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Upul Dharmadasa appointed new Chairman of Hilton Colombo owning firm Hotel Developers

Mr Upul Dharmadasa is a former member of the hospitality sector of Sri Lanka and served at Hotel Intercontinental, Holiday inn, and Oberoi. He was an employee of Air Ceylon, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka. He was also the Head of the Food and Beverages on board Lanka Kalyani, the cadet training ship of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation, before migrating to the United States to join his wife, Barbara Dharmadasa.

 

He completed Nutrition and Food Service Professional Training in the United States at the University of North Dakota. He worked as an in-house hospital dietician before starting Upul’s Travel Service.

 

Dharmadasa was a student of the Ceylon Hotel School specializing in F&B and currently sitting for an MBA (UK). Following his migration to the USA with the Air Ceylon experience, he excelled in the travel industry in Los Angeles through the well-known name brand in the USA under Upul’s Travel Service, servicing the approximately 750,000 Sri Lankans living in the USA and 400,000 in Canada.

 

In 2017, he advanced travel technology and developed, Utravel.com, based in Los Angeles, which is now available and operated worldwide as a Global Travel booking engine.

 

Once he began his travel career in the USA, American Airlines trained him in Dallas FT worth. As a result, he is among the 5% of the travel professionals in the USA who bear the designation of CTC (Certified Travel Counsellor), the program offered by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents in Wellesley, Massachusetts, for travel professionals who completed a comprehensive travel program.

 

Previously he was the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL). Dharmadasa succeeded Nimal Perera, who was Chairman of Hotel Developers’ comprehensive travel program.

   

VAS Aradhana (Rain Retreat Ceremony) hosted by Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple

Vas Aradhana (Rains Retreat Invitation) was a tradition started during the time of the Buddha. Full ordained monastics all over the world continue, up till the present time to observe this Rains Retreat for three months – from the full moon day in July to the full moon day in October. During this time, they dedicate their time to spiritual activities such as practicing meditation and studying dhamma thoroughly. This gives an opportunity for lay community to take care of the monastics by offering them food, drinks, medicine etc. and also to participate in spiritual activities more often.

Daily Activities at the Lankarama Buddhist Temple during the next three months starting July 10th at 7.00am Esala Poya Day retreat. Followed by Vassa Invitation at 6pm.

Every Saturday: 6pm- Bodhi Puja and 28 Atavisi Buddha Puja

Every Sunday: 5pm- Meditation

Address:398 Giano Avenue, La Puente CA 91744

For more information call:(626) 913-0775

”Sri Lanka to Global (#SL2G); nurturing local enterprises to sail through the storm”.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) are the engine of the economy of a country. They create new demands, markets, cultures and most importantly they create various job opportunities. SMEs contribute 52% of Sri Lanka’s GDP, which the sector now is in a very crucial stage.

Curve Up (Pvt) Ltd. is a Sri Lankan consultancy and empowerment firm who work with and support 500+ SMEs across the island to develop and sustain through business development, empowerment, business coaching/ mentoring programmes. As an exports-based stable economy is crucial to overcome the current economic situation of Sri Lanka, Curve Up launches the “Sri Lanka to Global” (#SL2G) campaign to support to sustain Small and Medium Enterprises in the island that are struggling during these troublesome times.

What is #SL2G? It is an export-oriented campaign to enable locally manufactured products to reach to global markets. That helps the SMEs from the grassroots to earn revenue from global markets, enhance their brand’s visibility and reachability. This will help the SMEs sail the turbulent times they are facing with the breakdowns in the local markets.

The #SL2G campaign facilitates the process from production to delivery of the products. Quality curation is done and the best of the products are produced with necessary value additions. The products are promoted through the campaign and shipped to the customers to their doorsteps. Presently a range of products are available such as artworks done from Sri Lankan gemstones and minerals, craftwork done from coconut shells, Batik bags and apparel, handloom apparel, soft toys, palmyra leaf based handicrafts (eg- baskets, tote bags, mats, table coasters etc.), banana fibre based products (handbags, hats, wall hangings etc.), spices (eg- cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, pepper, turmeric, chili etc.), value added tea, woodcrafts, cane crafts (eg- baskets, trays, lamp shades etc.), ceramic products etc.

Curve Up invites you to be a part of the supporting elements contributing to build the economy and progress towards stability. It could be a purchase, or at least spreading the word; every contribution can make an impact to the Sri Lankan grassroots and the communities.

For further details on the campaign, our products, or to learn about our SMEs,
contact us through WhatsApp at (+94) 77 673 6090 or email your inquiries to
randeera@gocurveup.com.

Sri Lanka women win 100m relay silver in India

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Women’s 100m relay team sprinted their way to silver at the 61st Indian Interstate Athletics Championship 2022 on Sunday (12), in Chennai.

The Sri Lankan team of Amasha de Silva, Shelinda Jansen, Medhani Jayamanne and Lakshika Sugandhi clocked 45.35 seconds to win silver in 100 relay event.

The Indian team cruised to Gold clocking of 43.95 second while the team from the Indian state of Kerala came in third.

