Keep the fire going
Earth Hour co-creator and advertising wiz Todd Sampson talks to Shaveen Jeewandara about meeting challenges in life including climbing Mount Everest There is something very unassuming about Todd Sampson, co-creator of the phenomenal Earth Hour initiative. It’s in the way he talks, the bright red t-shirt he’s wearing and the beaming smile on his face. [...]
Lighting up Thanthirimale: A tradition since 2004
The story of Thanthirimale dates back to an era when it was called “Thivanka Bamunugama”, owing to the Brahmin Thivanka making the peaceful grounds his abode. It was during this time that Sangamitta Theri was entrusted with bringing a sacred sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya -under which the Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment- across [...]
Appreciations
Au revoir! Gentle knight, friend and cousin Gamini Wijeyesinghe Friday April 26 was one of those days in my life, I wish had never occurred. It was only at 9 that morning I phoned Gamini and agreed to meet Eustelle and him on Sunday, which was the eve of our departure to the States. To [...]
Letters to the editor
Well done for exposing the NSB fiasco The Sunday Times deserves the commendation of every Sri Lankan for its excellent editorial in the Business Times of June 9 focusing on the duplicitous behaviour of the Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P.B. Jayasundara in the sacking of Sunil Sirisena of the National Savings Bank. Mr. Siriena [...]
How youthful is our National Youth Drama Festival?
Playwright Ruwanthie de Chickera raises some questions on the eve of the National Youth Drama Festival awards ceremony to be held on June 18 at the Maharagama Youth Services Centre Over the past few years, I have followed this country’s Youth Drama Festival closely. While I feel that this festival has tremendous potential, I feel [...]
Remembering the great prelate by example
Most Venerable Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayaka Thera’s 100th birth anniversary falls on June 21. Born in the coastal village of Madiha to a family with mixed parents (with a devout Buddhist mother and a Christian father) as Tennyson William Pujitha Gunawardena, he donned robes at the age of 13. He grew up as a monk [...]
With a stroke of a brush he brings back to life historical paintings
Exhibition by 94-year-old artist L.K. Karunaratne Veteran artist L.K. Karunaratne’s exhibition of paintings and drawings at the Lionel Wendt gallery on June 21 and 22 are works done over the 30 years he was attached to the Department of Archaeology. The artist who turns 94, this week was born in Katugastota, Kandy on June 21, 1920. [...]
De Lanerolle Brothers and S. Thomas’ choir to present a festival of choral music
The De Lanerolle Brothers together with the choir of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia will present ‘God so loved the world’, a festival of Choral Music celebrating the seasons of the church year on Sunday, June 30 at 6 p.m. at the Chapel of the Transfiguration Mount Lavinia. Entrance is by programme priced at Rs 750, [...]
His canvases speak for those that are unspoken for
Yohan Medhanka discusses his path to becoming an artist and the concept behind his solo show, to open on June 20, at the Saskia Fernando Gallery. The exhibition will be on until July 4. Yohan Medhanka is 21. He is a self-taught artist who at his young age has a skill and intensity that is [...]
Putting together the puzzle of love
“Art is not only what you see on a canvas. It could even be someone’s thoughts. It has more to it than style and technique. It is something that is meant to be felt and experienced,” says artist Sanjaya Bandara Senavirathna, a rising star in the Sri Lankan contemporary art scene. The vibrant abstract pieces [...]
Inferno: A formulaic Dan Brown thriller, but still enriching
Having finished reading Dan Brown’s latest bestseller Inferno, I have to say I am getting a little weary of his books. I rushed to the bookstore to get a copy of the much hyped book, my heart skipping a few beats when I saw it displayed grandly on the shelf. I ran my fingers over [...]
A one-stop brain centre opens its doors
For the first time a fully dedicated Stroke Unit in a private hospital. The heart is looked after by many a private hospital, but what of the brain? Seeing the lacuna in the urgent and vital treatment of “brain attacks” as opposed to heart attacks in the private sector, the Central Hospital is making ready to [...]
Under the rain of gods entirely grim
There is a Latin palindrome which intrigues me. It is SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS. Read front to back or back to front, it offers the same conundrum. And if you arrange the words in a five-by-five squared letter graphic, the same statement poses its enigmatic message from top to bottom and bottom to top [...]
Navy’s newest: Club House, Uswetakeiyawa
Situated just 16.5 km north of Colombo, the Club House in Uswetakeiyawa was a picture of relaxed comfort, palm trees gently swaying in the wind and a warm welcome from staff. Being one of the ten tourist locations the Sri Lanka Navy has taken up to help boost the tourism industry in the country, The [...]
Hotel J Negombo makes a colourful splash
Hotel J, another first in the Jetwing chain – a brand dedicated to select service and no frills accommodation was launched on June 8 with Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa as the chief guest. The first property under the brand is in Negombo, and the informal event was a splash of colour with an eclectic [...]
