Under the shade of trees, they put words into action
Tree by tree, this was the beginning of the Gothama Thapowanaya on the outskirts of Colombo in the ’60s. Here Ven. T. Mithabani Maha Thera, speaks to Kumudini Hettiarachchi of this haven for both monks and lay people Absolute stillness disturbed only by the gentle rustle of rain sliding down from a heavy canopy and [...]
Once he fought for his countrymen, now he walks for them
Ex-officer Ruvan Ranatunga is setting off on his ‘Long Walk of Hope’ to raise funds for cancer patients Ruvan Ranatunga has the route that will take him from one end of Sri Lanka to the other memorised – he’s been over it so many times in his head. He will set out on May 30 [...]
Letters to the Editor
Caring for elders: A Vesak thought Vesak marks the birth of Siddhartha the Prince who gave up his royal abode and went in search of the truth to overcome suffering and rebirth. Today, the entire Buddhist world marks the Birth, the Enlightenment and the Passing Away of the Buddha who gave up wealth, power and [...]
Appreciations
Many were the times he risked his life to save our servicemen | Dr. M. H. de Zoysa A surgeon and teacher par excellence who risked his life to serve the injured solders fighting to protect the unity and integrity of the country- Dr. Merenna Harrot de Zoysa, passed away last Tuesday after a prolonged illness. [...]
Buddha’s timeless message
In one of his early publications titled ‘What is Buddhism’, Ajahn Brahmavamso gives an overview of what the Buddha taught. Presented in a simple style, these extracts from the publication provide answers to some often asked questions. What is kamma? Kamma means ‘action’. According to the law of kamma there are inescapable results of our [...]
Bow in prayer to that Mother who gifted a noble teacher
The full moon on this Vesak Day, so serene Shone brightly, casting its mellowed golden beams. Over the sylvan garden at Lumbini The ideal place for solace and peace. To the melodious songs of birds and dancing trees The fragrance of flowers scenting the breeze Beautiful Mahamaya Devi King Suddodhana’ s queen With her retinue [...]
There is hope for man only in man
“Pull not the poisoned arrow out of my body medicine to apply Until a description of the man who shot it, the poison, used you can supply. Waiting for answers to questions so unwise. The toxic having acted the victim would have gone to his demise. First things come first, know then, should you seriously [...]
A true Buddhist should not play a part in the circle of life and death of other beings
“If a person does not harm any living being and does not kill or cause others to kill- that person is a true spiritual practitioner”-The Dhammapada The Buddha sought to put an end to widespread violence and suffering including animal slaughter by propounding His guideline of ahimsa or non-violence. The practice of vegetarianism would therefore [...]
What’s cookin’ Down Under with the cuppa?
The Dilmah Australia Real High Tea Competition always throws up a few surprises. This year it was J.D. Wingrove and his bagpipes. Dressed in a Scottish kilt and standing beside his lovely wife Sandy, he played his instrument for a delighted crowd at the Dilmah tea bar at the Hilton. Sandy and JD are closing [...]
Colourful pageant heralds new museum gallery
The National Museum’s new gallery of ‘Textiles and Earthenware’ opened last week, fittingly enough with a historical costume pageant. The new gallery was opened by National Heritage Minister, Dr. Jagath Balasooriya. Among the dignitaries present were the Acting Director of the National Museum, Dr. Saroja Wettasinghe, the CEO of HSBC Sri Lanka and the Maldives, [...]
Giving teeth to crocodile connection from the past
Kumudini Hettiarachchi reports on the World Crocodile Conference held in Sri Lanka It was a unique find and the obvious question that follows is still hidden in the dim mists of time. The layers of earth just inside the northern entrance to the 4th century AD Jethavanaramaya at Anuradhapura which unearthed their bounty during excavations by [...]
Different takes on shared loves
Gamini Ratnavira and son Neil will be showcasing their paintings and photographs together at an exhibition titled ‘Reflections of Nature’ in California To grow up a child of Gamini Ratnavira was to be introduced early on to his two great passions – wildlife and art. His son, Neil Ratnavira remembers his father would be painting [...]
Saying thank you, through a celebration of music
Events not to be missed ‘Tribute’ — Ruvini Hapugalle Gunasekera’s students to perform in a concert dedicated to her mother Indranee Hapugalle Born to a talented musical family, music teacher Ruvini Hapugalle Gunasekera, celebrates 21 years of teaching with a concert which will be her tribute to her mother, who is the inspiration and rock [...]
‘Collette, my father’
The 51st in the monthly lecture series of the National Trust- Sri Lanka will be on famed cartoonist Aubrey Collette by his daughter Cresside Collette. It will be on Thursday, May 30 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. The lecture will be simultaneously transmitted [...]
Odissi dance recital
Well known Odissi danseuse Alpana Nayak along with Ayushi Nayak will present Odissi dance in the traditional style on May 28 at 6 p.m. at the Indian Cultural Centre auditorium at No.16/2 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. Alpana has performed Odissi in many parts of the world and at major cultural festivals. She has taught Odissi [...]
Timeless classics from the Symphony Orchestra
The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka conducted by Dushyanthi Perera and featuring Eshantha Peiris as piano soloist will be performing at ‘Soiree’, a fund raising concert on Sunday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at the Ladies’ College Hall to raise funds for Chundikuli Girls’ College, Jaffna. The programme consists of timeless classics such as Strauss’ Overture to the Fledermaus and Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty ballet music, [...]
A well-knitted show with good music
“Beats and Bars” , a concert presented by ‘The Studio’ was a roaring success with a full house on May 18 at the Bishop’s College Auditorium. From the opening song (Twist again), it was quite evident that the children were having fun which to me is something sadly lacking in many concerts of this nature. The [...]
