway and into the courtyard. Glancing at its splendour, the place exudes a disarming taste of history… it’s as if she stepped through the sands of time to Sri Lanka 40 years ago. Olcote in Ceylon is Tess de Kretser’s gift to the world that is groaning and moaning under the pangs of fabrication. Speaking to Esteem Prime, Tess shares her views on appreciating Sri Lankan culture and preserving the knowledge of the days gone by…

Brimming with enthusiasm, she rushes to greet the writer, who stands dumbfounded in the driveway, momentarily distracted by the astonishing beauty of the old mansion. The path, laden with beautiful flowering plants, makes the walk up to the walauwa a pleasant one indeed as we make our way to the sprawling lounge situated in the open area beside the pool.

“I bought the old mansion in 2014,” Tess affirms, adding that her manager Manoj was instrumental in her decision to purchase the property. Donning the mantle of tour guide and historian, Tess delves deep into the sombre history of the house; “The lady who lived here before was called Nandawathie. There was a sister, the older sister Kamalawathie, who lived in the house at the back. This was about 100 years ago. Their father Podi Singho (H. D. Cornelius Gunasekera) built this house and the one at the back for his daughters. This was their home,” she states, pausing to ponder at the sad plight of the owner of the house. “She had cancer. The villagers used to hear her scream. That story touched me.” Being a mother of eight children, Tess understands the deep bond that exists between parent and offspring; hence the story of Podi Singho, Nandawathie and their father who survived his two children has prompted her to do her best with the place in honour of the family that breathed their memories into the four walls of Olcote in Ceylon.

Born and bred in Sri Lanka, Tess is no stranger to rustic mysticism that the island’s culture has to offer. An alumnus of St. Bridget’s Convent, Tess’s German/ Sri Lankan lineage has given her the best of both worlds. “My mother (of German descent) is really integrated with the Sri Lankan culture. There was a watta where I grew up with a lot of poor children,” she reminisces adding that the calm tranquillity of the times enabled her to blend with children from all walks of life. Such an upbringing has allowed Tess to cultivate an acceptance for the uniqueness that is Sri Lankan culture. Olcote in Ceylon, as the name suggests, is her effort to portray all that is special of the culture that she has come to know and love.

The mansion is perfectly located for an idyllic getaway; situated in the sleepy village of Jambureliya off Madapatha, it boasts of an old school feel that is fast dying out amidst the city scrapers of modernism. “I love the old school, the old Sri Lankan architecture, and I hate losing that,” she articulates with sincerity. Aiming to marry the old with the new, Tess declares that Olcote in Ceylon is an old mansion which carries just the right touch of modernism; the interior décor gives off a pleasant woody smell, the furnishings are elegant and the fixtures are state of the art; in addition to the bedrooms, there is also the latest in entertainment, with television, four different Wi-Fi connections and a well fitted sound system, ensuring that its clients are not completely cut off from the outside world. Walking across the lawn, one cannot help but notice the beautiful landscaping and admire the lounge area that opens up at the pool and a little tea patch behind the front entrance.

Since its inauguration, Olcote in Ceylon has indeed been a popular resort, with constant inquiries being made for weddings in particular. “We are planning to expand to that side. There is a Poruwa built under the tree, and people have asked us to have weddings here.” Speaking of the facilities on offer, Tess reveals, “I have arranged transport from the airport, and we have a welcoming band with dancers. There is a spa, a place for clients to relax, barbeque facilities, a spot to do some yoga breathing exercises… and I have a well here which I honour. It is filtered water and everything is taken from the well, even for drinking.” Addressing the topic further, Tess further adds that her staff is well equipped in the art of Sri Lankan cuisine. “We don’t look at menus; through experience Kavita, who has now been with me for 20 years, knows what is good for diabetes, cholesterol etc. and we are bringing that aspect of Sri Lankan culture in as well.” As an added bonus, Tess has further arranged to have a special day care service for the young ones, so that their parents may travel the countryside and enjoy all that Jambureliya and Olcote in Ceylon has to offer. That all important task is entrusted to Kavita, her maid of 20 years, whom she trusts implicitly.

