Into the heart of Saradiel country
Utuwankande is where the legendary Saradiel roamed and for photographer Stefan D’Silva this rocky hideout is one of those forgotten places which he feels must be documented before it falls under the tide of modernisation. Though based in Australia, Stefan has a strong passion for his roots and is currently in the process of compiling [...]
Give Rs. 5 a day to help relieve their pain
It is devastating to be diagnosed with cancer. To be financially poor and diagnosed with cancer is to enter a particular kind of living hell. “A child diagnosed with leukemia has a very good chance of going into remission,” says Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa. “If we get two or three vials of Neupogen we can build [...]
Fulbright days and a plea to leadership
This volume of 20 letters by former Fulbright scholars, half of them Sri Lankan and the other half American, addressed to their respective presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Barack Obama, constitutes part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the US-Sri Lanka Fulbright Exchange Programme. All writers do a splendid job of what they were asked to [...]
Taking count of ancient coins
Coins started to be used for trade from around 500 BCE, and have been collected ever since. The oldest coin collection in Sri Lanka is that of the Colombo National Museum. There are also smaller collections on display in many of the provincial museums run by the National Museums and the Archaeology Department. Many vihares [...]
Insight into the life of Mahadenamutta
Mahadenamutta, ‘the Wise Man’ has been a well-known character in our folklore for a very long time. The stories revolving round Mahadenamutta and his ‘golayas’ are still being related, so popular are they among both children and adults. Prolific writer, Professor Sunil Ariyaratne now introduces us to ‘Paramartha Guru’ – the Tamil Mahadenamutta. “Mahadenamutta was [...]
Letters to the Editor
Tourists come to Sri Lanka not for ‘cities rising from the sea’ A recent issue of the Sunday Times carried a lead story headlined “New Tourist City to rise from the Mount Lavinia Sea”! This is shocking news, indeed. For centuries the Mount Lavinia beach has been enjoyed by people young and old, being the closest [...]
Appreciations
How his love for the country changed my life | Derek Samarasingha Derek Samarasingha made an outstanding contribution to our country as a pioneer Sri Lankan tea planter, shareholding director of John Keells Ltd., a leading estate management company and later as the CEO/Managing Director of two privatised plantation companies. Those Sri Lankans who worked with [...]
Fun-filled lunch at ‘Faulty Towers’
I’m having lunch at the Mount Lavinia Hotel and I’ve just been told there might be a denture in my soup. I’m convulsed with laughter and Manuel is of no help whatsoever – he has just finished flinging garnish across a side plate and in moments will be standing on a table singing loudly in [...]
Concept 2014, for the trend –setting man
Sri Lanka’s very own menswear line Hameedia has taken the initiative to launch a fashion show to feature their extensive range of men’s clothing for the year ahead. ‘Concept 2014’ as the show is called will be held on October 20 at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Colombo and aims to be a fashion show [...]
Oh to be a hosteller again!
They came from different generations, but had so much to share. It was a rare opportunity to revive happy memories of their schooldays when the hostellers of Ladies’ College met for a reunion lunch, where else but at the school hostel last month.
Making waves in Galle
The HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) went to Galle this year for its Resort Wear edition and Day 1, Saturday October 5 saw models treading a different kind of catwalk on Queen’s Street in the Galle Fort. “Perhaps the toughest show yet,” commented CFW’s Founder and Director, Ajai Singh. As guests gathered by the street [...]
The ‘Roundabout’ Church
“Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes…” Quoting from the Bible, the Book of Isaiah, Rev. S. J. de S. Weerasinghe writing the 1988 historical record of the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church, concluded, “The challenge of [...]
The roar of Mighty Mini’s
The roads around Independence Square are busier than you’d expect for a Sunday morning. Cars slow and pedestrians cluster around a particular lane where around 30 Mini Mokes are parked along the curb. They’re about to head off for a day trip – picking up additional drivers along the way. By the time they get [...]
A breath between life and death
A moment of tenderness between mother and son…..a look passes between them, a gentle touch on the cheek and a kiss, as light as a feather and the baby breaks out into a big smile. A closer look and there is a bandage around the neck of the baby. The baby, the mother and the [...]
Childhood ends in dire corporal punishment
You and I had it good, dears. Ours was probably the last generation in our country to actually have and enjoy a childhood. If you’re reading this on a Sunday, as you browse through your favourite rag, you’re probably between forty and fifty-five; or if you’re reading this on the Superhighway of Information, as your [...]
Rooms for elders available
The ‘Prem Nivasa’ home for senior citizens at the OMI Retreat House and Farm, at Andi Ambalama near Katunayake, has a few more rooms available for elders of any race or religion. For details please contact: 0777751536 or 0773613888.
‘Ten Outstanding Young Persons’ awards
The Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) awards of Sri Lanka organised by the Junior Chamber International Sri Lanka was held at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo recently. Singer and actor Dushyanth Weeraaman received the Contribution to Arts, Cultural and Media award from chief guest British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka John Rankin. In the picture are [...]
Classical music veteran honoured
“I got the shock of my life!” exclaimed Joy Ferdinando. “I never even in my wildest dreams pictured such an honour.” A veteran in the classical music field in Sri Lanka, and the Founder and Director of the International Institute of Music, Speech and Drama, Joy who has nurtured many talented young Sri Lankans in [...]
Mahatma Gandhi Oration: ‘The universality of Mahatma’s thoughts and actions’
The Mahatma Gandhi Oration, ‘The universality of Mahatma’s thoughts and actions’ was delivered by Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne, Professor of Archaeology of the Peradeniya University recently. While Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha addressed the distinguished gathering, there were also dance performances by the students of the Abhinayakshetra School of Dance; song recitals by children of the [...]
A victory in dance production
“I believe it is for Nirmala a great victory in dance production,” said Professor S. Maunaguru, Chief Guest at the 27th anniversary celebration programme of the ‘Nirmalanjali’ School of Bharatha natyam, which took place recently at the Buddhist Cultural Centre, Colombo recently. A repertoire of traditional items in Bharatha natyam was presented at the ‘Velli [...]
Brides of Sri Lanka celebrate 25th edition
It’s the 25th edition of the popular magazine “Brides of Sri Lanka” that had been the handbook for hundreds of brides and bridal dressers around the island. The magazine presents, Sri Lanka’s biggest bridal show–“Brides of Sri Lanka- A 100 Brides”, along with a coffee table guide on October 19 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. [...]
