The ceremonial opening of the Galadari Hotel’s ‘Mayumi Karaoke Lounge’ took place on October 22.
“What is unique is that for the first time in this country we will have Japanese and Sinhala music, for some of our popular Sinhala songs have been dubbed into Japanese and vice versa”, says the hotel’s General Manager Chandra Mohotti.
“Ile said its aim was to foster a cultural exchange between Japan and Sri Lanka and attributed the idea to his good friend Shohei Mozu, the famous Japanese composer and lyricist and Chairman of Lanka Shrike Overseas (Pvt) Ltd. , the company responsible for the production of these cassettes and with whom he had several discussions regarding its viability.
Mozu expects to create the opportunity for Lankan singers and musicians to join their counterparts in Japan and release cassettes of Sinhala songs in Japan.
This karaoke lounge is named after the internationally well-known singer Mayumi Ito who is the star performer.
“Mayumi will visit Sri Lanka four times a year, stay for a month each time to animate and oversee the success of this karaoke lounge and I will do that from our side. She will be the first Japanese to sing in Sinhala,” said Mohotti.
According to him this facility is essentially to provide his expatriate and local guests with the best in services.
Mohotti believes this effort will help wipe out the negative publicity Sri Lanka is currently getting in Japan.
“If the Japanese are singing here, then everything should be tickety boo in Lanka”, said Mohotti who hopes to extend this cultural exchange to both the Maldives and Madras – depending, of course, on its success in Colombo.
