The Business and Professional Women of Sri Lanka held the third of its annual fund raiser concerts at the Russian Centre last week. This (BPW) was formed in 1993 by Janaki Gunawardena along with a few other women among whom was Savithri Jayasinghe, Ajitha Kardiragamer, Metta Kodikara and Shiya Weerasekera. Through the years the Association has made substantial contributions beginning with three houses, with the area now been turned into the first ever Peace Village in the world.

Now to the area consisting of three villages, with over five hundred houses, with forty perches of land, electricity from the main grid, 50 km of paved road, and finally with the support of the Rotary Club of Colombo Metrapolitan with encouragement from the President Anil Cooray provided purified drinking water to 150 families, which cost over Rs. 2.5 million. The President of the BPW Rohini Cooray in her private capacity donated a fully equipped playground for the children of the village.

Music for a Cause III was held at the Russian Centre and brought friends and supporters to a series of performances all of which was not of the same standard, but as the artists have given of their services without a charge criticism is not called for. There were outstanding items though and one of them was an oriental dance based on a Sonnet by Shakespeare, choreographed by Ravibandu Vidyapathi performed by Vanamal Silva, Purnika Peiris and Punyajith Sirimanne.

The concert brought together many clothes conscious women. There was the Guest of Honour Gowrie de Silva in a red saree worked only at the shoulder of the fall in unobstrusive gold. Rohini Cooray was in a shaded chiffon saree in a pleasing green she used as foil to a necklace of emethyst crystal cut beads with a pendent of white stones at its base. A skin print in black, brown and white was Lukshmi Puvimanasinghe’s choice of a saree, she wore with a brown blouse and a necklace of several strands of separate strands of gold beads, and black beads. Jehan Raheem had her eau de nil saree bordered in embroidery on red. Specially for the event from Nepal came Amrika Seshwan, and among the other distinguished guests were Mala Sabaratnam, who was the Chief Guest, and Mrs. Lokubandara. Also in the audience were many well known fashionistas.