Diwali Ball on the Paradise Beach

17^th of October 2013 will be an evening to celebrate the most colourful and talked about Diwali Ball in Sri Lanka.

The Colombo Indian Association (Colind) with a commitment to preserve, promote and celebrate the Indian heritage through cultural and social functions will present the Diwali Ball on the Paradise Beach. This ongoing commitment of the Association of the Indian culture is made evident by the organizing of the Holi on the Beach which was a grand success. And now presents the Diwali Ball on the Paradise Beach. The Association works amongst the broader Sri Lankan community to share fun and celebration of Diwali.

India’s festival of lights or Diwali is a much anticipated event all around the world and now Mount Lavinia Hotel is set to shine this most loved event yet with a twist to the event by celebrating it on the beach. This festival of lights will be illuminated with an amazing fireworks display all courtesy Colind group.

Some of the food on offer will be:

·         Vegetable Biriyani

·         Tawa Parata / Naan

·         Dhal Maharani

·         Vegetable Achari

·         Palak Paneer

·         Kashmiri Dum Aloo

·         Bhindi Dopiaza

·         Butter Chicken

·         Mutton Roganjosh

·         Fish Amritsari, are just a few to mention and not forgetting the Chaat Counter with Papdi Chaat, Tandoori Chicken Chaat and many more varieties of Chaat 

Diwali on the beach will be a festival of joy and merriment illuminated with diyas or candles, Bollywood Grooves by a DJ, Dancing performances by Chandana’s Dance Team, Indian fare specially made by Chef Singh, Henna, and much more

This year Colind invites all Sri lankans to come and join this celebration and dance to the tunes of Bollywood and be a part of this fun filled, entertaining evening.

Tickets are open for everyone and not just members and is available at Mango Tree Restaurant and PLATINUM1 @ #1 Bagatalle Road, Colombo3 Phone: 0787811111.  Adults: Rs4000/- Children Rs2000/-. 

Colombo Oktoberfest 2013 is here again to celebrate the best of Bavaria!!

The biggest peoples fair is back with loads fun and excitement for the whole family. Colombo Oktoberfest is back again this year, bigger and better than ever with five full days of fun and celebration. At an all new venue, the Havelock Sports Club Grounds, the festivities will start on the 9th of October and will continue till the 13th, offering an excellent blend of music, food and beverages for fun loving people.

Havelock Sports Club Grounds will take on a carnival atmosphere with countless stalls offering good food, games and entertainment for the entire family. The delicious food available at the festival will include must-have Oktoberfest specialties and authentic German cuisine prepared exclusively by German Chef Andreas Pflugmacher of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, who has been flown in for the occasion. “People who come to Colombo Oktoberfest at the Havelock Sports Club Grounds will be able to experience a traditional German feast and Chef Andreas will definitely provide the best fare possible,” said Bazeer Cassim, General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel sharing his thoughts on the available delicacies.

Bavarian hostesses and a traditional Bavarian ‘Oompah’ band called The October Stad`l Hubers will be flown in by SriLankan Airlines to share the true spirit of Oktoberfest. The Bavarian hostesses dressed in traditional Oktoberfest costumes will join the festivities handing out drinks to the crowds while The October Stad`l Hubers will provide live music, an essential item in any Oktoberfest. Popular local band Glory will also join from time to time, bringing more variety to the mix of musical styles. “Colombo Oktoberfest will be an ideal festival to experience all things Bavarian,” said Pradeep Durairaj, Brand & Promotions Manager of SriLankan Airlines, reflecting on the entertainment at the Festival. “We hope that the entertainers will experience Sri Lankan hospitality at its best and share their experience with their friends around the world.”

This five day celebration will include traditional Oktoberfest games such as barrel rolling, hammer strength testing, pretzel tossing and more while firework displays and carnival rides will also be available to add to the excitement. For motor enthusiasts, Mercedes-Benz will display several cars including the A-Class from their latest collection. “The cars on display features the new design element of Mercedes-Benz and will definitely appeal to the young at heart” said Mr. Rajeev Pandithage, Deputy General Manager – Mercedes-Benz Sales - DIMO.

The Colombo Oktoberfest is presented by Mount Lavinia Hotel, Havelock Sports Club, CoCa Cola, Mercedes-Benz from DIMO and SriLankan Airlines while the electronic media partners are Gold and Sun FM.

