By Risidra Mendis
The largest web portal in Sri Lanka! While
we Sri Lankans struggle every day to search
for names and information on a variety of
issues and subjects, one man is silently
working on creating the largest web portal
in
Sri Lanka.
G. L. (Wiki) Wickramaratna is a man of many
talents. He is the first person in Sri Lanka
to build his own car, boat, bicycle,
motorbike, trishaw and now his own house
with help from the Moratuwa University.
His latest challenge is to create the
largest web portal, the Sri Lanka Almanac
Vidyuth Koshaya, the one stop shop on
anything and everything on Sri Lanka.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader Wickramaratna
said access to information and photos on Sri
Lanka is limited. There are times when you
cannot find the information needed on a
particular subject relating to Sri Lanka. If
a Sri Lankan wants a photo of the country's
national flag he has to go to a foreign
website to get the photo.
Sri Lankan website
"At present there is no Sri Lankan website
in the country where a member of the public
can access important information and
pictures on the country and its activities,"
Wickramaratna said.
"The main reason for creating Vidyuth
Koshaya is to provide unlimited information
to professionals, laymen, journalists,
school children and anybody who needs to
access information on Sri Lanka. The web
portal will have information on Sri Lankan
culture, traditions, arts, music, science,
ayurveda, photography, religion,
archaeology, education, administration,
health, personalities, gem importers and
exporters, Sri Lankan history, new
inventions and discoveries, information on
famous athletes, artistes, singers, women
entrepreneurs, students with best O/L and
A/L results, new innovations created by
differently abled people, tourism spots,
important places in the country, municipal
councils, pradeshiya sabhas and the Dehiwela
Divisional Secretariat among others,"
Wickramaratna stated.
Special feature
According to him there are many talented
villagers living in remote areas whose
talents have not been recognised in the
country. "These villagers' talents are not
recognised because nobody knows about them.
I hope to add data on such people on the web
portal so that they can be recognised and
appreciated for their contributions. Any
information on individuals and organisations
that are Sri Lankan based will be included
on the website," Wickramaratna explained.
The web portal will be in English but will
have a special feature where Sinhala words
are included. "For example if a person types
the word 'kantha' all relevant meanings to
the word in English and Sinhala will be
displayed. If a person wants to find out the
names of the nine provinces of the country
he/she has to access Yahoo or Google and
type Sri Lanka Almanac Vidyuth Koshaya. He
has to then type
Sri Lanka
provinces under the letter "p" as
instructed," Wickramaratna explained.
The web portal will contain information from
the time of King Vijaya's rule in Sri Lanka
to the present regime of President Mahinda
Rajapakse. "If a student requires historical
information on King Parakramabahu instead of
going to a book shop and buying a book he or
she can access the information from the web
portal," Wickramaratna added. The same
information can also be accessed by logging
into www.wikiwicks.com.
"The web portal is a vertical index from top
to bottom and written from left to right.
This is a free educational site. However for
a person who wants to market a product a
nominal fee will be charged. This web portal
has no fancy Flash animations but only data.
Anyone can have a free page on any subject
and he will get his own name ranked on
Google," says Wiki.
In two years
Wiki hopes to complete the web portal in two
years while regular updates will be included
thereafter. The web portal will eventually
have shortcuts to make searching even more
easy. "Anybody is free to send data on any
unusual or important activity or innovation
based in Sri Lanka," Wickramaratna said.
Wickramaratna, an old boy of
Royal College
left Sri Lanka in 1973 at the age of 18 to
Japan. Having spent many years in Japan he
returned to Sri Lanka and has since engaged
in a variety of new innovations. He believes
that Sri Lankans should practice the three
"D" theory invented by him rather than the
five "S" theory introduced by
Japan.
"The three D's stand for Dedication, Dogma
and Diligence.
You need dedication when you set your mind
on a task or job, you need dogma to carry
out the task with determination and you need
diligence to complete the task you
undertook," explains Wickramaratna.
He has signed an agreement with the
Information Communication Technology Agency
under the Presidential Secretariat on a
World Bank grant to do research and digitise
all archaeological sites in
Anuradhapura
on the subject of Indigenous Construction
Methods. "This information will contain
details on how the ancient viharas and other
constructions were built and how they
remained without collapsing for many years,"
he adds.
"There is nothing you cannot do if you put
your mind to it and work towards your goal,"
concluded Wickramaratna.
Those were the days when
all roads led to Tipperary
By Lakshman de Silva
Those were the days - our school days back
in the '60s - when songs, some which are
considered 'old hits' were popular, mainly
at evening parties.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy, when skies are grey;
You never know dear, how much I love you,
Please don't take my sunshine away.
Not only young boys and girls but also
adults, sometimes while going about their
work also used to sing these songs.
