JOY AND GOODWILL SHARING AND CARING THIS SEASON
This year, there will be a different feel to Christmas. And to New Year’s Eve. We will celebrate these joyful days with a renewed sense of gratitude and a keener awareness of our good fortune.
So many of the lovely people we feature in Living’s annual seasonal edition express this awakened awareness; they highlight the precious gift of personal prosperity and the will to celebrate the season in the right spirit.
We are delighted that Living’s 10 seasonal celebrities shared their thoughts with us both generously and graciously – our star-studded cast includes Charini Suriyage, fashiondesigner and owner of CHARINI designer brand; Deepak Shanmuganathan, lifestyle and fitness model,and marketing and PR consultant; Nadine Samarasinghe, performing artiste and opera singer, and founder of Nadine’s Academy of Music; Matheesha Pathirana, the young Sri Lankan cricketing sensation; Charlene Thuring, fashion designer, and owner of C.H.A.R.L.E.N.E. brand swim and active wear; Hesh de Silva, owner of the news and media website HESH, and a banker; Binu Narangoda, professional saxophonist; Pramukshi Kariyawasam, Director-Brand Marketing, Loyalty & Partnerships of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts; Bhanuka Harischandra, founder and Chief Growth Officer of Surge Global and Saara Abeywardane, professional dancer, fitness model and choreographer.
But we must not forget that this is a time to be joyful too – for what is life without its joys?
And Christmas is about joy as much as it’s about goodwill. So we wish you joy – and plenty – and celebration with friends and family, replete with as many trappings of Christmas and the new year festivities as possible.
CHARINI SURIYAGE
Q: What will you wear for that special seasonal occasion this year?
A: My mind is set on a short, gold sequin dress which I’ll be designing for myself.
Q: What was the highlight of the year for you?
A: I celebrate every day. Therefore, what I decide to do every day is a highlight for me. A simple thing like taking the children to the beach or showcasing at an international fashion show is a highlight for me.
Q: Name a famous person you have dressed – and what was that experience like?
A: Livia Firth. She is just beautiful. And the fact that she places such an emphasis on sustainable fashion definitely made it even more wonderful.
Q: When and where was your last holiday?
A: Just before this shoot – trekking in Horton Plains, which is my favourite place in Sri Lanka.
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: A little bit naughty and a little bit nice.
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: I can’t pick one!
Charini Suriyage
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
Silent Night
FOOD
Christmas pudding
MOVIE
The Holiday
TRADITION
Santa coming home on Christmas Eve with presents for the children
CHRISTMAS
All about sharing with loved ones
NEW YEAR
Prepping for an even better year
2022
Tested my resilience
LOVE
Keeps everything alive
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Take better care of my health
Work smarter so that I’m less stressed at work
Spend more quality time with family
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
A full spa day
A new pair of red heels
Watch a Christmas movie with family… drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows
Kingsman Studio
Buddhi Batiks
LIMAK by KAMIL
DEEPAK SHANMUGANATHAN
Q: What are the favourite seasonal events you look forward to?
A: The many Christmas parties!
Q: Which carol do you get tired of hearing – and why is it ‘that one’?
A: Winter Wonderland. Isn’t it about a couple’s romance during the winter season? Meh!
Q: What’s the gift you have always wanted for Christmas and never received?
A: A French bulldog puppy.
Q: What are you looking forward to in 2023?
A: A lower cost of living!
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: Naughty but nice!
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: Live and let live. Let’s celebrate our differences.
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
O Holy Night
FOOD
Breudher with cheese
MOVIE
The Polar Express
TRADITION
Gift giving
CHRISTMAS
Acknowledging and celebrating the birth of Jesus
NEW YEAR
A new beginning
2022
Could have been a whole lot better
LOVE
Doesn’t conquer all
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Stick to a meal plan
Better time management
Travel more
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
A French bulldog puppy
An all-expenses paid trip around the world
World peace! (So that I don’t sound too superficial)
NADINE SAMARASINGHE
Q: What is the carol you most enjoy singing and why is it special to you?