The conversation veers towards her plans to launch Olcote in Ceylon in Ireland and it is with evident satisfaction that Tess unveils her aim of promoting Sri Lankan culture in Ireland. Charting the success of her venture, Tess believes that the Irish love to embracing new cultures, but adds that both societies are rooted in similarity. “Ireland is very similar to Sri Lanka; it is laid back, and the sense of family and the sense of humour is all very much the same,” she utters with delight. “Manoj is coming with us to Ireland because we are having a launch there. They are fascinated by this whole idea that the two of us could work together, something that I don’t think has ever been done before. I trust him and he trusts me completely.”

Observing the manner in which she treats her staff inspires one to treat people with kindness; she is truly a caring employer who spares no expense in ensuring the security and wellbeing of the people behind the scenes. “Kavita has been with me for 20 years and looked after my children. We are showing trust in people, and that way we have changed the way business should be done,” she asserts with conviction. “Whoever has come in through that door, we welcome. Yes, we have our feet on the ground, but we believe in the trust system and in that way the spiritual journey has been amazing.” Stressing further, Tess admits that the relationship between employer employee is a two way road that needs to profit and assure both parties. A strong advocate of the give-to-get principle, Tess has been a generous heart that wants to ease the concerns of her staff. She shares a positive, spiritual bond with all her staff and treats them with respect; they, in return, put their heart and soul into their work, and do not allow such trifles as time constraints to get in their way.

A philanthropist by nature, Tess also believes in sharing with the less fortunate; and it is with doting eyes that she speaks of a certain Montessori in the neighbourhood, which is run by a young teacher with meagre facilities. “There is this Montessori that we help. The teacher does a labour of love. There is nothing; they are very, very poor… They didn’t even have water and were going next door to the toilet,” she voices with compassion. “Out of his own money Manoj fixed the mains in, and we are going to take it up. We try to help her buy food for the children.” Her heart is to give, to be a soothing balm to a world that is fraught with inequality. She doesn’t expect anything for her kindness; only the assurance of making the world a better place.

“Relationships bred in positivity last forever; betrayal attracts more of its kind… nonetheless there is good in every human soul that yearns to be acknowledged…” this is what Tess aims to cultivate through her effort. A gamble in itself, she nonetheless has faith in providence and believes that the universe guides her cause. Marrying the charm of old-world Ceylon with new-world positivity, Tess de Kretser’s Olcote in Ceylon is truly a place of sun, light and laughter. Her vision edifies the soul and adds to the soothing aura of the mansion; thus enriched with a blissful experience, the heart of the wanderer will find itself drawn to Olcote in Ceylon and the rich cultural heritage it has to offer.

For more information please visit http://www.olcoteinceylon.com/

Blissful Peace Not Too Far Away

Less than 30 minutes away from the bustle of the city of Colombo, on the pristine sandy shores of Uswetakeiyawa lies Reefs Edge Hotel, a luxurious 23-roomed property. Managed by LAHRC Management Services the hotel is nestled in the fishing village known for its coral reefs teeming with exotic reef fish, colourful corals, marine mammals and shellfish.

All 23 rooms have direct panoramic views of the Indian Ocean with spacious balconies with chic swivel wicker chairs to enjoy the view (except the standard rooms). Interiors are inspired by the colour schemes of nature and by the namesake reef with open air bathrooms, rain showers and the exotic aromas of the sea emanating from the luxurious and alluring Spa Ceylon products. One of the most interesting features of the room is the interactive television system with satellite channels, latest movies on demand, room billing details, weather, exchange rates, activities and in-room dining on a flat LED 42” television. This in itself is enough to make guests want to spend all of their time indoors just relaxing on the plush and comfy beds.

For those who prefer the great outdoors, Reefs Edge arranges special tours for guests to interesting sites scattered in close proximity to the property. Beach volleyball, and beach cricket are popular among the young ones, while there is certainly no age restriction for those who wish to take a Colombo City Tour, Boat Ride on Hamilton Canal, Tour of Negombo, Dolphin Watching in Kalpitiya or a drive to the Muturajawela Sanctuary.

