Estelle, Beryl, Chitra, Dr. Amila, Mallika and Pushpa

Tea at Earl’s Court of the Trans Asia Hotel with entertainment, lectures and demonstrations which included one on meditation given by Ranjan Karunaratne and another on eye care given by Dr. Amila de Alwis. Ranee Rajapakse as President of the Sri Lanka Women’s Association organised the event which was well attended and brought together a mature and dignified group of women, who were entertained with songs sung by a young male artist. There were several little boutiques around the room showcasing a variety of goods including some striking pieces of jewellery.

Padma Mendis, Ayanthi de Silva & Ranil Pathirana
 

To most of the women present, fashion is not of any consequence but nevertheless they have not lost the touch and joined the group of the well dressed. A fairly bold print was the choice Ranee made for the afternoon, which stretched past dusk. She anyway is one of those women who always looks well groomed and chic. A shaded saree of chiffon was Rohini Cooray’s choice the colours shading from a cinnamon to a deep apricot. A print was also the choice of Padma Mendis. Her saree on a black background was patterned in abstract motifs in white and red, creating a carnival of bold contrasts. The white saree Damayanthi Fernando wore was daintily patterned in embroidered flowers in red with a hint of green along the border. Ayanthi de Silva favoured a simple saree in a shade of rust, pink and deep grey, in a print that looked like an artists palette, she wore with a black blouse and a chunky necklace of large beads. The saree Manil Pathirana wore was also in a print in a zig zag of lines in orange and purple with a border design of white on it she wore with a necklace with pearls with a padakkam of rubies on it. A Kandyan saree in white with the ‘ihe’ and the border on the fall embroidered in a leaf like design in deep pink on it was the choice of Pushpa Malagamuwa. A irregular applique in a striped fabric another member wore with a blouse in the same subtle striped fabric.

Western styles were favoured by Estelle Joachim and Nayomi Dharmatilleke. The former opted for a smart black suit style with a collar in a skin print. The latter had her top of a op art design of a print, she wore with a black pedal pushers. The colours on the top was in red, grey, black and white.

There was much fellowship and fraternising and a pleasant and useful evening was had by all those present.