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| After three decades of war, hundreds of thousands of people felt secure to take part in Vesak observances and go sight-seeing in Colombo and elsewhere, as seen in this picture of the scene around the Town Hall in Colombo. Pic by M. A. Pushpakumara |
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| India ups stakes; wants greater presence here |
India has sought clearance from Sri Lanka to open two Deputy High Commission offices, one in Jaffna and another in Hambantota, in a sudden decision to upgrade its previous request for only the opening of a consulate in Jaffna.
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| Higher value, but MPs have to pay some duty |
Health officials warned yesterday of an outbreak of infectious and water-borne diseases in the coming days as water levels started receding in the Gampaha, Colombo and Kalutara districts.
The warning came as the death toll in floods was placed at 20 while the number of people affected was around 600,000. |
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| Going beyond just the paint and the canvas |
Visitors to Paradise Road Galleries at Alfred House Road, Colombo may feel a certain sense of strangeness when they encounter objects such as an artificial black spider web made with ropes knotted and stuck to a canvas and a cloth twisted and painted with an earthy hue suggesting a lava particle welcoming them. |
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| Lankan entrepreneurs protest against CEPA |
Sri Lanka’s top entrepreneurs and professionals including 15 owners of local firms, lawyers, doctors and engineers got onto the streets on Tuesday protesting against the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), alleging that it will further liberalize trade and services and provide an undue advantage for India.
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| Cannes: Cinema
of humanity |
This year's Cannes Film Festival was marked by a profound contrast between what unfolded along La Croisette, the palm-lined sweep of pedestrian walkway that stretches between swathes of luxury hotels and the azure Mediterranean, and the films debuting onscreen. |
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| Royal College students look beyond the school premises |
The Loyalty Pledge Management Committee (LPMC) of the Royal College Union (RCU) marked the commemoration of the school's 175th anniversary in style by refurbishing the College IT lab, referred to as LAB 175 by donating 50 brand new computers to be used by College students as well as students from other schools, to enhance their computer skills and further their ICT knowledge. |
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| Now it’s up to you Aravinda and Co. |
We take this opportunity thank the minister of Sports C.B. Ratnayake for taking prompt action and also welcome Aravinda and company to their seats which will be a real struggle against time, and a challenge to change certain malpractices that were bugging the selectorial process in the past few seasons. |
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| EDITORIAL |
| Environment and conflict of interest |
US President Barack Obama, under fire for dragging his feet on the continuing Gulf of Mexico oil spill which is destroying the environment and threatening the life and wellbeing of the people in those coastal states was forced to meet the media, and through them address the people of America. |
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| COLUMNS |
| Lanka faces battle with big powers -- Political Column |
Some critical economic and political issues relating to Sri Lanka were played out in world capitals this week. These related to economic talks with the European Union, bi-lateral talks with India and mending fences with the United States of America. Important in economic terms was talks in Brussels on the revision and updating of the European Union's scheme of Generalised System of Preferences or the GSP Plus. The EU wants to withdraw this facility from August this year. |
| Let him go, let him tarry! -- 5th Column |
“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what is all this fuss about the Greens electing a new leader?”
“Why, Bindu,” Bindu’s father Percy wanted to know, “who is making a fuss about it?”
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “everyone in the Green party is excited about it…”
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| On the chapter
titled Buddhism |
Books lining shelves and books lying on tables and chairs keep company with an assortment of art and religious objects, and mementoes from near, distant and exotic parts. Two original Stanley Kirinde oils and a certified copy of a David Paynter painting adorn the dining room and the hall. Representations of the Buddha are thoughtfully positioned around the sitting room, which opens on a wide balcony rustling with sun-shot greenery. Framed by potted crotons, ferns and bamboo is a stone Bodhisattva. |
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| The battle of Nawagamuwa |
Vesak - to be
celebrated by Buddhists all over the world next Thursday - is the day in white. Devotees - young and old - clad in white trek to the temple early morning to observe 'ata sil' and spend the day there. White is the symbol of simplicity. It is a neutral colour. The
devotees carry baskets of white flowers -'araliya', 'pichcha' or some other variety - to be offered to the Buddha at the image house, the bo tree and the 'chaitya'. |
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