In June 1997, I visited Sri Lanka and took some presents from Melbourne to be distributed among the inmates of the de Soysa Maternity Hospital in Colombo. Once I went there, I saw the conditions of the hospital which made me realise that I could do much better than merely give presents to individuals. I returned home to Melbourne planning a concert through which I’d try and raise a substantial amount of money in aid of this maternity hospital. As a result of this trip, I organised, directed, and presented “Concertina 5″ in Dandenong, Victoria on the 11th of October. This was a massive cultural concert which received the support of many Sri lankans in Melbourne. I had a variety of singers and dancers performing on the night together with my students and I raised a profit of AUD 1,800.00 which was sent to the de Soysa Maternity Hospital in Colombo, by me.
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- Chamara 6 and brother Kanchana 3 sing a popular Sinhala song
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- My older son Chamara sings a song about a mother’s love
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- A group of young dancers entertains the crowd
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- Gamini sings a popular Sinhala song of the 60’s.
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- Karu and Champika performing a scene from a comic act
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- Veteran Sinhala cultural artiste Karu and I sing a duet as usual.
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- Karu and wife Ramani sing a duet.
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- My students do their fabulous rainbow silk dance
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- Kumu, a dear friend and manager of my ”concert food stalls”, enjoyed singing on the night.
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- A good friend and an ardent supporter of my efforts, Kusum, gave me this beautiful bouquet of orchids
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- Me lighting the traditional lamp with Dandenong Mayor Greg Harris and his wife to inaugurate the musical evening
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- Expert announcer Ramani and I wrap up the night thanking the fantastic audience for their support
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- Rohana sings a patriotic Sinhala song
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- Thillaka sings her favourite Sinhala fast beat songs
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- A section of the performers young and old sing together.