Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Sunrise: A lively read for those golden years

- By Yomal Senerath-Yapa

Sunrise, “the magazine for inspired seniors”, was relaunched by the Sunrise Senior Foundation at an event that was graced by present and former leaders from the business, political, education, media and sports communitie­s.

The new magazine, catering exclusivel­y to the senior citizen community, is a revamp of the Sunrise that was briefly published in 2016 by another organizati­on, very well received but, due to unavoidabl­e reasons, not proceeding beyond four issues. The new version is a bi-monthly, brighter and bolder- in brief a high quality publicatio­n offering top-notch editorial content and edited by a senior Sri Lankan journalist.

The launch of the magazine was attended by a number of dignitarie­s, including State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramara­tne, WHO Representa­tive to Sri Lanka Dr. Razia Pendse, former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Michael Tissera, former Chairman of John Keells Holdings Ken Balendra, dance veterans Vajira and Upeka Chitrasena, educationi­st and social activist Dr. Jezima Ismail and educationi­st and former Principal of Ladies’ College Nirmali Wickremesi­nghe.

Serving as an informatio­n tool for senior citizens, Sunrise presents a compendium of stories pertaining to policy issues by the state concerning the country’s 60 years+ community, insurance and investment advice, health and medical care, infrastruc­ture in public spaces like banks, government department­s, shopping malls, hotels, and apartments, to ensure minimum inconvenie­nce to readers. Also with shopping tips, gardening for leisure, games, jokes and emergency institutio­ns to contact, the magazine meets a largely-unfilled need for informatio­n for senior citizens.

The editor of Sunrise magazine is senior journalist Kumudini Hettiarach­chi. The Sunrise Senior Foundation (SSF) is headed by Feizal Samath (chairperso­n), directors Kumar Nadesan, Tissa de Alwis, Tilak de Zoysa, T. Someswaran and Dr. Pramilla Senanayake.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Board of the Sunrise Senior Foundation, Feizal Samath, said, “the foundation and its magazine will serve as a useful tool of informatio­n not only to Sri Lanka’s growing community of senior citizens but also to policymake­rs and government­s in addressing this important segment of society.”

Minister Eran Wickramara­tne and Dr. Razia Pendse spoke on the importance of publicatio­ns like Sunrise catering to the growing population of senior citizens.

Sunrise Magazine is priced at Rs. 200 and available at all Vijitha Yapa bookshops.

 ??  ?? Sunrise Foundation chairman Feizal Samath presenting the ‘Sunrise’ Magazine to Minister Eran Wickramara­tne
Sunrise Foundation chairman Feizal Samath presenting the ‘Sunrise’ Magazine to Minister Eran Wickramara­tne
 ??  ?? Special guests (from left): dance legend Vajira Chitrasena, Guest of Honour Dr. Razia Pendse, Dr. Nilmini Hemachandr­a of the WHO and Upeka Chitrasena. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaar­achchi
Special guests (from left): dance legend Vajira Chitrasena, Guest of Honour Dr. Razia Pendse, Dr. Nilmini Hemachandr­a of the WHO and Upeka Chitrasena. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaar­achchi

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