Oktoberfest is a time for joy, with heaps of food, cool brews and entertainment. It is a celebration for the whole family where young and old alike can have the time of their lives. A festival not to be missed, so come join in the celebration of all things Bavarian!

Great Gatsby theme with No Purse Required to ring in the New Year Eve celebrations at MLH

Mount Lavinia Hotel’s vision to revive its iconic status in a brand new decade with creating unique initiatives towards igniting the senses on culture, music, food, and innovativeness, is indeed showing true colours in the last quarter of 2013; October dawns three unique experiences with October highlighting Faulty Towers Dining Experience, with Probably the Best Oktoberfest and finally New Year’s eve takes on the swinging twenties yet with a modern twist screaming with opulence and grandeur, hence it is no secret what Mount Lavinia Hotel wants to achieve.

“This year it is going to be the biggest Night and we called it No purse needed with whatever you want wherever you want, to bring out the best of the destination, unlimited premium drinks, food, food to go, even smokes and not forgetting the gaming area.”

Live music by Anno Domini at the Empire Ballroom will be named the “Long Island Dansz”. The Lineup of Anno Domini:

·         Shehan Perera (Leader -Vocals/Guitar/Drums) – Shehan was a founding member and lead vocalist of the Double Golden Clef award-winning band “Damage” (“Most Popular Band and Most Promising Band”), and the band “Raid”.

·         Senaka Pereira (Drums/Percussion/Vocals) – A seasoned drummer, Senaka has in the past played with popular bands such as “Horizon”, “Déjà vu” (winners at Onstage) and “Kreb’s Cycle” (Golden Clef Awards – “Rock Band of the Year” and Winners at Onstage). His favorite styles are Blues and Country.

·         Timal Jayamanne (Bass/Vocals) – Formerly of “X-Crt”, “Rage” and “Cross Section”, Timal is a versatile musician possessing a wealth of experience and has been a regular face in Colombo’s Jazz scene. He is a committee member of Colombo’s “Jazz Unlimited”.

·         Thushantha Kottachchi (Guitar/Vocals) – Thushantha has in the past played in popular bands Deflection, Phase 3 and Cosmic Rays. His favourite styles are Rock and Country music.

·         Rukshan Aponso (Keyboards/Vocals) - Rukshan was a co-founding member of the band “Grey Mind Domain” - finalists at TNL Onstage in 2007. He also plays guitar and bass. Rukshan’s favorite styles of music are Jazz, Blues and Progressive Rock. Rukshan is also well-versed in choral singing, being a member of the “Old Joes Choir”.

Asserting to be a retro band they also play genre of music ranging from standards to Dance, Pop, Reggae, Latin, Jazz, Country, Blues, Folk, Rock, Ballads and Sri Lankan music.

Priced at LKR19,900/-nett the venues will liven up would be Governor’s Rooftop will be the Shots and Smokes, Lower Lobby will be the Samba, Terrace will have a live DJ, Governors Restaurant will have an excessive Dessert Buffet, Horizon Room will be the Gaming and Daisy’s Voice Lounge, and much more. For details call 2711 430.

Diwali Ball at the Paradise Beach

Nostalgic reminiscence surface at the Mount Lavinia Hotel

I am sure that you would have visited the famed MLH and wondered what makes them a 206 year old property and what it would be like to see of how the British built this white mansion. Well the many reconstruction areas that are occurring at present at MLH indeed has done justice to the sweat and toil shed for the building of the property. Well it certainly isn’t that the hotel is trying to locate materials of yesteryear, but indeed all this construction has surfaced historical evidence of the grand old dame. The bricks or mortar that was used to build the edifice and fissures expected of ordinary limestone formations, became very significant when the construction of the service elevator shaft of the Governor’s Restaurant began. Also as one of the Engineers stated Mount Lavinia or the Governor’s palace was built on a rocky promontory and parts of the rock were found which was indeed a wonderful uncovering.

No place has been significant than the MLH as it has been more associated with mystery, love, romance and the marvel of colonialism and is seemingly resting on the rocky promontory a stroll from the Indian Ocean. Recognized today as the iconic heritage hotel, the Mount Lavinia Hotel boasts of the beauty that surrounds and the love and romance that is rainbowed over the property. Applying these building material sleuthing to this magnificent mansion built in 1805, these quarry helped confirm what others had speculated—that it was built on a rock and the sweat and toil of the British reign.

Oktoberfest 2013

A Perfect blend of Contemporary and Classics this NYE

Gatsby at the Mount!