The National Youth Services Council (NYSC), in collaboration with the Japanese Solidarity Association (JSA) and the Embassy of Japan, successfully hosted the Bon Odori Festival 2024 at the NYSC premises in Maharagama. Despite the rainy weather, a significant crowd of both Sri Lankan and Japanese nationals attended the festival, highlighting the strong cultural ties between the two nations.
A customary Japanese festival, the Bon Odori Festival honours and says adieu to ancestor spirits. The event this year included a diverse array of acts and events that highlighted the lively customs of Sri Lanka and Japan.
The festival featured a Bon Odori dance to popular songs “Tokyo Ondo” and “Tanko Bushi,” which were performed by students from the Japanese School in Colombo and the Lanka Nippon BizTech Institute (LNBTI). In addition to the Bon Dance, the following performances have given the cultural event a captivating touch: • Traditional Japanese drum performances (Wadaiko) by students from the Japanese School in Colombo and NYSC • The Japanese dance “Nanchu Soran,” performed by students from the Japanese School in Colombo • Karate performances by NYSC students • J-Pop dance routines by LNBTI students • Japanese and Sinhala songs performed by JICA Volunteers and • A blend of traditional Japanese and Sri Lankan dances by NYSC students.
With her live performance, a renowned Japanese singer and long-time supporter of JICA, Ms. Mayo Shono, who was in Sri Lanka for the third time, brought this year’s Bon Odori event a splash of colour and vibrancy with her dulcet voice. Distinguished participants graced the occasion, including Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, H.E. Mr. MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Mr. Pasindu Gunaratne, Chairman of NYSC, and Mr. HOTTA Mikinaga, President of JSA.
Numerous food vendors from well-known Japanese eateries, such as Nihonbashi, Sushi Bar Samurai, Yamato, Ginza Hohsen, Kuuraku, Minori, Shikisen, and Sakura Coffee Farm, were present in the festival grounds. In addition, the NYSC cooking class also had its stall, offering a diverse range of Japanese cuisine and popular Sri Lankan dishes. The event also featured stalls from the Origami Folders Association of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Bonsai Association, JICA volunteers, Japanese Solidarity Association Bazaar, and the Japanese local government promotion by the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
The Bon Odori Festival 2024 was a resounding success, where even the heavy rain not just could not douse the enthusiasm but rather turned out to be stoking log for further strengthening the cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Sri Lanka. The organizers extend their heartfelt thanks to all participants, sponsors, and attendees for their support and participation, which made the event a memorable celebration of friendship and cultural heritage.
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia, his agent has announced
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age of 87, his agent has announced.
The film and television performer is best known for starring in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as Admiral Piett, an imperial officer in command of Darth Vader’s flagship.
He died peacefully at his home in Ashford, Kent, on Monday after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia, his agent Julian Owen said in a statement.
“Ken Colley was one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years,” Mr Owens said.
“Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python’s Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure for the BBC.”
The statement said Colley had been admitted to hospital with an injured arm after a fall, but he quickly contracted Covid which developed into pneumonia.
He died with friends at his bedside, it added.
In later years, Colley reprised his role of Admiral Piett when he voiced the character in the 2012 animated Lego production, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.
He also had parts in international productions including Clint Eastwood’s Firefox and the Second World War series War and Remembrance.
Mr Owen said Colley’s paticipation in Star Wars led him to being invited to conventions and fan events all over the world.
“Ken also loved his garden, art collecting and had a passion for fast cars,” he added.
Colley is also known for playing Jesus in Monty Python’s Life of Brian alongside John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin.
A judge has denied bail to Sean “Diddy” Combs after a jury convicted the hip-hop mogul of transportation to engage in prostitution, but acquitted him of the most serious charges: racketeering and sex-trafficking.
Lawyers for the recording artist had argued he posed no flight risk, pointing out his jet is being chartered in Hawaii.
But Judge Arun Subramanian cited Combs’ history of violence as he ruled the rapper must remain behind bars until sentencing later this year when he faces up to 20 years in prison.
In the nearly two-month federal trial in New York City, prosecutors accused Combs of using his celebrity status and business empire to run a criminal enterprise to sex traffic women.
A panel of 12 jurors deliberated for 13 hours before acquitting Combs of three of the most serious five charges.
He will continue to be held at the same federal jail in Brooklyn where he has been detained since last September.
The sentencing was tentatively scheduled for 3 October.
It has been officially announced that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will indeed be joining the grand opening of the “City of Dreams Sri Lanka” on Aug. 02 as a special guest.
The “City of Dreams Sri Lanka” has confirmed this in a statement on Facebook.