When all the exercise has worked up a healthy appetite Reefs Edge has various options to choose from in terms of dining. The exclusive restaurant at Reefs Edge, The Snapper, specializes in an appealing array of seafood symphonies including many dishes featuring the restaurants namesake, the red snapper fish. Head Chef, Rizvie Ameer is a passionate chef whose creativity for cooking and years of experience is nothing short of outstanding – as a skim-through of the restaurant’s menu will reveal. Dishes are presented with a master artiste’s touch – a true treat for the senses. Service and efficiency could definitely be more in line with the great food on offer which is the only downside of the whole offering. The hotel’s High Tide Bar is well-stocked and an experienced mixologist is on hand to prepare signature cocktails and mocktails. The Plunge Pool Bar is also open for those who wish to indulge in a sip of a drink or a bite to eat while swimming a few laps in a unique pool. The High Tide Deck & Garden offers outdoor dining options and the space for small functions while the Ocean Deck is ideal for more intimate and romantic dinners under the stars.

There really is so much to do and experience with an in-house spa run by Spa Ceylon and a well-equipped gym, and the wonder is that Reefs Edge is in such close proximity to Colombo that a weekend getaway was never this easy.

The Mission To Seafarers

It was indeed a surprise when I got to know of the Garrison Church of St. Peter’s, crouching next to its most prestigious Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) opposite the Colombo Port. From outside it doesn’t look much as it was built in the 1700’s to serve as the Dutch Governor’s mansion which was then taken possession by the British and thus turned into a temple to express their Anglican faith. Being part of the choir at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour indeed gave me the opportunity to sing praises to Him and also in reverence to those of the Sea farers mission at the Church of St. Peter’s. Given its sensitive location, the Church had been effectively sealed off for decades for tourists and non-sailors other than its parishioners. Its sensitive location opposite the harbour, was only accessible via countless checkpoints, thus making it a tedious task to visit this beautiful and peaceful structure.

It is evident that several years of closure has taken its toll on the construction, despite its original beauty remains unaltered. The church interior is absolutely stunning with a high ceiling supported by steel beams. The rich marble floor and the layers of red clay tiles, keeps the interior of the structure cooler providing a calm environment for its starved parishioners. The foundations of the structure are thought to have been dated from the Portuguese era, although the edifice began its functions as an Anglican Church somewhere in 1804, thus making this one of the oldest continuously functioning religious structures in Colombo; making it also an important part of the heritage of Colombo city and evidence of its history. In line with its background as a Garrison Church the, building houses many Military Plaques as well as regimental colours of British regiments (now defunct). Even if you are not of the Anglican faith, the church provides indeed a place to gather your thoughts and a peaceful environment away from the hustle and bustle of its city functions.

Given its port-side location, historically this Church has served as a chapel for sailors. It is known to be the Seafarers church, where the International Mission to the Seafarers maintains its mission next door. Celebrating their 160^th Anniversary, this year’s Sea Sunday (every second Sunday in July) befell on a special occasion. Thus it was this occasion that stirred the curiosity on finding more about the Church as well as the Seafares Mission itself.

The Mission to the Seafarers began back in 1830 by the Young Anglican clergyman John Ashley, who was encouraged by his son’s questioning as to where seafarers went to Church[1]. Turning back on his parish appointment he began his ministry in the Bristol Channel, spending 15 years visiting ships anchored awaiting favourable winds, where he held services, providing motivation and taking the church to seaborne devotees who had no opportunity for worship. Thus inspired by this ministry in 1856 the Mission to the Seafarers was officially constituted with mission stations growing in number of British ports and harbours. Soon the ‘Flying Angel’ flag, inspired by the verse in Book of Revelations 14:6 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.’ was soaring over stations world-wide, making the ‘the vast parish of the waters’ no longer neglected.

The Mission began its journey in Colombo over 65 years ago, with the Sri Lankan President as its patron and the Arch Bishop of Colombo the President of the Society[2]. It is supported in Sri Lanka by the Ministry of Shipping, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, South Asia Gateway Terminal, Colombo Dockyard Ltd, Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents, Colombo Nautical and Engineering College, Company of Master Mariners, Nautical Institute, National Seafarers Welfare board and International workers Federation as well as the Sister Society Apostleship of the Sea and the British High Commission.

