Keyt’s sketches to a daughter
My parents, George Keyt and Ruth Jansz, married at St Mary’s Church, Kurunegala in 1930. I was born in September 1935. When I was five months old my mother went back to teaching at Trinity College. My mother’s income had freed my father from the drudgery of working at meaningless jobs and so he devoted himself [...]
Letters to the editor
Talking war crimes: Here’s what your ancestors did Mr. Cameron Given the unending torrent of unsubstantiated accusations against our security forces and the abuse resorted to against the good name of our country by the British government and some of the British Parliamentarians—I regard it appropriate to resurrect just two, out of many, massacres committed [...]
Appreciations
To a brave and loving sister | Rohini Aluvihare I yearned in the last few months to come and be within your radius dear Rohini Akka – to learn more of your strength, courage and acceptance of life, and love. You took the sting from every loss and quenched the fire from every pain, My family [...]
Tintagel – made for a future king
Tintagel Castle, off the coast of Cornwall in southeast England, was the home of King Arthur, so legend says. Tintagel is also the name of the grand house the eminent doctor and gynaecologist Lucian de Zilwa built for himself in Colombo. The family moved into the house in 1930 and lived there till 1942, when [...]
A Great Bird
The Nightingale, ensnared in a net, Never sang behind the bars of her cage. One threatened, and tickled and tried to entice. Gall did not sing. Until one locked the stubborn one, without a light, In the deepest cellar where none could hear. there Quite alone, and without fear Of a false echo She still [...]
Veterans with memories
The Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Home in Bolagala, Katana is home to some 20 war veterans for whom today, Remembrance Sunday is very special. No doubt they will pause to reflect on some of the experiences they had as brave soldiers in the battlefront in World War 2. Gilman Silva served in the British Royal Army [...]
They laid down their lives for the British Empire
For four years, Europe and the world at large was plunged in darkness when the Great War or the First World War began in 1914. Rivalry among the great European powers was the main cause for this conflagration. Great Britain was fortunate enough to have been the first industrialised country in Europe and the world. [...]
The day the Queen came to Queen’s Road
Queens come and go. When Queen Elizabeth II came to open the new British Council Library in Colombo in 1981, she finally graced a prestigious Colombo 3 street that appeared to have been named after her, but was in fact named after someone else, a wealthy Ceylonese walauwe lady. The Queen may or may not [...]
How does your garden grow?
Developing a new Botanical Garden is no easy task as Dr. Siril Wijesundara, Director General of the Department of National Botanic Gardens, the man behind the Mirijjawila Dry Zone Botanic Gardens, Hambantota well knows. “Some people could not believe that it is possible to have lush greenery in the Dry Zone, let alone a Botanical [...]
A plague on both your houses, sirs
Do you remember the fifth of November, dears? It was just last week. Guy Fawkes Day. When all good republicans, tyrant-trashers, and other subversives recall the sad end of a hero of their faith. “Remember, remember, the fifth of November/Gunpowder, treason, and plot… There’s no good reason, the fifth of November/Should ever be forgot!!” (That’s [...]
‘I tell the truth; funny or awkward’
As they enter the room, Russell ‘Teats’ Peters and Clayton ‘Toots’ Peters split up. Russell, one of the world’s most successful comedians, steps to the front where a long table is set up for the news conference. Watchful elder brother, Clayton sits right at the back. This is their fourth time on a major tour, [...]
One by one they trickled into the bank
The walk from the bus-stop to his workplace daily in central Delhi, India, was an eye-opener. He would pass a motley group of pavement hawkers and beggars. Being not only a bank officer but also a “faithful” of the concept of moral re-armament (MRA) which encompasses honesty, purity, unselfishness and love, Joseph Santhumary Parthiban decided [...]
Carving out a future for this wooden wonder
The climate in Kandy is not as cool as one would assume it to be, this close to December. The sun is beating down and just outside the ancient devalaya of Embekke, some eight kilometres off Pilimatalawa on the Colombo-Kandy main road, a crowd throngs a lottery ticket vendor – believing that the Kataragama Deviyo [...]
It’s not a Sister Act but a Fathers’ Act
The Priests are back with their Christmas special. If you haven’t heard of them, yes believe it or not, just as their name indicates, they are a choir of full-time clergymen who have devoted themselves to music and overcoming barriers of tradition. The Priests teamed up in 2011 and have entertained audiences with both secular [...]
An eye for the magical dye
Noorjehan Bilgrami has spent decades fascinated by one colour. Born in Hyderabad, India Noorjehan was still very young when her parents chose to migrate to Pakistan as partition cleaved India in two. Moving to Karachi as a nine-year-old, she would nurture an interest in art until as an adult she made it her calling. However, [...]