Since I met you baby my whole life has
changed,
And everybody tells me that I am not the
same,
I don't need nobody to tell my troubles to,
For since I met you baby, all I, need is
you.
Since I met you baby I'm a happy man
I'm gonna try and please you, in every way I
can.
At house parties some of these songs were
sung, even while dancing.
She'll be coming round the mountain when she
comes,
She'll be coming round the mountain when she
comes,
Singing ay ay yi pip yi pi ay ay singing ay
ay yi pi yi pi ay;
Singing ay ay yi pi yi pi ay ay yi pi yi
pi...
She'll be driving six white horses when she
comes when she comes,
She'll he driving six white horses when she
comes
And we'll all go out to meet her when she
comes, when she comes
And we'll all go out to meet her when she
comes,
when she comes.
Another hit those days was,
Irene goodnight, Irene, Irene goodnight,
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene,
I'll see you in my dreams.
Last Saturday night I got married,
Me and my wife settled down,
Now me and my wife have been parted,
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown.
Stop rambling, stop your gambling,
Stop staying out late at night,
Go home to your wife and family,
Sit by the fireside bright.
Sometimes these songs bring sentimental joy.
It is as if the loved one is by your side
and you get carried away and even after the
party when you get home it will still keep
ringing in your head. One such beautiful hit
was -
I'm in the mood for love, simply because
you're near me,
Funny but when you're near me, I'm in the
mood for love,
Heaven is in your eyes, Bright as the stars
we're under,
Oh is it any wonder, I'm in the mood for
love,
Why stop to think of whether, this little
dream might fade,
We're put our hearts together, now we are
one, I'm not afraid,
If there's a cloud above, If it should rain
we'll let it,
But for tonight forget it, I'm in the mood
for love.
Of course in these evening get-togethers
some of the old folk tend to get tipsy and
they will drown the voices of others and
sing -
There is a tavern in the town, in the town,
And there my true love sits him down, sits
him down,
And drinks his wine amidst laughter free,
And never, never, thinks of me.
Another top favourite of theirs is -
It's a long way to
Tipperary,
It's a long way to go,
It's a long way to
Tipperary,
to the sweetest girl I know,
Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell Leicester Square,
It's a long, long way to
Tipperary,
but my heart's right there.
So these evening parties go on late into the
night when another song common to all is
sung -
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do,
I'm half crazy all for the love of you,
It won't be a stylish marriage, for I can't
afford a carriage,
But you'll look sweet, upon the seat, of a
bicycle built for two.
Michael, Michael, here is my answer true,
I cant cycle half as well as you do,
If you can't afford a carriage, call off the
blooming marriage,
For I'd he blowed, if I'd be towed, on a
bicycle built for two.
For I'd be blowed, if I'd be towed,
On a bicycle built for two.
Even today these songs are heard at parties,
late into the night amidst joyous chats and
laughter; when parties are in full swing
with drinks flowing freely and bites
aplenty. Those days there were no special
lighting effects - there was no need for it
- for there was enough glow from the
womenfolk in gorgeous coloured sarees and
dresses with flashy jewellery, some with
layers and layers of fancy make-up. The men
in their full suits and casuals danced and
sang their cares away with the heady mix of
rock and jazz adding variety to the musical
menu.
Even in this day and age it is impossible to
forget Elvis who ruled the dance floors,
including that sentimental piece Falling In
Love With You. Even now these songs
continue to haunt us and no repetition is
ever going to be dull.
Bombai muttai, bulto
and seeni bola come back to the future
A breezy abode in the heart of Duplication
Road...
|
Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawala and
Dr. Sicille P.C. Kotelawala at the
opening: Sparkle, sweets and solace |
By Ranee Mohamed
Late last month the very modern Duplication
Road became the venue at which memories of a
bygone era were revived. With the opening of
Cecile International Jewellery, the second
floor of this brand new building opened out
to a newer concept - Sicille Sulang.
Sicille Sulang is the first of its kind down
Duplication Road, perhaps the first of its
kind in the city of
Colombo.
"It is a great day for Sicille, she had
dreamed of this for along time," said
Chairman, Ceylinco Consolidated, Dr. Lalith
Kotelawala at the opening of Cecile
International Jewellery Salon and Sicille
Sulang.
He went on to observe the uniqueness of the
ideas of his wife, Deputy Chairperson, Dr.
Sicille P.C. Kotelawala.
Like no other
And original it is in every way for there is
no other like Sicille Sulang today. For who
in these modern times would have thought of
bringing back the much relished delights of
yesteryear such as seeni bola, bultos, naram
biks and dodam biks? Memories are sweet but
bombai muttai is sweeter; Sicille Sulang has
brought this stringy delicacy of our
glorious past right back in to the present
at this stylish building.