160 years later the mission still flourishes despite facing countless hardships. Extracts from journals of the chaplains over the years provides accounts of insight into their daily work with devout sea borne parishioners and the ever changing waves of the shipping industry. In each port where the Mission was established there would be spiritual welfare freely available to all seafarers regardless of race, colour and creed. The two World Wars placed heavy responsibility upon the Mission where its activities enormously surrounded in ministering to armed forces, and Merchant Navy suffering in ports devastated by air raids. Despite the pressure on the Mission was intense during this era, queues of unemployed seamen outside Flying Angel clubs looking for food, accommodation and care were seldom turned away. Throughout its life the Mission has changed and adjusted with the industry to cater to the needs of seafarers, with now over a network of chaplains, staff and volunteers in over 200 ports world-wide in over 50 Countries catering to the needs of those at Sea. Thus the rich history behind the Church and its current Mission to the Seafarers is indeed a great value to our heritage and culture.

[1] The Mission to Seafarers at 160 by Michael Grey

[2] Leaflet provided during the Mission Service

Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala: First Lankan to surmount Everest

A young woman with a passion for adventure sports, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala broke barriers and put women in the forefront of this country’s sports by her historic ascent of Mount Everest on 21 May 2016. A Bishopian, she gained a Journalism and Communication Diploma from the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute and a Bachelor’s degree in English from Delhi University. Committed to women’s rights, with a Graduate diploma in Women’s studies from Colombo University, and winning a Gender Studies MA scholarship at Sussex University, she worked with the Women and Media Collective; and as a Gender Specialist with CARE International Sri Lanka.

“It’s all about the power of the mind, which can go beyond the physical pain and that’s what endurance is about.”

In your opinion, what is the significance of Everest?

It’s been legendary, with Tenzing and Hilary’s climb. For me an almost mythical place, being the highest place on earth. Everest for some reason had inspired me since childhood. My school friends remember that even as a child I said that I would climb Everest. I never thought I would get there. It’s been a dream and for me was almost like going to the moon.

I met my team mate Johann Peries in 2011 on an expedition climbing ‘Island Peak’ (6,200m) in Nepal— an opportunity to try out our bodies at high altitude. I mentioned to him I’d seen Everest, a dream ascent for me so far, and invited him to join me to climb it and he agreed. I realised then there was someone as crazy as me to think about it and consider this climb.

What were the challenges you faced achieving this feat?

The biggest hurdle was sponsorship. We needed Rs 10 Million each. Sri Lankans seemed unaware of what an Everest climb meant —requiring days of climbing and the need to climb up, then come down to each camp and go up again – expecting we’d climb up and down in a day, like Pidurutalagala! Companies which usually sponsor sports events and others, who knew about mountaineering, didn’t step forward, which was disheartening. We did get sponsors, but not immediately or spontaneously.

Johann and I trained together. I had been training over the years, including basic and advanced courses in mountaineering, gaining the required technical skills: rock climbing, ice climbing, crevice rescue, identifying mountain sicknesses –including Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

A close friend, Katherine Davis’ attempts to find a Sports psychologist, for mountaineering and mental strategising, failed and academic writers overseas didn’t respond; but, during those two months, I read chunks of academic articles on endurance Katherine sent me, helping prepare me mentally for such a big challenge – and for the high possibility of failure.

I understood about thinking positive: when the body says ‘no’, the mind can continue. It’s all about the power of the mind, which can go beyond physical pain and that’s what endurance is about. Every day my boots would cut me and every step was painful, but I realised you just think beyond the pain – I have come to do this, I have to do this – talking to myself, saying I’m not going to stop. There were days when back at Base Camp, you’d be completely depressed about the environment, difficulties, challenges; would we be able to make it, the summit was so far away. There were challenges daily, and every day was an exam.

Was it difficult to deal with ordinary, human, daily activities on the highest mountain?

It was really hard. The first two weeks were ok, as we walked to get to Everest Base Camp, staying at guest houses with a bed for your sleeping bag, toilets and a shower. There was no heating but you could stand up in your room. But after Base Camp your room becomes your tent. I am 5’ 1.5” so I could kneel. Tall people can’t kneel and we would all have to crawl into the tent. Inside you’d be pretty much sitting down or lying down whatever you did.