The lady in white is still the best
Akke akkeara balannako is one of Ananda Samarakoon’s most popular songs of yesteryear. Sung as a duet, it is a dialogue between a brother and sister who notice dark clouds with the threat of an oncoming shower. They discuss how they must hurriedly get everything sorted before the rain. Nanda Malini and Rohana Weerasinghe gave [...]
Club Palm Bay comes alive with the De Lanerolle Bros
The idyllic 4 star Club Palm Bay Resort off Thoduwawa in Thalavila Wella hosted the De Lanerolle Brothers in Concert recently. The stage was set with high tech lights of a myriad colours revolving in their axis softly illuminating the hall. Right on the stroke of 7.30 p.m, the De Lanerolle Brothers strode their way [...]
Expect the best from a star-studded fashion show
It’s not too often you find the fashion industry’s very best coming together for one show-but when they do, there’s no doubt you’ll want to be there. And that’s why on November 24 you just might find yourself heading over to the Galadari for Fashion Sri Lanka, a show which will feature over 15 of [...]
Down the aisle in style
When the country’s leading bridal designers get together on one ramp, the audience is guaranteed of some quality fare. The Designer Wedding Show 2013 presented by the Bride and Groom wedding magazine saw leading names such as Michael Wijesuriya, Ramzi Rahaman, Premasiri Hewawasam, Dhananjaya Bandara, Sithara Fernandopulle, Ruchira Karunaratne, Janaki Kurukulasuriya, Bernie Balasuriya, Thusitha Ethugala, [...]
Glitzy House of Fashions mall opens its doors
The much awaited launch of the new House of Fashions mall on Monday, November 4 was graced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapakse, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other VIP guests who were warmly welcomed by House of Fashions’ proprietors Preethi and Neela Jayawardena. The Jayawardenas who launched their House of Fashions [...]
‘Galadari All in One’ and ‘Elvis Act’ a hit
The Galadari Hotel was in a party mood on October 26 as it hosted its gala promotional dinner, ‘Galadari All in One’ -a mouthwatering collection of signature dishes from all its restaurant outlets which included the California Grill, Coffee Shop, Flavours and Sheherezade. This all-you-can-eat offer was attended by many who found this deal an [...]
Victorious Victoria
Victoriana abounds in Colombo, perhaps to a greater degree that it does in many other Commonwealth capitals. Remainders and reminders of England’s monarch with the puffed-out cheeks appear at every turn. She is present in sturdy respected institutions, secular and sacred. Consider the boys’ school Royal College, founded in 1835; the Anglican St Paul’s Church [...]
African Literacy Project chairperson to attend CHOGM Business forum
Bisila Bokoko, founder and chairperson of the Bisila Bokoko African Literacy Project (BBALP), will be attending the Commonwealth Business Forum in Colombo from November 12 to 14. The BBALP is a non-profit, non-partisan international organisation with its headquarters in New York and subsidiaries in Ghana, France, and Spain. The organisation aims to promote literacy among [...]
Art exhibition to mark 150th birth anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala
An art competition was conducted by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust (ADT) to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala and the winners were felicitated at a ceremony held last month. Our picture shows one of the winners Ashen Sahiru Weerasinghe of NSBM Nugegoda receiving his prize from the Chairman of the ADT Mr. Noel [...]
Land donated to build Intl. Buddhist cultural centre
Mr. and Mrs. Wijaya Moragoda and Indrani Srimathi of Mahara, Kadawatha donated a plot of land at Walauwatte, Dalupitiya to build an international Buddhist cultural centre for the study of Theravada Buddhism. Picture shows Mr. and Mrs. Moragoda at the religious ceremony to mark the occasion with Ven. Delvala Seevali Thera of Sri Bodhiraja Viharaya, [...]
Joy to the World 2013
Joy to the World, an extravaganza of Christmas music, organised by the Blessed Joseph Vaz Trust, together with the Archdiocese of Colombo, will be held on December 14 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. This programme which is being staged for the fourth consecutive year, will feature the popular duo De Lanerolle Brothers, Voice Print, and [...]
Three cheers for Shake Ripple and Roll
“…the essence of amateur theatre is enjoyment and lasting memories that one carries for life…”-Sir Laurence Olivier Reflecting on the words of one of the greatest dramatists of our time, I would say that is what we witnessed in the recent production ‘Shake Ripple and Roll’ presented by the intermediate students of Bishop’s College (on [...]