A: O Holy Night. It’s special to me because that was one of the first solos I did as a child during Christmas carols in school.
Q: If you could have one beauty wish, what would it be?
A: To have better skin.
Q: What plans have you made to celebrate the season – and do they include music?
A: The usual family get togethers that we have every year! Music-wise, I’m also having a year end show with my students from the academy.
Q: What does your family do that’s quirky to celebrate the season?
A: Well, nothing really quirky… just the traditional stuff.
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: Nice!
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: Helping someone anyway I can especially during these hard times.
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
O Holy Night
FOOD
Christmas pudding with ice cream
MOVIE
Home Alone
TRADITION
Opening gifts near the tree on Christmas day morning and going to church
CHRISTMAS
Spending time with family and helping those who are in need
NEW YEAR
It’s so important to start the New Year with people you care about the most
2022
Not the best – thanks to COVID-19
LOVE
Always the most important aspect in your life
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Eat less junk food
Work on my music
Travel
CHRISTMAS WISH
To make my family happy
Cook
Help those in need
MATHEESHA PATHIRANA
Q: Who will you be celebrating the season with – teammates or your family?
A: Family.
Q: What do you indulge in – perhaps forgetting the calories and your fitness regime – at Christmas time?
A: Travel with my family and friends.
Q: What’s the best seasonal gift you have received – and why is it the best?
A: The first opportunity to take part in an international cricket league.
Q: What cricketing memorabilia would you most like to receive as a gift?
A: A purple cap in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: Nice!
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: Good health and happiness to all beings.
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
Joy to the World
FOOD
Christmas cake
MOVIE
Home Alone
TRADITION
Decorating the Christmas tree
CHRISTMAS
A season to help each other and spread love
NEW YEAR
A new good start to make things better with the learning from past failures
2022
A year that made most of my dreams come true
LOVE
Sharing and caring
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Spend more time with family
Learn a new hobby
Be more organised
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
Personalised perfume
Personalised cricket boots
Charitable gifts
CHARLENE THURING
Q: What street food would you consider including in your Christmas meal – and why?
A: That’s a difficult question! Maybe a vegetable samosa as it goes best with my duck special and honey glazed ham. And you can’t go wrong with vegetable samosas. C’mon!
Q: What would you give your dog for Christmas – and how does it celebrate with you?
A: Growing up, we always got practical and useful gifts for Christmas. And that has stuck with me as an adult. So I would give my dog (Tyson) a new bed! Because he desperately needs one and that would prevent him from jumping onto our bed at night.
Q: What suggestions would you offer pet lovers about treats during the season?
A: Always make them earn the treat by doing a trick. Not necessarily only in the season… I would suggest this to be practised – always!
Q: If you had a choice of a week’s cycling trip, where would you go and why?
A: North to south Vietnam – there’s so much to see, so much to experience. A week might not be enough.
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: 10 years ago? Also naughty… but now, I’m always on the nice list although some might beg to differ.
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: Making a positive impact on the environment.
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
Carol of the Bells. It never gets old!
FOOD
Thuring special homemade Breudher with a slice of cheddar cheese
MOVIE
The Little Match Girl (an all-time favourite)
TRADITION
I’ve got two!
- Decorating the house on the 1st of December. It starts in the morning and ends late into the night. My sister comes over to help and there’s always a cocktail in hand.
- Baking Breudher with my sister on the 23rd of December. It’s a full day special. Of course, we finish a bottle of eggnog while we’re at it.
