UK cardiologists to cycle across Sri Lanka for ‘Little Hearts’
Hoteliers countrywide came together to support the flood relief programme launched by the Government supported by the National Disaster Relief Centre. Tourist Hotels Association SL (THASL) president Sanath Ukwatte speaking at the handing over ceremony said, “As hoteliers we are deeply conscious of our responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to alleviate the suf-
Kithsiri Gunawardena will deliver the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society’s monthly lecture on ‘ Wilpattu: Place of Legend, History & Wildlife’ on June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Cinema Hall, BMICH, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, fering of our countrymen.”
He thanked Hemas Holdings PLC, Ramada Colombo, Movenpick Hotel, Mount Lavinia Hotel, Goldie Sands Hotel and all members of the Hotels Association for responding magnificently in distributing relief materials and cooked food directly to people in need and working at the “grass root level” with the communities in which they are based. Colombo 7. The lecture is open to all members and nonmembers, admission free
Since the end of the war, Kithsiri Gunawardena, despite his busy schedules as a practising corporate lawyer, visits the park as often as possible and has set up an invaluable database to record its leopards. A well known ornithologist, his love of Wilpattu extends beyond the more popular species to its lepidoptera, and to all other creatures great and small.
Dr. Divaka Perera (Interventional Cardiologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital), Prof. Michael Marber (Professor of Cardiology at King’s College London) and Dr Peter O’Kane (Interventional Cardiologist at Royal Bournemouth Hospital) are part of a five-man team who will cycle across the length of Sri Lanka beginning today to raise funds for Little Hearts (a charitable initiative of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The charity project, Cardiac Cycle Lanka, aims to raise Rs. 3 Million or more to help the international fight against heart disease.
From today, Sunday, June 11 to Monday, June 19 the team of five will cycle 750 km, travelling from south to north Sri Lanka. They will start at Dondra and finish at Point Pedro, travelling via Sri Lanka’s East Coast. Some of the world’s top cardiologists and heart researchers will be in the region for the Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Heart Association and will gather at the start to send the team off.
The team consists of friends and colleagues, many of whom have not been on a bike for 20 years or more. The three cardiologists will cycle alongside Dr. Rob Daniels, a General Practitioner in Exeter, and Sri Lankan-born Shamindra Perera, a Fund Manager in London. They have already raised more than Rs. 2 Million to help fund the construction of a children’s cardiac and critical care complex at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo – a Government-approved project, deemed a national priority, and to support the BHF’s life saving research.
The team acknowledge that this challenge is out of their usual comfort zone, but feel it is entirely worthwhile putting the effort into training and completing the ride itself. The weather conditions (35°C+ temperature and 80%+ humidity) could make it even harder. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that we’re all very much looking forward to embracing,” a team member said. For more, see: www.cardiaccycle lanka.com.
A sitar recital by eminent sitarist Dr. Nirmala Kumari Rodrigo and disciples will be held on Monday, June 12 at 6 p.m. at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) auditorium at 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 07.
Dr. Nirmala Kumari Rodrigo, one of the most eminent sitarists of Sri Lanka, learnt sitar for 11 years from 1973 - 1984 at the Bhatkhande College of Music Lucknow and the Benaras Hindu University in India and obtained her Vadya Visharad, Sangeet Visharad and Vadya Nipun and Doctorate degree in the field of music. She received her training in sitar and vocal music from Shri Naveen Chandra Pant, Ustad Ilyas Khan, Prof. K.C.Gangarade, Prof. Premsingh Kinot and Sri Lele.
In another event this week, the Indian Cultural Centre will present a Bharatha natyam recital by disciples of Guru Smt. Mahalakshmi Karthikeyan, on Wednesday, June 14 at 6 p.m. at its auditorium.
For further details please contact the Indian Cultural
Centre on 011-2684698 or email: iccrcolombo@
gmail.com.