Sri Lanka Cultural Event in California: Esala Perahera Re-Enacted

Posted by admin 8 September, 2008

When the historic Esala Perahera concluded in Sri Lanka, the replica of the same pageant was staged in Los Angeles, California last weekend by the Sri Lanka Foundation of California.

About 10,000 participants patronized the Sri Lankan cultural events during a ten-hour period.

The Esala Perahera was complete with a well decorated tusker, Kandyan dancers, Nilames and other items normally associated with this historic pageant.

The Sri Lanka cultural extravaganza was held at the 3rd Street promenade in Santa Monica, California.

It was a great success judging by the depth of participation and the strong sense of oneness exhibited by the Sri Lankans. It helped Sri Lankan businesses to introduce themselves to the large crowd present. There were over 30 booths providing unlimited access to everyone to enjoy Sri Lankan products, food, books, records, and items of cultural value.

The brain-child behind this cultural event, third year in succession, is the head of the Sri Lanka Foundation in California Dr. Walter Jayasinghe who has summoned varying talents, expertise and cooperation from the vast Sri Lankans scattered in the State of California to make events of this nature extremely successful.

He is the initiator of Annual Award Ceremony recognizing talents, contributions and achievements of Sri Lankan expatriates in the United States.

Dr. Jayasinghe’s efforts over the years have exposed Sri Lankan cultural practices, norms and their richness to the American community while bringing togetherness in the expatriate community. In fact, his Foundation has reached to Sri Lankan expatriates in many other States in the U.S.

Sri Lankan music was provided by Indu Wickremasinghe, Shehan Kanhanda, vocals were given by Anishka and Chatuni. Short plays were presented by Kanthi Jayasinghe depicting Sinhala and Tamil New Year, and Wesak and a traditional Sri Lankan Wedding. Another play presented the ancient story of Andare, the Royal Court jester of the era of Kingdoms in ancient Sri Lanka.

Dr. Walter Jayasinghe was working very closely with the former Sri Lanka Consul General of the Western States, now the Sri Lanka ambassador in Washington, Jaliya Wickramasuriya in exposing Sri Lankan culture, trade and investments to the American people and entrepreneurs.