by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
The Chief Executive Officer of the Standard Chartered Bank, Ahmed Rehman and the General Manager Grindlays Bank John Jossifidis hosted a cocktail party to enable the banking world, business executives, media and friends to be introduced to Frank Gamble, Chief Executive, Standard Chartered Grindlays, and Senior Representative of the Standard Chartered Group. The venue was the King’s Court of the Trans Asia Hotel and the invitation specified smart casual for the men.

The women though took the opportunity to dress in style and many elegant and striking outfits were to be seen. Those in saree as usual stole the limelight and among them was Aruni Goonetilleke in the cool elegance of a crisp white cotton saree, simply bordered in a pale gold. Her blouse which was high necked and had elbow length sleeves, with a narrower border at the hemline. In unusual contrast she wore a metallic silver necklace and her accessories were in grey.

Shehani de Silva had her saree of ink blue silk bordered in rectangles of woven design in red and green with a hint of gold in the design. Her blouse was conventional in style and she wore a gold necklace and pink toned flowers in her hair.

A red saree embroidered in silk thread in the same colour was the choice of Chandi Perera to wear with a gold necklace and stud earrings.

Melanie Jayawardene’s saree of a sugar white had an all-over zig zag design woven in the same tone of silk thread. At the borders the colour changed to a blue hued grey. Her blouse was high necked but sleeveless.

For such a petite wearer the saree Romanie de Silva wore, one would have thought was too striking in the contrast and the width of the border, but she carried it with aplomb. The black saree had a wide border in ecru and gold with petals in black where the colours met. The border on top was in gold and much narrower. She draped it in the Gujarati style, and teamed it with a high necked sleeveless blouse. Gold and black stud earrings were her only ornament.

Onitha Forbes relied on the proverbial little black dress, which had a deep U neckline and was sleeveless.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the famed Wendy Whatmore Academy which has seen many celebrity names pass through their portals, and launched many a star of the stage and perhaps the screen. Monte and Wendy Holsinger and family hosted a cocktail party in the Banquet Hall of the BMICH.

Wendy who is the daughter of the illustrious Wendy Whatmore has taken it on her shoulders to carry on with the standards and traditions established by her mother. Lending much support is her husband and her daughters, specially Tracy Holsinger who has made a name for herself in the world of theatre.

To cut the cake and respond to the toast proposed by Monte, Wendy wore a long tunic styled top of exquisite white guipure lace over a lavender foundation. Her pants on the lines of a churridar was in the lavender hued satin. A choker necklace of pearls and long drop earrings made her ornaments.

Daughter Rozanne Hemdev went all Indian and wore a saree. The black traditional tie and dye patterned bandini georgette was bordered in striking red and gold. Her blouse was in black, and she wore a choker necklace of gold with diamond shaped drop pendulem earrings to make an exotic picture.

With her was Malinee Gunasekera who in total contrast wore a dress of white lace, simply cut with a U neckline and short sleeves. A pretty necklace of diamonds, with earclips and bracelet to match made her ornaments, and her acessories were in white.

Beautiful, was the saree Pamela Marshall wore. The black georgette saree had a embroidered border in parsi style in a light amber thread. Her blouse had a high neckline at the back and below the elbow sleeves.

There were many more interesting styles as in the distinguished gathering were women from all communities bringing with them a variety of styles, and among them was Anusha Fonseka in a black mini dress she wore with black shoes with black criss cross lacing up to the calves, for the ultimate in youthful sophistication.