For more information go to:

Derana launches ‘Api Wawamu’ national competition

Derana media network, marking another milestone in the history of television and reassuring its efforts to embark on a new national responsibility, launched the ‘Api Wawamu’ national competition today (June 03).

The aim of this competition is to encourage the people of the country to engage in cultivation in their own capacity to face the looming food crisis.

Accordingly, those who are interested in taking part in the competition can submit applications individually or in groups by cultivating short-term crops at their houses, piece of lands, apartments, schools, institutions or greenhouses.

People from all walks of life are invited to participate in this national competition.

The winner will be awarded Rs. 5 million.

More details can be obtained via 0115 300 800 or 0115 300 700 between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

The applications can be submitted through the following link: derana.lk/apiwawamu

On the urgent request of the University Teaching Hospital Peradeniya Shanthi & Nandi Jasentuliytana Raised Funds at their 40th Wedding Anniversary

On the urgent request of the University Teaching Hospital Peradeniya (UTH), medical supplies were dispatched by Meditech Data International CEO Mr. Dilip Niranjan Jayasekara with the assistance of Dr. Deepthi Jayasekara to UTH from the funds raised at Shanthi & Nandi Jasentuliytana’s 40th anniversary gathering. UTH took delivery of 860 PENCAN SPINAL NEEDLES from B Braun Inc (Germany). In the picture (from L to R), Dr. Saman Nanayakkara, MD (Consultant Anaesthesiologist/Head of Department), Ms Geethani RN (Nurse-in-Charge OR) and Voluntary Consultant Anthologist Prof. Nanda Lal De Silve who coordinated the project.

EXTRACT FROM THE APPEAL OF THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT UTH:

The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Peradeniya, National Hospital Kandy is the second largest healthcare system complex in the country. This is true for patient care and postgraduate medical training. Urgent Need-Our biggest challenge is to sustain the Obstetric Anaesthesia Service. We have approximately 6000 deliveries at UTH @ year. Of this number, approximately 3000 are by Caesarean Section (C/Section). This amounts to about 250 operative deliveries @ month, of which 40-50% are high-risk mothers. Spinal Anaesthesia is the standard of care globally for this operation. Hence, Spinal Anaesthesia needles and Local Aesthetic Drugs are a prerequisite for the provision of safe obstetric anaesthesia. Our URGENT NEED is to establish a buffer stock of Spinal Needles, as we are duty bound to provide safe and seamless care, no matter what the macro-economic situation in the country is.

Dr. Saman Nanayakkara, MBBS, MD.
Senior Lecturer, Department of Anaesthesia & Critical Care,
University of Peradeniya.
Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist, UTH Peradeniya.
DEPARTMENT OF ANAESTHESIOLOGY AND CRITICAL CARE

1st Ceylon International Film Festival 2022 in Santa Barbara!!!

The Ceylon International Film Festival (CEYIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization formed by Aruni Boteju, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. The focus of Ceylon International Film Festival is to promote Sri Lankan Cinema while opening up opportunities for Sri Lankan filmmakers to enter into the global standards of filmmaking by having an exposure to Hollywood. This also provides them with ample opportunities to exchange the global culture and immerse themselves in the creative landscape of filmmaking.

Ceylon International Film Festival (CEYIFF) is the first-ever Sri Lankan Film Festival Organized outside of Sri Lanka. CEYIFF is dedicated to presenting International and Sri Lankan Cinema to film lovers.

We are committed to promoting new filmmakers’ projects and showcasing their films to international audiences. Our mission is to screen independent films of all genres from all around the world.

The educational arm of the organization focuses on providing scholarships and other benefits to the filmmakers with the objective of encouraging them to strive in the filmmaking industry. Further, the educational arm also offers courses and training programs to help them sharpen the saw, using modern tools and innovations.

Master Class program for young filmmakers can be identified as another milestone of the organization where the two cents of experts are being given to the new bees, using virtual workshops and in-person workshops. This takes place in both countries, ensuring the exchange of customs and cultural knowledge that are indigenous.

The story of the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival established by a single individual, Igor Blazevic, just over a decade ago, is a classic case study on how one can transform to reality and run a film festival even in a place with no facilities and infrastructure, but only an idea. First supported by a small NGO, People in Need, The One World Festival, presents over 100 documentary films during nine days in Spring from around the world. It was the catalyst for the Human Rights Film Network, which brings together 33 festivals from around the world. That example boards well for Aruni’s planned Ceylon International Film Festival, which has a head start with the support of the Santa Barbara Institutions and leading personalities, including the mayor, a big supporter of the effort.

𝐁𝐮𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰! Come experience these incredible stories! Click on the link to book your tickets!

https://www.lobero.org/events/ceylon-international-film-festival-2022/

Lobero Theatre Visit Santa Barbara KCSB-FM 91.9 in Santa Barbara #srilanka #srilankancinema #movie #dailynews #international #internationalmovie #filmfestival2022 #ceyiff #ceyloninternationalfilmfestival #travelsantabarbara #communitywestbank Sent from my iPhone

For more information go to:
http://www.ceyiff.com

Contact:
info@ceyiff.com
ruwani@ceyiff.com
aruni@ceyloninternationalfilmfestival.com

Call:(805)350-3848