Eating was difficult. You lose your appetite the higher you go. Above 7,500 metres (the “Death Zone”), the body does not consume food, it doesn’t digest food ; instead it just consumes itself and starts shutting down.

We had to drink at least 3-4 litres a day to avoid altitude sickness, but this was a challenge: when you take two gulps of water you just pant because there’s less oxygen in the atmosphere from Base Camp onwards. I couldn’t sleep, and often woke up out of breath. Some nights, I’d sit up all night. It’s uncomfortable, you can’t roll too much or you slide off your sleeping mat onto a floor of ice.

At Camp 1, I took my gloves off to brush teeth touching water for a few minutes, and my hands started freezing: it was painful, like a burn. I warmed my fingers on my water bottle into which I’d put hot water. After that I didn’t dare try to brush teeth.

The Camp 1 toilet was just a 1 ft-high ice wall, a semi-circle, which just about covers the basics. But “wetwipes” freeze and you must ensure toilet paper doesn’t fly in the wind. Your clothes being layered, you must make sure they don’t fall into the poo bucket. You have to pee in your bottle as only poo-ing is permitted in the toilets. We had a water bottle and another similar bottle with a wide mouth for pee which had with a band around so you don’t drink it accidentally in the middle of the night. You needed to focus on the pee bottle, where you keep it, how you keep it, always be sure to empty it and not leave it outside, as it freezes and can’t be opened.

My period was a problem, I took a pill to stop it, but it didn’t, perhaps it was the altitude. Blood is thicker the higher you go and blood loss makes you weaker. This was a disaster because there is a window of time to complete each climb and descent. One day I took 12 hours for a 7-hour climb and the following day, too, I failed my timing and had to turn back. I tried telling my Sherpa I had my period, but he said “No! Too slow, too slow. You won’t make the summit”. I was saying, ‘bleeding bleeding’, but it didn’t work. The guide said the mountain takes no excuses, you have to do it or you don’t do it – It is unforgiving, you have only one chance.

What life lessons can you learn from this experience?

Many, but the most important is mental strength. It’s all about telling yourself you can do it, that really changes how your body will work, how your body follows the mind, if your mind is strong enough. People would tell me, ‘you’re so tiny, how are you going to climb Everest?’ Although no one said so to my face I think my gender was an issue for some. My motivation was that if I didn’t do it, what would people say about girls and adventure sports. Women and girls can really do anything; gender is not a barrier, nor is size.

Teamwork was also such a huge factor. Although , only I went to the top, Johann and I made it as a team for almost two months. Johann was really strong, mentally stronger than I. We also had a team back home, friends supporting us, volunteering their time. They maintained our facebook page and we would see comments from people we did or didn’t know. When we were low and depressed, seeing these comments and people cheering us, realising there were so many people behind us, was encouraging: they were part of the bigger team that came up with us.

Facing fear, which is an underlying factor through the journey. The day I woke up to go to the airport I felt it. Before, the planning was so manic and when the day came to leave, I had cold feet, as I realised ”God I’m actually going to Kathmandu to climb Mount Everest”. I even wrote my last will, although I did not tell my mother at the time, knowing there was a chance of a fatality. My family was supportive. I knew my mother who encouraged me would have been praying for my safety. My sister in law commented I could have bought a house and a car with the money we needed for this expedition. Mind you, I have neither a car nor a house!

The other time I felt fear was when they said the weather had cleared up and that the ‘Summit window was open: ‘Tomorrow morning pack your bags, you’re climbing tomorrow’. This was the first time going up to that height. The fear you will have no contact, the fear of ‘Will I come back’, yet wanting to do it. You mitigate the risks. I did it and realised you can overcome fear. But there is luck in it too.

I also experienced spirituality. I am not religious but the mountains are so powerful and you feel so tiny there as you see other climbers going up the mountain like ants. You have to keep going up and you know you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time and you can have an avalanche and your life could just go.

