Misty front man Rajitha Rupasinghe and lead female vocalist Melina Fernando perform at Claireport Banquet and Convention Centre. (Pictures by Mahesh Abeyewardene)
Top Sri Lankan band Misty entertained hundreds of guests at a dinner dance in aid of St. John’s Orphanage in Sri Lanka, the band was on their 10th tour of North America.
“This dance was made possible due to the convergence of a group of school friends from yesteryear from the ‘best school of all’, coming together to make a difference to a little child far away,” said Cheloyan Kanagasabapathy in a message to guests.
St. John’s Mission started in 1989 in Batticaloa on the east coast of Sri Lanka as a modest church organization. Their supporters envisioned the need for an institution to rehabilitate children and women suffering from the ethnic conflict.
BAND OF BROTHERS....Members of the Misty band with organizers of the dinner dance in aid of St. John's Children's Orphanage in Sri Lanka. These organizers were school mates from Sri Lanka who decided to put on a grand show for a worthy cause in Toronto. Organizers of the dance included;Cheliyan Kanagasapapathy, Sutharshan selvarajah, Ratnakumar Selvaratnam, Ajitha Gunawardene, Niroshan Selvarajah, Oral Selvadurai, Ravi Ravibalan, Samantha Herath and Nalin Wijesundara.
According to Rev. Jayanesan, supporters of the orphanage have decided to expand facilities and offer support to widows and vocational training to children so they may find employment after their studies. Plans were underway to set-up three orphanages, one boys’ home and two girls’ homes. These homes were for children who have lost parents or have been abandoned. These daycare centres were expected to provide nutritious food and milk to children.
Sri Lankan band Misty were on their 10th tour of North America.
“Our aim is to recruit at least 1000 individuals around the world to contribute £5 (approx. $8) per month,” said the statement from the campaign.
In the eastern sector, they are providing about 2000 children with food, about 400 children are in orphanages, and about 150 widows received loans, the statement added.
Misty drummer Dennis “The Menace” Alwis.
