Miss Sri Lanka Canada USA 2011 Andrea Michaely Sriskandarajah flanked by 1st Runner-Up Bianca Rasathurai (Right) and 2nd Runner-up Noeline Pereira (Left).
Eighteen-year-old Andrea Sriskandarajah, a university student who harbours ambitions of working for the UN, beat 13 other contestants to claim the coveted crown of Miss Sri Lanka Canada USA 2011 at a glittering beauty pageant held at the Hilton Suites Conference Centre in Markham Ontario.
The event, the only one of its kind being held in Toronto among the members of the Sri Lankan community in Canada and the USA on a regular basis was presented by the widely-read monthly Sri Lanka Reporter and sponsored by Meleni David Law Offices, Meleni Homes and Sorkkam.
Andrea won the top prize of $5000, a return air ticket to Sri Lanka offered by SriLankan airlines, a free return air ticket to Los Angeles and all-expenses-paid four-day stay.
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Rasathurai, First Runner up of the bevy of 14 young hopefuls, who wants to study psychology in Chicago, Illinois, received a return air ticket to London, England, offered by Globe Air Travel and a host of other prizes.
Miss Sri Lanka Canada USA 2011 Andrea Michealy Sriskandarajah poses for a photo at Hilton Suites Toronto Conference Center.
Twenty-one year old Noeline Pereira, a student of Human Resources, was the Second Runner-up received a return air ticket to Cuba offered by VMS Travels and Tours.
All the contestants were subjected to tough scrutiny by a panel of judges with wide-ranging international and national experience and having expertise in a variety of professions.
This was the fifth beauty pageant staged by the Sri Lanka Reporter since 1998 and judging by the public response and meticulous presentation the events have matured over the years keeping pace with changing trends of technology, yet keeping the original ideals of helping aspiring young women to discover their beauty and enrich latent talent.
Sri Lankan entertainer Desmond de Silva specially flew from Australia for the pageant.
The Showcase, the backup band led by Sampath Edirisinghe, began the proceedings with a number from the Ventures, a US band popular in Sri Lanka in the 70s, pointing to the direction the music would be heading in the evening, the only exception being the bouncy pop number from the recent charts sung by Hashani Welikala.
Roshan Gabriel’s rendition of the Tamil version of Golden Chimes hit Kanda Suriduni drew the revelers to the dance floor and since then was no pause to dancing. With Desmond’s appearance things took a different turn. He sang his own originals, along with cover songs of western pop stars. There were more and more bailas that made the audience restless and crave for even more till the early hours of the morning. Desmond gave everything that was expected of him from his wide repertoire.
Desmond de Silva kept the massive crowd on their feet.
The success of the show did not rest on a few individuals alone. It was a massive collaboration with many people selflessly devoting their time and energy to bring the community together for an unforgettable evening and those involved were offered bouquets in appreciation of their services. The 2011 pageant was not something limited to Canada. The whole show was webcast on the Internet along with running commentary and live interviews.
Dr. Ramya Fernando was adjudged the most fashionably dressed lady. Mali Perera won the gate prize, a return air ticket to Sri Lanka, offered by SriLankan Airlines.