Making it to the Summit of Everest entailed determination, a hard slog, sacrifices, serious risk taking and central to my goal, mental strength to overcome fear and uncertainty.

A Welcome to Wellness

By: Michelle Alles

‘The Physio’ opened in January 2014 and over 2 years later is a sought after state-of-the-art centre, with physiotherapist Theruni Wijewardene and her team consisting of four other physiotherapists, a fitness instructor, a GP and an amazingly supportive husband who works tirelessly behind the scenes as her business partner. As we seat ourselves in Theruni’s office, the first thing I notice is that she sits on a silver gym ball instead of a chair and I ask her why. The Australian qualified expert replies with a smile that she’s a very active person and since she moves around the clinic so much, she doesn’t sit still for long periods of time, so this suffices.

Theruni has lived in Australia most of her life and was interested in sports from an early age. Since she also had a fascination with the science behind sports and the effects of it on the human body, physiotherapy seemed like a logical move toward her career choice, which lead her to read for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Science and a Master’s in Physiotherapy. She returned to Sri Lanka six years ago and she started off her career in physiotherapy at Nawaloka and then decided to venture on her own. It’s been 2 ½ years since she opened the practice located at 30/63A, Longdon Place, Colombo 7 and Theruni helps patients with physical difficulties resulting from sports, injury, disability, strokes or ageing. She tells us that back and neck pains are quite common, as are knee and shoulder injuries. We agree that the main cause of this is definitely due to being seated at a desk in front of a computer for long periods of time. The ergonomics of most of the offices in the country are not optimal and Occupational Health and Safety measures are also overlooked, unlike in most of the other countries.

During the school sports meet season, Theruni also sees quite a few young athletes with injuries caused by sports. She notes that rugby players in particular come in with the most amount of injuries. “That is mostly because it is a sport where a lot of contact is involved, but every sport has its hazards in some way. My job is to help people with disabilities or injuries to overcome such physical barriers and improve their movement and function using exercises, manual therapy and electrotherapy in addition to giving advice and making them more aware of their condition and the basic measures that can be taken to prevent a recurrence of their pain.” Theruni explains that the treatment and methods at ‘The Physio’ place heavy emphasis on manual therapy which includes exercise, mobilisation techniques and other modalities to improve functions.

Moving on to the next phase of their practice, Theruni informs us that they will be introducing a Wellness Studio along with a gym which will help athletes work out under supervision when they are ready to get back to physical activity after an injury. Expecting most of her clients to be sports men/women, I ask the question and I learn that they range from 5 year olds with neck pain, 10 year old tennis players to the elderly. “Pain can be caused by many factors such as sports or incorrect posture while working, falling, how much stress one has at home or work, etc. there are many causative reasons. At the Wellness Centre, we are including a Pilates studio for clients because after an injury, it’s important to ease oneself back into their workout. We also will be providing our clients with relaxation technique options,” she informed us. “It’s all about making people understand what causes their pain, holistically addressing the issues. We see a lot of pain that’s related to stress and our next step is to help clients figure out what is the cause behind it and help them correct it; it’s giving people ways to understand how their mind affects their body. Lack of exercise is also a large reason; also different factors contribute to pain and no two cases are the same,” she stated.

At ‘The Physio’, what they are passionate about is educating their clients/patients as to what causes their pain, how to address the root cause and manage it and the best way to prevent the pain recurring. “We take a lot of time with our patients, get their history and background and do the assessments thoroughly. There are times we can’t cure pain 100%, but we can help them manage it in the future and prevent the use of pain killers – if we can’t handle the case with physiotherapy, we refer onwards to a physician,” Theruni said.

A mum to really cute and active 3 year old daughter, Theruni credits her husband as the driving force behind her success. “It really truly is Ishara’s support that allows me to work so freely because I know he has everything else covered (and I mean everything!) From Ahaana’s schedule to the dinner menu, to ensuring that all the staff are looked after, to making sure there’s enough toilet paper in the clinic! He really is amazing and it was his vision and his confidence in me that gave me the courage to open the practice in the first place. Every bit of success ‘The Physio’ has had in the last 2 ½ years, I can attribute directly to him.” Theruni concluded.