A collection of modern history
Book facts | Assignment Peace in the Name of the Motherland ( Second Edition) by L.M.H. Mendis Reviewed by Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Commander of the Navy The three decades of conflict produced many avenues for personalities with an obsession for writing. Voluminous data, details and description, has to be aligned in a chronicle order [...]
The national parks and their denizens
Book facts | Camping and Jungle trips By Dr. C.G. Uragoda. Reviewed by Jayantha Jayewardene In his latest book Camping and Jungle Trips –Visits to National Parks either before or after declaration of status, Dr C.G. Uragoda describes, with joy, the many trips that he has made to our national parks since 1953. Dr. Uragoda [...]
Railway enthusiast and a ‘results oriented man’
Book facts | The Viceroy Special by Hemasiri Fernando. Reviewed by A. D. V. de S. Indraratna When Hemasiri Fernando (henceforth Hemasiri as I call him) handed me a copy of “The Viceroy Special” authored by him with a request for a review, I undertook it with immeasurable pleasure. For I hold Hemasiri, one of [...]
Coca – Emerging gardens of evil
An article titled “Giving root to a deadly mix-up” by Shaveen Jeewandara (Sunday Times, May 5 about the cultivation of coca (cocaine- producing plant) in some home gardens in the Matara District, seemingly mistaken as sandalwood, deserves attention. This was also reported by a TV channel during the previous week. Although the two plants (coca [...]
Let us be able to say there’s no such thing as a day without water
Extracts from a talk on ‘Water Security – Adapting to Changing Contexts’ presented by Jeremy Bird, Director General, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo at the seminar on “A Day without Water: Managing Sri Lanka’s Water Resources” at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies recently Water security is both evocative and [...]
Foundation stone laying ceremony at the Bosetha Temple
The Foundation stone laying ceremony for the Viharaya and Sangaramana was held recently at the Temple Bosetha at Leslie Rangana Mawatha, Borella. One of the chief invitees was the founder of the Pragna Pradeepa concept and Western Province Councillor Jayantha de Silva who is seen receiving the stone from one of the committee members. The [...]
Blowing in rhythm with the wind
Whether traditional bamboo and tissue paper or more modern plastic, Vesak lanterns are a sight that gladden the eyes A line of illuminated Vesak lanterns or kudus, even in the humblest home is a sight that never fails to gladden the eye as Sri Lanka celebrates the thrice hallowed festival, marking the birth, enlightenment and [...]
SLFUW stage ‘A comedy of errors and disguise’
The Sri Lanka Federation of University Women (SLFUW) will stage ‘Balloth ekka be: A comedy of errors and disguise’ a well received stage drama directed by Ravindra Ariyaratne to raise funds for their ongoing projects. Popular artistes Wijaya Nandasiri, Kumara Thirimadura, Roshan Pilapitiya, Gihan Fernando, and Anusha Dissanayaka star in this production. The show will [...]
Canberrans usher in Vesak early to the `Bush Capital’
To enable more people to participate and experience Vesak, Canberrans in the Tuggeranong Valley stole a march on the weather. Usually when the Lankan Buddhist community in the bush capital marks the thrice blessed day of Vesak on May 24, it is closer to the onset of winter. The winds gusting down from the Brindabella [...]
Speech on ‘Inter- Racial Harmony’
Dr A. C. L. Ameer Ali, economist, writer and public speaker both in English and Tamil will deliver a speech on ‘Inter-Racial Harmony Through Inter Religious Dialogue – Urgent Need of the Hour’ on Monday, May 27 at 5 p.m. at the Diocese Chambers, Bishop’s House, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. Archdeacon Dr. Rienzi Perera will [...]
RAASL lecture: Sri Lankan trends in Social Media
The Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) monthly public lecture will be on “Sri Lankan Trends in the Use of Social Media”. It will be delivered by Mangala Keerthi de Pasqual, Lecturer, Dept of Mass Communications, University of Kelaniya on Monday, May 27 at 5 p.m.at the Gamini Dissanayake auditorium, No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, [...]
Touch healer Dr. Shashikant Seth back
Dr. Shashikant Seth, the touch healer from Bombay, India, is back in Sri Lanka to conduct his programme of healing and training. His wife is also with him on this visit to assist him. “Bypass the bypass surgery”, says Dr. Seth who claims that a decoction of dried pomegranate seeds in lukewarm water worked wonders [...]
Christian unity rally to mark Pentecost
Hundreds of people from several denominations are expected to take part in a Christian unity rally to mark the feast of Pentecost. The rally will be held on Friday, June 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour in Colombo. Messages will be given by clergy from the [...]
Sri Lanka-Japan Nite
The JICA Alumni Association’s “Sri Lankan-Japan Nite”, which brings together JICA A.A. members and Japanese nationals resident here, will be held on June 1, from 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Oriental Hotel, York Street, Colombo 1. The dinner dance will be preceded by a cultural show. The Japanese Ambassador Nobuhito Hobo will be the chief [...]
Wayamba University hold 12th Agricultural Research Symposium
Innovation is essential for the development of any country, institute or field. Mostly, these innovations appear as a result of researches conducted by the individual researchers or as a group. The Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management of the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka annually holds the Agricultural Research Symposium (AGRES), upon the completion of [...]
Full moon over our cloud cuckoo land
I can feel it coming in the air. The nostalgic feeling one has done all this before. That sense of déjà vu which would be nirvana itself if not for those undeniable sensations of being anchored to samsara. A sense of unutterable peace has descended in our neighbourhood and also around most of our nation. [...]
