Destined to build an educated generation

Walking down Flower Road in Colombo, with ancient king-size gate bearing No. 17 open, you enter the palatial house - home for the muscle bearded writer. He is Ashok Ferrey claiming to be living with high cholesterol besides his wife and kids. I can't just recall how many dogs galloped through the lush greenery to salute us - must be at least two. The sweeties did not dare bite us waiting for the owner of the house. We listened to the footsteps coming down stairs. And here our all-smiling host Ashok Ferrey welcome Palitha and me 'good morning' with his latest book 'The Good Little Ceylonese Girl' in hand.

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Yahaluwo (Best Friends)

Cast: Sujeewa Senasinghe, Pooja Umashankar, Himasal Liyanage, Iranganie Serasinghe, Anarkali Akarsha,

Summary: Rajiv, a boy from the upper middle class, has a mixed parentage: mother, a Tamil doctor and the father, a Sinhalese businessman. He spends the day in the company of servants of various ethnic origins, and home-tutors.

The recent series of Sinhala war films gives me a strange feeling: no filmmaking is likely without the battlefield-chores. I see people step into the cinema hall seeking either entertainment or serenity and no day-to-day chores. But when you experience what you don't want, you got to have second thoughts about your next visit to the cinema hall.

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A festival of literature in Galle

Literature is not just writing. It's more. Cookery, history, architecture, photography, travelling, murals, religion, publishing, cricket and theatre, it's all within literature. If all these blended into a single entity - that's what you are yet to experience - the Galle Literary Festival 2008 from January 16 to 20.

The Literary Festival is to be experienced in magnificent historic UN World Heritage Fort - Galle, with writing workshops and competitions, panel discussions, topical debates on issues such as climate change, poetry readings, theatre and children's activities.

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