Emmanuel Kelly of X factor fame live in Sri Lanka

Saturday, 14 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Sarah Hannan SriLankan Cares, the community welfare arm of SriLankan Airlines, extending its ‘Disability is Possibility’ campaign will host a concert featuring Emmanuel Kelly of X Factor Australia fame on Monday. Kelly is due to perform live at the Mount Lavinia Hotel Terrace on Monday 16 December from 7 p.m. onwards along with Voice Print and Bathiya N’ Santhush as opening acts.

SriLankan Airlines In-flight Service & Quality Assurance Manager S. P. A. De Silva addressing the audience at a media briefing stated: “For reasons that are unknown to us, the awareness level in Sri Lanka is very low when it comes to socialising and caring for the differently-abled. Our community projects aim at creating awareness through our program Disability is Possibility and another project initiated by SriLankan Cares is being a part of the construction and maintenance of Lady Ridgeway Hospital’s Child Psychiatric ward that will be completed by February 2014. This concert will also feature a special guest act from the children at the Preethipura School for the differently-abled from Mawanella which will showcase the talent of youngsters.” About Emmanuel Kelly Emmanuel was born into a war zone and abandoned by his parents in Iraq. Emmanuel was raised at an orphanage run by the Mother Theresa nuns before being rescued by his now mum Moira Kelly and brought to Australia for life changing surgery, Emmanuel has his eyes set on huge dreams. In his words: “You have to dream to achieve the greatest goals in life.” Emmanuel Kelly, whose vocal talents came to light with his soaring rendition of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ at the X Factor Australia moved many of the 6,000 plus audience to tears and a standing ovation on the opening night in 2011. He will perform ‘Imagine’ (John Lennon), Viva la Vida (Coldplay), Home (Bubble), What a wonderful world (Louis Armstrong), Lean on Me (Bill Withers), What makes you beautiful (One Direction) and one of his originals and Christmas songs to fit in to the mood of Christmas which is just around the corner. Kelly joins hands with Disability is Possibility campaign Disability is Possibility is an awareness campaign which focuses on changing the attitudes of the society towards those impaired at birth or later in life by circumstances beyond their control. Kelly has committed to work with his Sri Lankan friends Angie and Maliq Deane to raise disability awareness on behalf of their son Stefan. In keeping with their slogan ‘Disability Is Possibility’ SriLankan Cares have organised various programs, focusing on changing attitudes of the society towards those impaired at birth or in later life, by circumstances beyond their control. Tickets for the concert on Monday can be purchased at SriLankan Airlines’ ticket offices at the World Trade Centre. The proceeds of this concert will be channelled to continue SriLankan Cares’ programs for ‘disability awareness’ and the ‘empowerment of children’. For more info: 019733 4500/0773594500.