Galkadawala, Habarana gets Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
Galkadawala, Habarana has earned the 2013 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence. The prestigious award which honours excellence in hospitality, places Galkadawala in the top-performing 10% of all businesses worldwide listed on TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor is the largest travel community in the world, with more than 32 million members and over 100 million reviews and opinions of hotels, restaurants, [...]
A location like no other
Drawn to Galle Fort by Juliet Coombe Drawn to Galle Fort was two years in the making not discounting five more years full of insights the author Juliet Coombe picked up from being an active participant in the Fort’s meteoric rise as a global tourist hotspot, a locale and location like no other populated [...]
A tale of three Buddhas
Little did I imagine, sixty years ago, when I began my career in government as a District Land Officer in the ramshackle old Kachcheri on Inner Harbour Road in Trincomalee that almost twenty years later I would return as Government Agent – and be thrice blessed to recover sacred Buddhist relics from the protecting earth [...]
Seeing ‘Song of Ceylon’ again
Kala Korner A friend recently alerted me with an internet link to view the award-winning documentary ‘Song of Ceylon’ made in the mid-1930s. What a satisfying experience! I remember seeing the film several decades ago but had only faint recollections of the highly acclaimed documentary. Directed by Basil Wright, the 40-minute documentary was produced by [...]
Crocodile stuff you may not know
Herpatologist Dr. Anselm de Silva launched his new book ‘The Crocodiles of Sri Lanka’at the World Crocodile Conference held last month. Published here are extracts from the section on folklore and the crocodile Reptiles have played a significant role in Sri Lankan culture, and continue to do so even today. Beliefs regarding the activities of [...]
Former ballerina makes a great leap of faith
Here to conduct ballet examinations at the Russian Cultural Centre, Oksana Karnovitch talks about why she chose to switch to teaching Oksana Karnovitch knows that she made a leap of great faith when she chose to make a life out of ballet. “For us maybe 20 years of glory is as good as it gets,” [...]
Registration for Muslim education seminar
A research conference on “Rethinking Education and Employment of Muslims: Issues, Strategies and Solutions” will be held in Colombo on June 29 from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. with registrations for participation closing on June 21. Six research papers will be presented at the conference organised by the Abdul Azeez Foundation. Those who wish to attend [...]
First copy of short novel handed over to head of London Buddhist Viharaya
The first copy of a short novel ‘Mawu Senehasa’ (Mother’s Love), written by veteran journalist, music composer and film director, Rodney Widanapathirana was handed over to Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Thera, head of London Buddhist Viharaya and chief Sanga Nayaka of UK recently in London. The publishers of the book Wimal Alahakoon and Kanthi Alahakoon are also [...]
Third edition of popular TV show ‘IT Mastermind’
ESOFT Metro Campus together with the Computer Society of Sri Lanka will conduct its popular ‘IT Mastermind 2013’ for the third consecutive year. The TV show has been successful in increasing knowledge and awareness not only of IT but also of English, as all the exams are conducted in English. Around 2000 children from both [...]
Submissions open for Flash Film Competition in memory of Bernadeen
The Women’s Education and Research Centre will hold the Bernadeen Silva Memorial Flash Film Competition – 2013 on the theme ‘Women’s Power’. The Bernadeen Silva Memorial Award is in memory of the late Ms. Bernadeen Silva and her extensive contribution to civil society and commitment to issues such as peace, social justice and civil rights. [...]
Founder of the Pragna Pradeepa visits St. Mathew’s College
Founder of the Pragna Pradeepa concept and Western Provincial Councillor Jayantha de Silva visited St. Mathew’s College, Dematagoda recently. Picture shows a group of students handing over a list of shortcomings in the school for his attention. Principal Jayantha Mohottala is also in the picture.
BVCPS donates equipment and medicines to Cancer Hospital
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Lanka (BVCPS), donated equipment and medicines to the Cancer Hospital as one of its CSR Projects. The Pharmacist of the Cancer Hospital received the donation from General Manager of Bureau Veritas, Mrs. Chanaki De Costa.
Students at Varuni Jayasekara Academy to stage ‘Flight of Flamboyance’ concert
‘Flight of Flamboyance’, an evening of entertainment, presented by the students of the Varuni Jayasekara Academy of Speech, Drama and Communication will go the the boards of the Bishop’s College auditorium on June 21 and 22 at 6.30 p.m. The programme features an array of dramatic selections, choral work and musicals performed by students ranging [...]
French Spring Festival to be “rich in content and diverse in presentation”
French gastronomy; music concerts; French street artist performances, contemporary dance performances, photo exhibitions, and a French film festival: These are only a few of the events taking place at the French Spring Festival to be held from June 18 to July 14. Jointly organised by the French Embassy and the Alliance Française de Kotte, and [...]
Handcrafted with enthusiasm
Students of the Colombo Centre for Special Education present their annual exhibition ‘Expressions 2013’ Down Layards Road in a quiet and peaceful residential area is The Colombo Centre for Special Education (CCSE), a school that is a second home to 25 male students over the age of 18 who are challenged with Down Syndrome, Cerebral [...]
