Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary School’s annual talent show, “Balboa’s Got Talent 2024,” was held on May 30th, 2024, and two students from the Sri Lanka Foundation Academy of Performing Arts managed to steal the show. Vosandi Kavithya and Sethumi Athukorala delivered a performance that left the audience in awe, showcasing their talent and exceeding expectations for their age group. The girls set the stage ablaze with a modern rendition of “Suraba Walliya,” a traditional Sri Lankan low country dance. “Suraba Walliya” is a type of “kolam natum,” which translates to “mask dance,” and is typically performed by women. The performance is accompanied by a unique melody and the rhythmic beats of the low country drum. The lyrics themselves describe the joy experienced by the audience, the dancer, and even the gods as the “Suraba Walliya” unfolds. Kavithya and Athukorala’s modern take on this cultural treasure captivated the audience. Their
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On Sunday, January 28, 2024, the Sri Lanka Foundation auditorium buzzed with anticipation and excitement as participants gathered for the “Awaken Your Inner Warrior” workshop. Hosted by the Sri Lanka Foundation Academy of Performing Arts, this event promised a journey into self-discovery, anti-aging techniques, stress release, mindfulness, and breathing exercises, led by the esteemed spiritual instructor Nadil Silva. Nadil Silva, a Sri Lankan native currently residing in Sweden, brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the workshop. With a BSc from the University of Peradeniya and an MSc from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Nadil’s academic background is as impressive as his practical expertise. He is actively engaged in martial arts and a respected figure in cultural mediation, combining these disciplines to offer a unique and holistic approach to spiritual instruction. The workshop began with a warm welcome from Achala Weerasinghe, the Operational Director of the Sri Lanka Foundation
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On Sunday, May 19th, 2024, a distinguished delegation from the Accrediting Commission of Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) conducted the six-year accreditation review of the Sri Lanka Foundation Academy of Performing Arts (APA). This review follows the Academy’s initial accreditation in 2019, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards academic excellence and continuous improvement. The school’s evaluation aligned rigorously with the ACS WASC Self-Study criteria, ensuring a thorough and multifaceted assessment. Key areas of focus included organization for student learning, curriculum, instruction and assessment, student personal and academic support, and the overall school culture and environment. Elizabeth Oberreiter, Director of ACS WASC, led the on-site evaluation with a meticulous approach. Her visit involved detailed classroom observations, providing insights into instructional quality and student engagement. Ms. Oberreiter engaged in comprehensive discussions with randomly selected parents and students. She also observed the academy’s resources, including the library,
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The Sri Lanka Foundation Academy of Performing Arts (SLF APA) students recently delivered a captivating performance at the Mystique Fusion event hosted by the Sri Lanka Muslim Association of California (SLMAC) in Los Angeles, California. This event was held on Sunday, 28 January 2024, at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, serving a noble cause: the fight against cancer. The exclusive ladies’ affair was a fundraiser fashion show supporting cancer research and awareness initiatives. It brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, all united in their commitment to combating this pervasive disease. Against the backdrop of elegance and purpose, the talented performers from the SLF APA showcased their skills, captivating the audience with their artistry and passion. Their mesmerizing performance added grace to the event, highlighting the power of art in spreading messages of hope and solidarity. Behind all these stellar performances stood Achala Weerasinghe, the Director of the Academy
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The Sri Lanka Foundation Academy of Performing Arts (SLF APA) gave a spectacular performance at the grand celebration of Sri Lanka’s 76th Independence Day in Los Angeles, California. This event was held with immense pride and patriotic fervor, and was a true testament to the cultural richness and heritage of Sri Lanka. The Independence Day anniversary was celebrated by the Counsel General Office of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles with the Sri Lanka America Association of Southern California, bringing together Sri Lankan expatriates and friends of Sri Lanka. The talented dancers from the SLF APA took center stage, captivating the audience with their mesmerizing performance. The island nation’s rich cultural tapestry was celebrated with the rhythmic beats and the graceful movements of Kandyan dance. As the melodies of traditional music filled the air and the dancers moved in perfect harmony, spectators were reminded of the profound connection that binds them
