It’s little surprise that by now most of us are slacking in our New Year resolutions and letting in some amount of inertness. Perhaps, we decided to do something good or help someone in need. Or maybe give hope to someone in desperate need of it. Or perhaps enjoy life a little more.

 

Well, for all these people there’s one place that you cannot afford to miss – IGNITE. Ignite is an event that will host a number of hit local bands and the likes of TNL onstage winners, not to forget the array of activity stalls and fun stuff at the venue. So it’s concert cum carnival.

 

So how does it make sense to attend this if your resolution this year were some of the former mentioned ones?? Ignite is all about a good cause leading to a great event. Ignite will be a fundraiser concert in aid of urgent renovations at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital so all proceeds will be directed towards giving someone hope and promise. Sounds good already, yes? Then 2nd of February is the date, Police Park Grounds the venue, and 6 p.m. is the time.

 

 

 

 

It’s a great start for the year, a good cause to be part of and you’d be doing yourself a favour by attending. The show will witness the performances of bands and artistes like Heshan Dassanayake, Magician's Toolbox, Roadkill, The Castaways, CC, Melissa Pereira, Circus Cult, Gayan, The Old Royalists Choir, Maria Soysa, Asela Perera, Angel Down, SEX, Magic Box, Mixup, followed by a wild after party with EDM city's DJ Ruky, Nige, Dash, Deenology.

 

The event is put together by Livewire Productions, One World volunteers, Major General Aruna and the Aruna Jayatilleke Foundation. It is endorsed by Mahela Jayawardena and Youtube hit Jehan Ratnatunga. The brain child behind the nearly 1.5 million project, Reihan Stephen looks back at an eventful Christmas 2011 when one band led to the performing of fourteen at the show with a worthy cause in mind.

 

When his band was asked to perform at an indoor concert at the request of a friend to raise funds for the kids at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, together with Ryan from Roadkill he decided to do something big and worthwhile. In other words do something that will truly matter to these kids. It was in dire need of refurbishments (instead of a playground which the guys was hoping to contribute towards initially).

 

In joined Reihan’s friend Duvindhi Illankoon of One World volunteers and to be candid, there was the “point of ignition.” Reihan brightens up, as he says “Come for Ignite Colombo, for one, the best bands are gonna be there add to that a super after party. Then in addition to having a good time do something good. Ignite is all about giving somebody another shot at life.”

 

Duvindi Illankoon of One World Volunteers stresses, “The last time we did a fundraiser I said never again because it's a huge amount of work that goes into the organization. But once we had visited the Cancer Hospital and we saw the amazing work they do we didn't have to think too hard about this again. It's been all systems go after that. We've got some amazing performers on board, two fantastic event ambassadors pushing for us from their end and an absolutely committed team organizing.

 

Most of the One World volunteers are very young, and together with Livewire Productions and the Maj.Gen Aruna Jayatilake Cancer Foundation they've been working super hard make this concert one to remember. Now it's up to people to buy tickets and support us at the event!” 

 

Chairman of the Major General Aruna Jayatilake Cancer Foundation Purindu Jayatilake says “When Reihan first told me about the project, I didn’t have second thoughts about getting involved.” He jovially  adds “I never knew that this experience would be so much fun and stressful as well, with one week to go we have major hiccups but the team just bounces back hard as ever” after all when you are doing something for a good cause things naturally tend to fall in to place.”  

 

The event is sponsored by Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, ACBT, CIMA, Bank of Ceylon, Singapore Airlines, Swedish Trading Audio Visual, Sentrino, The Coconut Grind, Revolution Portfolio. Electronic media sponsors are MTV Sports & Yes FM. Print media sponsors: Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Daily FT, Hi!! with LiFE Online as official online partner.