Leona Fest 2005 was a great day of fun for the Lion Ladies of Lions International District 306C1. Lion ladies from all parts of the District participated in this grand event which was held at Mahaweli Reach Hotel Kandy a few weeks ago. An unusable feature of the event was the Lion Ladies keeping the event to themselves and not inviting the men (Lions).
The day was full with a variety of events starting from games in the morning where all the ladies participated.

The afternoon was made very enjoyable with a sing along of oldies backed by Michael Sansoni and Sansoni. A fancy dress Baila dance competition and the competition of the funniest Beauty Queen were full of humor.

Cliff Richard compeered the event with his usual energy and creativity.
The chairperson of the project was the first lady of the District Lion Lady Indrani Wijeyeweera. Governor's Program Coordinator for Lion Ladies Programs and Regional Chairperson Lion Dilini Gunasekera co-chaired the event.

Although the Lions were not allowed to come there were a few exceptions. They were District Governor Lion Luxhman Wijeyeweera, Judge of the Events Lion Lasantha Fonseka, Cabinet Secretary Lion Hemasiri de Silva, Coordinator of Sports Events Lion Chandana Ekanayake, and the official photographer of the project Lion Dudley Gunetileke who assisted the Lion Ladies to organize the event.

Palliyaguruge's Poetry Captures Pain, Pathos and Comfort Says Professor Halpe

Asoka Palliyaguruge's poems capture “the pain, pathos and comforts of everyday experiences, and others give glimpses of much loved landscapes and some are thumbnail morality sketches” said Kalakeerthi Professor Ashley Halpe when he recently addressed a gathering of poetry lovers at the Alliance Francaise, Kandy. Professor Halpe who is Emeritus Professor of English at Peradeniya University was the Guest of Honor at a Poetry Evening based on Palliyaguruge's collection of poems titled 'The Bower Bird and Other Poems.” All in all she achieves a generous human presence with her poetry, he added.

Poetry had been Palliyaguruge's childhood obsession. She had won several poetry competitions on the 'FORUM' column of the Daily Mirror of yesteryear. Her stint as an administrator in major development projects such as Gal Oya, Uda Walawe and Mahaweli took her to unexplored and exciting areas that had inspired her poetic mind.