Sicille Sulang on the second floor of the
fabulous Sicille's Collection of jewellery
at Cecile International adds to the sparkle
of life.
Sicille Sulang can be called a leisure shop,
yet others call it a lifestyle store. But
whatever one may call this breezy abode,
Sicille Sulang is certainly a place to seek
solace in this busy business hub of
Duplication Road.
The lamprais made to order, Pakistani rugs
and furniture, Rajasthani sofas with
coloured cushions manufactured by Johann
Fernando are all there on display, to be
viewed, enjoyed and ordered for home use.
For once one sinks in to the luxury of
Sicille Sulang, it is but natural for one to
want to take all this home.
Mouth watering
In a corner springs to life our glorious
past - and those sweet memories are
highlighted with the bultos, seeni bola,
naran and dodan bik, alpals and hoonu
biththara.
Sicille Sulang comes as a breath of fresh
air when one considers the wandu appa,
weralu achcharu and the 'sicille' beema of
the past. The homemade ginger beer here is
the original ginger beer.
For the hassled woman of today, it is
Sicille Sulang that beckons - to either
enjoy the sweets, the beema (drinks) or
stretch out a hand to the Mehendi lady who
will arrive after an appointment is made.
And truly, even the surroundings seem to
agree with the concept of a great lady -
Dr. Sicille P.C. Kotelawala as the wind
fans the insides of Sicille Sulang despite
the countless buildings around.
The dream come true of Dr. Sicille P.C.
Kotelawala seems to be a dream complete
when one throws oneself into the luxurious
massage chairs.
Multi-faceted
Sicille Sulang may at first sight appear as
the ideal venue for a Powerpoint
presentation, a seminar or a business
gathering of the corporate world. But put
one's ear to the ground and discover that
the boarded floor makes Sicille Sulang the
ideal venue for an exercise as spiritual as
a yoga class or an educational event as a
book launch.
With Ceylinco snacks at hand, the venue
oozes with comfort and convenience. There
are many plans for Sicille Sulang as its
creator Dr. Sicille P.C. Kotelawala prepares
to have periodic exhibitions of good
products from China, Egypt and around the
world at this venue.
Another feature that adds fragrance to the
event is the lavender oil that can be
ordered from
Australia.
Stress buster
At a time when there is much development
around such as buildings, shops and houses -
Sicille Sulang, which is housed in a
spacious building on Duplication Road -
comes as a stress buster. It comes as a
development with a difference - a
development that seeks to comfort, soothe
and take one to a bygone era - urging one,
softly, to stop and pause and look back - to
take life easy and enjoy the luxury, the
comfort and the sweets and eats of the past.
Tuning up for showtime
Now this
possibly prompts half of those who know me
to laugh hilariously because of the
immediate thought of: "What instrument would
she play?" The other half is still trying to
figure out how my dancing skills are going
to help the band in any way.
Usually I
am a fan of a band or part of the entourage
somehow by being somebody's good friend or
girlfriend or some such indispensable being.
Now I potentially might be in one and I
guess this is where the glamour of the whole
thing comes in.
Cool
It's
extremely cool to be asked to be part of a
band. It's extremely cool to be in a band.
I have never ever been cool when it would
actually have been extremely convenient for
me to be cool. Like in my teenage years
maybe, when perhaps my popularity in school
could have been given a boost or at least a
life saving injection. Heck, teenagers these
days are probably using some other word
rather than "cool" - I am only in my 20s
and I am already outdated.
Of course
the whole thing exists only in potentia as
it were. It was all hacked together in about
five minutes under cover of an alcoholic
fog at someone's birthday party. We have no
name but our piano player and main cause of
all this has actually written music to
which others and I were vaguely
distributing lyrics that were no doubt
extremely disturbing and nonsensical when
viewed the morning after.
And I
remember being told after some rather odd
and impromptu singing tests that I was
going to be singing low notes while someone
else took the high ones. See, I highly doubt
the efficiency of that decision - how am I
going to break off midline and have someone
else take over in the middle of a note or
word?
The drums
But then
given that we were in the middle of a room
filled with all the usual instruments you'd
expect and then maybe some more, I
gravitated to the drum kit.
I have
always wanted to play drums. Someone once
caught me in school air drumming to
something in my head and they asked rather
awed as to whether I was in a band. I
confessed that I wasn't and shamefully made
an extra effort to hide my dorkiness
henceforth. Playing air drums is worse than
playing air guitar no matter that you only
make odd faces during the latter.
I once
signed up for a hewisi band in school and
they asked me what instrument I wanted to
play. I put down the drums; they gave me
the hewisi flute. I took it home and
practiced diligently for a few days till I
really decided it was no good and gave up.
