News updates from March 2006 ↓

You can download the Sunera Annual Report 2005-2006 (PDF file) here.

Audiences from across South Asia were amazed on March 28, when Sunera participants from our Colombo workshop performed at “Junction” the culmination of the “Beyond Borders” project.

“Beyond Borders” is an initiative by the British Council and seeks to create links between the UK, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. “Junction” took place as part of a two day festival featuring participants from across South Asia.

Sunera’s Colombo workshop performed “Hansa Geethaya”, first seen as part of last year’s Regional Performances. Again directed by our Assistant Creative Director Ramani Damayanthi, the combination of a poignant story, excellent acting and truly remarkable dance sequences kept audiences laughing and clapping for nearly an hour.

Sunera participants also got involved in headline act Bahtiya and Santhush’s performance, joining them onstage to dance along to their upbeat songs, inspiring many in the audience to join in.

This invitation to perform is only one of many in recent months as Sunera’s strengthens its reputation for turning out top quality productions. After blowing them away at both “Beyond Borders” and the CIMA Awards Dinner, and with three other performances scheduled for the near future, Sunera continues to work hard to spread our philosophy of hope to bigger and bigger audiences.

Sunera Foundation Chairperson Sunethra Bandaranaike was the latest guest of honour at the British Scholars Association on Tuesday March 14, 2006 – where she had been invited to give a talk on her work with Sunera Foundation.

Despite it being a Poya Day, the auditorium at the British Council was packed full of about 60 people, eager to learn more about our programmes. Ms Bandaranaike spoke for nearly an hour on why Sunera Foundation exists and how we work alongside the differently abled.

At the height of her speech, Ms Bandaranaike appealed directly to her audience to support Sunera’s work – either by providing funds or resources or, at the most essential level, by spreading our message that a differently-abled person has just as much right to a fulfilled life as anyone else.

Following her speech, Ms Bandaranaike was flooded with further questions about our work and offers for help both now and into the future.

Sunera Foundation workshop leaders enjoyed a special treat recently as they received a visit from Alison Skilbeck, a noted actress from the UK.

Alison, a long-time friend of our Chairperson Sunethra Bandaranaike, organised a special two-day workshop for our trainers to further develop their creative skills using new theatrical techniques.

Over the two days, our trainers were put through their paces on different theatrical aspects including: vocal work, storytelling, dialogue and scripts. At the end of the workshop, Alison praised the trainers for their attentiveness and willingness to learn .

Alison’s visit is merely the first of many expected under Sunera’s new drive to expose our workshop trainers to wider variety of theatrical types and practices.

Sunera Foundation launches Tsunami Theatre Outreach Project

‘Untitled’ by Druvinka

The Art Exhibition at Paradise Road Galleries in aid of Sunera Foundation has been declared a success following its closure on March 7, 2006.

The exhibit was originally scheduled to close on March 2, but was extended due to intense public interest in both the artworks and Sunera Foundation.

A sudden downpour of rain at the opening night gala did little to dampen the enthusiasm of prospective art buyers. Most of the pieces on display sold within two hours of the exhibition opening.

All proceeds went directly to Sunera.

Money raised will be put directly towards supporting our ongoing regular workshops right across the island.

Sunera would like to thank all those who bought a piece of art, the artists who contributed their time and talent and Paradise Road Galleries for completely covering the costs of the event.