CHRISTMAS
Christmas is when overly decorated streets mesmerise you, everything couldn’t taste more ginger than ever and Christmas tunes make you sick by the time the day arrives
NEW YEAR
Time to reflect, pause on life for a moment and set aside your goals for the future
2022
The year that taught me that ‘patience is a virtue’
LOVE
Cannot be defined – can only be felt
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Influence many to be kind to Mother Nature
Appreciate the small goals while keeping an eye on the bigger target
Be someone better than you were yesterday
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
To see my sisters and nieces who live overseas
For people to treat Mother Nature better
In Sajith Premadasa’s words – “For the greater good of the country” for things to settle down sooner
HESH DE SILVA
Q: What message would you convey to your audience as they plan to celebrate the season?
A: I think this year is a little different. Being mindful of people who don’t have much is important. While we celebrate the season we also have to remember people who are struggling right now. Rather than simply helping someone who needs help, make it a little more meaningful than just about us helping someone.
Q: How do you celebrate Christmas?
A: I’m a Christian – so it’s church, family lunch and dinner. It’s very family oriented.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2023?
A: Year 2022 being over! Less people being hungry, our economy doing better and some form of stability in the country – and people being able to grow rather than merely survive.
Q: How has social media changed the way you perceive issues that affect us all – and what negative experiences have you had to deal with?
A: Social media can be very toxic. You see polar opposites of things. Sometimes it’s people having a great time; and sometimes it is people struggling. People are attacking each other a lot of the time. It’s really great when you can share information that helps people, which guides them and offers a little light in all this darkness. But in general, I try to stay away from it myself even though it is my job. I find myself spending very little time on social media outside work.
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: Nice!
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: You know what I would want for Christmas… More time!
Hameedia
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
Hark the Herald Angel Sing
FOOD
Turkey
MOVIE
The Holiday
TRADITION
Lunch with family
CHRISTMAS
Jesus coming into the world to save us all
NEW YEAR
Oh thank goodness the last one is over!
2022
Horrible!
LOVE
No idea!
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Do better than I did the year before
Try and help more people than I did the year before
Being more conscious about doing the right thing
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
People not being hungry – especially children
For me personally, sleep!
Fun Christmas sweaters (the ones people usually say are ugly)
BINU NARANGODA
Q: Will you be performing over the holiday season – and what music or songs would you choose to play on your sax?
A: Commercial lineup tracks with dance sax music.
Q: If you could have a famous saxophonist’s instrument, whose would it be – and why?
A: Basically, when it comes to professional saxophone players, they have a unique tone colour with their setup. So it will be Eric Darius’ cannon ball alto saxophone. I’m so in love with cannon ball saxophones.
Q: What was the best moment – or were the best moments – performing?
A: This happened to me a couple of times. When I play the saxophone at public events, everyone asks: ‘Is that you playing or is it a recording?’ And I do enjoy every single moment when I’m performing.
Q: What do you eat most of during the season? And where do you find it?
A: I think it’s gonna be pork ribs.
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: Naughty!
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: A baritone saxophone.
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
O Holy Night
FOOD
Candy canes
MOVIE
Home Alone
TRADITION
Christmas tree
CHRISTMAS
It’s all about love and family – getting together with friends and making new memories
NEW YEAR
Make no mistakes and regrets – and start afresh
2022
Be grateful for what you have achieved
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Be healthy
Make yourself proud
Travel
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
Decorate the Christmas tree
Nora Reed
Uwani Silva
Charini Suriyage
JEWELLERY
Omega
Longines
PRAMUKSHI KARIYAWASAM
Q: What do you like most about the Christmas and New Year season?
A: The festive spirit among everyone you meet, the many get togethers, the Christmas movies and carols, and not forgetting the amazing food!
Q: What is the most unusual gift you’ve received for Christmas – and why did you think you were given it?
A: A bottle of shampoo – I was looking for a specific brand and couldn’t find it anywhere but my best friend found it. It was unusual but very thoughtful!
Q: Would you cook the Christmas meal… or do you hope you’ll be invited out?
A: I’ve been fortunate to have been invited every year by my best friend and her family for the past two decades. So I intend to continue to be invited!
Q: What’s your favourite carol – and why?