There was more air going into it and
getting sucked into some black hole in the
interior than there was music coming out of
it. I kept the flute over the years and it
eventually got dropped at some point and
broke.
Piano lessons
I am not a
complete novice to the world of music. I
went to piano lessons as a kid and went for
exams and so on. I wasn't at all interested
in getting through all the exams though, I
just wanted to play my favourite songs.
So I can
play from memory and I can hear music and
pick out notes and I can read the sheet
music but don't expect me to suddenly be
able to compose melodies the way my friend
can. I would envy her ability to sit down
and write something or pick out a tune in a
rather absentminded way except that I am
aware I could quite easily do the same thing
with drums.
It's the
beat. I could really care less about melody
- maybe I am just more of a rhythm person.
Picking up a beat in something and then
trying to play around with or trying to beat
the speed of it - now I can do that whether
I am drumming or dancing. Which was probably
given I don't know anything about how to
read drum sheet music or how to coordinate
two arms and a foot on the kick drum pedal
to do anything, yet, I was nevertheless
able to accompany my friend for awhile.
Suspicion
Which
leads to my current confusion. Positions are
still in up in the air - I don't think
anyone knows who's doing what yet. I have a
nasty suspicion I might inevitably become
just the singer which is going to make me
look the least talented person there -
lyricists never get the attention they
deserve, everyone knows that. And only the
singer doing the lower notes - honestly, I
ask you.
Entourage
This is
what I mean. Someone asks you to be in a
band and suddenly you have an ego the kind
of which you never knew existed before. And
of course it is completely unjustified. I
have some knowledge but really no actual
musical talent - just possible potential for
it.
Eventually
I'll be relegated to the entourage somehow
possibly as idea consultant or something.
Perhaps just even be the roadie.
And
perhaps I should rein in the imagination a
bit. This was all borne out of a suggestion
we followed up on enthusiastically because
it seemed like a good idea at the time. We
have yet to seriously plan practice sessions
or figure out a name or who's doing what.
But then
again isn't that how all the great bands
started?
- Marisa
Wikremanayake
HUMOUR
Mail man the main man
One Monday
morning, a postman is walking the
neighbourhood on his usual route. As he
approaches one of the homes, Bob, the
homeowner is coming out with a load of empty
beer and liquor bottles.
"Wow, Bob,
looks like you guys had a hell of a party
this weekend," the postman comments.
Bob
replies, "We had about 15 couples from
around the neighbourhood over and things got
a bit wild. We got so drunk that we started
playing 'Who Am I?'"
The
postman says, "How do you play that?"
Bob
continues, "Well, all the guys go in the
bedroom and we come out one at a time with a
sheet covering us, with only our units
showing through a hole in the sheet. Then
the women try to guess who it is."
The
postman laughs and says, "I'm sorry I missed
that."
"Probably
a good thing you did," Bob responds, "Your
name was guessed four or five times."
Late night lecture
The man
was in no shape to drive, so he wisely left
his car parked and walked home. As he was
walking unsteadily along, he was stopped by
a policeman. "What are you doing out here at
2 a.m.?" said the officer. "I'm going to a
lecture," the man said. "And who is going to
give a lecture at this hour?" the cop asked.
"My wife,"
said the man.
Like lightning
"My wife
drives her car like lightning."
"You mean
she drives very fast?" "No, she hits trees."
Favourite
drink
What is a
cannibal's favourite drink? Wine with a lot
of body.
The remedy
First
cannibal woman: "I just don't know what to
make of my husband these days." Second
cannibal woman: "How about a curry?"
Lobster tales
A man goes
into a seafood restaurant and sees a sign
that reads: "Big Red Lobster Tails - Rs.
10." Amazed at the value of the offer, he
calls a waitress over.
"Excuse
me," he said. "Is that sign correct?"
"Yes sir,"
she replied. "It's today's special offer."
"Fantastic," said the man. "But are you sure
they're not small?"
"Oh no
sir, I can assure you that they are very
big."
"Are they
out of date then?" "No, no sir, they are
fresh in this morning."
"Well in
that case, here's my Rs. 10. Fill me up."
The
waitress took the Rs. 10, sat down beside
him and said; "Once upon a time, there was a
Big Red Lobster..."
Medical marvel
A Japanese
doctor said, 'Medicine in my country is so
advanced that we can take a kidney out of
one man, put it in another, and have him
looking for work in six weeks.'
A German
doctor said, 'That's nothing, we can take a
lung out of one person, put it in another,
and have him looking for work in fourweeks.'
A British
doctor said, 'In my country, medicine is so
advanced that we can take half of a heart
out of one person, put it in another, and
have them both looking for work in two
weeks.
A Texas
doctor, not to be outdone said, 'You guys
are way behind. We took a man with no brains
out of Texas , put him in the White House
and now half the country is looking for
work.'
