Sri Lanka continues to cause concern despite change in leadership
Welcome to the latest (May 15, 2022) Digital Edition of Indian Newslink
Venkat Raman
Auckland, May 16, 2022
Festivals of South India bring culture, cuisine and colours
With just a week left for the Second Annual Indian Newslink Festivals of South India, there is considerable excitement among 200 people in the Indian Newslink camp. Of them, about 120 are performers, researchers, choreographers, producers and directors of traditional dances of South India. They have got together to deliver the cultural extravaganza on Monday, May 23, 2022, from 6 pm at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, Auckland.
Indian High Commission in Wellington is presenting the event along with the newly formed Federation of South Indian Associations New Zealand and commercial undertakings as sponsors.
The excitement is shared by Mana Andhra Telugu Association New Zealand, Telangana Association of New Zealand, Auckland Tamil Association, Auckland Malayali Samajam and the New Zealand Kannada Koota as Support Sponsors. The event will be held on Monday, May 23, 2022, at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, 145, New North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland.
Masters of Ceremonies
Sreekala Srihari and Karthick C are the two main Masters of Ceremonies while each of the States represented by regional associations will have its Master/s of Ceremonies.
Aishwarya Koka (who, along with Bhargavi Matta owns and manages Rhythm Dance Academy) has provided the voice-over for a couple of items and she will be supported in the State segments by Harika Garikipati (Andhra), Sheethal Allam (Telangana), Aswini Swaminathan and Jennifer Vijayalaxmi (Tamil Nadu), Juliya Sabu (Kerala) and Vijayashree Bhat and Adhvika Agastya (Karnataka).
Kumuda Setty is choreographing and directing a special item as the Finale, incorporating one of the most interesting aspects of South India.
We have determinedly retained the traditional aspect of music and dance, for they are the true forms of performing arts that have sustained for centuries, inspiring many of our young people to practice them. We salute parents, teachers and elders in our communities for conscientiously encouraging children to learn these forms of arts, practice and present them on stage.
Festivals of South India would be a tribute to their patronage.
Tickets for the Programme, priced at $34.50 per person and tables seating ten persons each at $345 (including GST) are now available with the officials of the Associations.
For further information, please call 021-836528 or Email: venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
In this issue, we have discussed the developments in Sri Lanka and the efforts of the recently sworn-in Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe to revive the economy, stimulate growth and employment and more important, halt the spiralling inflation.
All essential commodities have gone beyond the reach of common people and there is mounting anger among the masses; the ire was directed towards Mahinda Rajapakse who was forced to resign from the post of Prime Minister.
Mr Wickramasinghe has been a friend of Indian Newslink for more than 15 years and we know that he will draw upon his rich experience in public administration to address the daunting issues and restore public order in the first instance and ease the pressure on common people.
“The economy is ‘broken,’ he said, and asked his people to hold on to their patience and assured them: “I bring things back.”
Even by his standards, that appears to be a tall promise. Sri Lanka has been in a state of crisis for years now, the worse perhaps since the civil war that tore into the social fabric, But this time, there is no mood to forgive the Rajapakse family of the President, former Prime Minister, other Ministers and high-ranking officials.
Mr Wickremesinghe was sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, an appointment that has largely been seen with scepticism as he is seen as too close to the politically dominant Rajapaksa family to make any significant changes.
He agrees that public administration rotted under Mahinda Rajapakse, who as the Prime Minister, presided over a corrupt, self-serving government; the administrative machinery is reported to have come to a grinding halt, with no one keen on taking on the responsibility.
Mr Wickramasinghe even agreed with the protestors to a large extent but not on their call to President Gotabaya Rajapakse to resign.
“Blaming won’t lead to action, I am here to see people nourished. And I am going to change all the policies of the Rajapakse government.”
There are many other stories, analyses and features in the latest issue, covering current affairs, education, Fiji, business, opinion, community, entertainment and sports. Please read and share with your associates, colleagues, family and friends.