A: There are way too many to choose from but I’d go with Feliz Navidad – it’s upbeat, happy and super easy to sing along to!
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: Nice, definitely.
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: Being able to travel the world – for a living!
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
Feliz Navidad/O Holy Night
FOOD
All of it (minus Christmas pudding)
MOVIE
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
TRADITION
Christmas at Rosy’s (celebrating with my best friend and her family)
CHRISTMAS
A time for joy, love and celebration – regardless of your religion
NEW YEAR
An annual attempt at a ‘resolution’
2022
A royal mess! (Pun intended)
LOVE
Patient, kind and wholesome – and everyone deserves to have it
BHANUKA HARISCHANDRA
Q: What is the most innovative way in which Christmas can be marketed?
A: It’s one of the most marketed things out there; not sure if it needs to be marketed any further.
Q: Have you ever made a gift yourself or do you usually buy presents?
A: I am usually on the side of the one buying the gifts. I think I’ve used Christmas as an excuse to buy some things that I’d probably consider a splurge.
Q: How successful have you been with New Year resolutions? And could you share some tips, if you’ve been successful?
A: Usually, a resolution goes bad in a few weeks… except the one I had in 2016 – I lost over 50 kilogrammes of weight the next year so I’m counting that as a win.
Q: What’s the best gift Santa Claus has brought you and how old were you at the time?
A: My brother and I were gifted a Nintendo 64 back in 2000, I’m not exactly sure but I think it was Christmas time – and obviously, Santa was my dad.
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: Unfortunately, on the naughty side!
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: For this damn back pain to go away.
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
I suppose Jingle Bells…
FOOD
Christmas cake
MOVIE
Home Alone
TRADITION
Spending time with family
CHRISTMAS
A nice way to wind down and wrap up the year
NEW YEAR
It’s a new year for me on the 1st of April (financial year) – but honestly, it’s just planning. I don’t take it too seriously.
2022
Roller coaster ride
LOVE
Complicated yet rewarding?
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Get fitter and better nutrition
Make work more structured
Play more videogames
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
Honestly, it’s the same as the resolutions
Ramona Oshini
O:LIVE couture
tofo
SAARA ABEYWARDANE
Q: How do you resist the delicious seasonal yummies – or do you simply give in to temptation?
A: Well, it depends on the mood and my work schedule. If I have a show or events, I’ll let it be and move ahead with my workout. But if I’m free, I’ll try to eat as much as I can!
Q: Do you celebrate Christmas or make use of the holiday to get away somewhere quiet?
A: Holidays are very important to me and my family. I simply want to shop and buy presents for my friends and family – and make the most of it. But this Christmas, I just want to be with my husband and enjoy the time with him.
Q: What plans are you making for 2023?
A: That’s a big mystery for me as well… I have a few plans. What’s most important is to move to Canada and live with my husband. And I want to come back for some television shows and events.
Q: What do you indulge in – perhaps forgetting the calories and your fitness regime – at Christmas time?
A: Like I said before, it all depends on my schedule. Usually, I’d like to enjoy the food and drinks but I will always have a plan. If I’m free and have nothing important work-wise, I’ll eat whatever I like and have a rough workout session after the holidays.
Q: Would you be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list?
A: Always on the nice list with a hint of naughtiness… I want to have both!
Q: What is the ‘big one’ on your wish list?
A: I wish the best for the world – peace and joy! More tourists to visit Sri Lanka – and I wish our country finds solutions to all the issues there are and moves forward as a proud nation.
SEASONAL FAVOURITES
CAROL
Jingle Bells
FOOD
Christmas cake – and then hot chocolate
MOVIE
Home Alone
TRADITION
Shopping and giving back to the community
CHRISTMAS
Joy
NEW YEAR
Hope
2022
Survived
LOVE
My husband
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Move to Canada
Live with my husband
Create cooler dance moves
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
The new iPhone 14
Peace and good health
May God bless our beautiful country
Snowflake icons created by kornkun – Flaticon