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මගේ සිරිලක ගැන – ලොවට කියමි මම​ සුරපුරයක් වෙන – ලොවේ මෙවැනි නැත​ සරු පස පොළොවෙ න් – වැහි බිඳු අහසි න් මුතු කැට මිණී කැට – මගෙ සිරිලක ඇත​. (By Miranda Hemalatha) February 4th marked the 76th anniversary of Sri Lanka gaining independence from colonial rule. Sri Lankan National Day, also referred to as Independence Day, is a significant Sri Lankan holiday observed annually. It celebrates the nation’s liberation from British colonial rule in 1948. This commemoration is widely celebrated nationwide with various festivities, including flag-hoisting ceremonies, vibrant dances, captivating parades, and cultural performances, symbolizing the spirit of unity and national pride. The Southern California celebration of Sri Lanka’s 76th National Independence Day occurred on February 3rd, 2024. The Independence Day anniversary was celebrated by the Counsel General Office of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles with the Sri Lanka America Association of Southern California, bringing together Sri Lankan expatriates
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The Sri Lanka Foundation Academy of Performing Arts (SLF APA) has begun accepting students for the 2024 school year. The school held its annual enrollment event on January 14th, 2024, and warmly welcomed a new batch of students with great enthusiasm and pride. This year, the school had its highest number of enrollments of any previous year. Parents and prospective students had the opportunity to meet with currently enrolled students and teachers to get familiarized with how the school operates and the benefits of learning Sri Lankan cultural dance. The APA teachers all gave very encouraging and insightful speeches to further elaborate on how cultural dance enriches ones life and applies to all aspects of life. APA past graduates and existing students also addressed those in attendance and shared their experiences. The event began with the Director of the Academy of Performing Arts, Achala Weerasinghe, warmly welcoming the student body,
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On Saturday, December 10th, 2022, the Sri Lanka Foundation Academy of Performing Arts (SLF APA), founded in 2015 and Accredited in 2019, held its second inaugural graduation ceremony at the Mindfulness Meditation Center in Covina, California. Senuri Pilana Manage, with her indomitable courage, effort, and commitment, became another successful graduate of Kandyan dance in our second Siraspath Palandaweeme Mangalya (Graduation) ceremony. She is a senior student who participates in online and in-person dance classes at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF APA). She was exploring to gain knowledge and new experiences through her learning process. Sri Lanka has a unique and rich traditional dance history of over 2500 years. Sri Lankan traditional dances offer worship, healing and meditation processes, sickness, and invoking blessings. Sri Lankan Traditional Dance graduation is called a “Kalaeli Mangalya.” When a Kandyan dance student has been dancing for several years and has
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This year, Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF) showcased a blissful finale to the year 2022 with the Academy of Performing Arts (APA) traditional Dancing Concert at Disney California Adventure Park Hollywood Backlot stage on the 26th of November. Flared with the festive vibe of the holidays, this event had the audience bubbling with joy in anticipation of the breathtaking performances of the members of APA, much like previous concerts of APA at Disneyland with much enthusiasm and awe. The ceremony was glorified by the presence of the Chairman, Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, President/CEO, Dr. Dishan Jayasinha, Vice President, Mrs. Aeshea Jayasinghe, Mrs. Zuigly Jayasinha, and the COO, Shirani Stanislaus of SLF. The students and the teachers of APA, and the community performers were zealous by the honor of their presence at the event. The show was set in motion with a beautiful Managalam Dance, welcoming all the spectators and guests, performed by
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Sri Lanka Day Expo & Parade, a virtual Global Celebration, was launched in the United States on the Sri Lanka Foundation International Virtual Platform on August 13th and 14th, 2022 to showcase the rich artistic tradition, embracing the fine arts including music, dance and visual arts. Throughout the two-day festivities, the featured events staged from around the world when the sights and sounds and the unique taste of Sri Lanka virtually came alive. Mesmerizing dance and music performances were staged throughout the two days. It featured Sri Lankan traditional music, dances, art, and theatre staged from USA, Sri Lanka, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, U.K., and India. Hope you enjoyed watching the spectacular performances by Sanduani Sulochani Dance Group and the Senior Dance Troupe of Bishops College from Sri Lanka which was featured in the last weeks SLF News. This week we are featuring two more Amazing
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