All they want for Christmas is a better tomorrow
As the evening shadows lengthen, gently nudging the time towards midnight on December 24 and the joyous peal of bells heralds the celebration of the birth of a tiny Babe 2013 years ago, the “image” that flashes across the mind is one of absolute simplicity and humility. In that lonely manger in Bethlehem, away from [...]
Riding out of his silent world he reached out to others
He couldn’t hear them call his name, neither did he hear the deafening applause that followed. But when he saw his name flash on the big screen Ananda Guruge knew he had won the coveted Volunteer of the Year award at the second V-Awards ceremony organised by the United Nations Volunteers, News First, and the [...]
Letters to the editor
D.S. Senanayake College, Iriyagolle and Alles D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo 7, was the brainchild of the late I.M.R.A. Iriyagolle, Education and Cultural Affairs Minister in the 1965-70 UNP-led government of Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake. Mr. Iriyagolle was the architect and founder of this leading school, which he named after the much respected and admired “Father [...]
Appreciations
Our Seeya who gave his heart to God and hand to man | W. J. Wickramage It is a Christmas day in the 1980s; we are all gathered around the neatly and colourfully decorated Christmas tree in our grandparents’ house. We have just enjoyed a scrumptious Christmas lunch meticulously and lovingly prepared by our grandmother. My [...]
Helped by WNL’s tsunami relief fund
Nine long years have gone by and the world and the people around them have moved on. For many like 24-year-old W.H. Ishani Damayanthi, already a mother herself of a five-year-old girl, the memories are not only fresh but also raw. Pretty Ishani is still battling a gnawing emptiness within her, for both her mother and father [...]
Ringing out the joy of the season
Feet tapped, voices hummed along and hearts soared at this year’s Joy to the World, a Christmas concert held at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre last Saturday. The annual event is now in its fourth year and running strong and saw several of the country’s most renowned performers take to the stage pro bono [...]
Kadapatha ready to deck you up
With festive cheer in the air, Kadapatha unveils its chic range of clothing and accessories to deck you up this Christmas. The Kadapatha boutiques at Crescat Boulevard lobby level and Ground Floor have a wide range to choose from as seen in the creations modelled here by Karen.
Step into those a la mode stilettos this season
Leather Collection unveiled its new collection for the season with models showing off stylish and sophisticated stilettos at their flagship store on Flower Road. For the first time in Sri Lanka, the latest rage in shoe accessories from the United States, Heel Condoms designed to give that edgy dash to a simple pair of heels, [...]
It’s chocolaty, it’s nutty; it’s a cupcake
They come in all shapes, sizes and flavours but perhaps the best loved of them all will always be the humble but undeniably heavenly dark brown version, which can only mean one thing and you know what it is-chocolate cupcakes! This is what Tarini Thomas, the home baker behind Urban Delights finds herself regularly whipping [...]
When Gandhara was filled with Christmas songs
The elegant ambience of Gandhara was the setting for the Sunshine charity concert earlier this month and the audience was in for a relaxed evening as musicians of the calibre of Soul Sounds and Rukshan Perera put them in a festive and charitable mood. All proceeds of the concert ‘Christmas Magic’ will go to the [...]
Ashley Halpé–the human and humane being
“When Mrs. Halpé invited me to speak this evening, my first reaction was, ‘but I have written and spoken about Prof. Halpé so many times over the years! However, I eventually agreed to speak because I believe that some sentiments are well worth repeating. Tonight I will not highlight the many splendid professional accomplishments of [...]
Bringing back the good old flavour of Lankan fruit
Remember your mum telling you over and over again that fruit is good for you? It was not just her way to get you to clean up your plate, fruits we all know are wonderful sources of fibre, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. The Achcharu Kade, a tropical fruit delicacy stall at The Good Market – [...]
The Creaking Almirah
Crackle, creak, crunch, crack – just four of the sounds recorded on the domestic Christmas soundrack. Everyday sounds, but tuned to a thrilling pitch for the season of surprises, gifts and merriment. There’s the Crackle of cellophane and wrapping paper as invisible hands behind locked doors dress up gifts for the Christmas Tree and the [...]
A Christmas baby steals the show
“Do you think Uncle Joe will have the concert this year?” my sister asked rather worriedly. She was voicing the worry in all of us. This was in the early sixties and we had what nowadays is called a play group consisting of about 15 children between the ages of 7 to 10. Every year [...]
The season of loving and giving
It’s that time of year when people begin to consider what they can give as appropriate gifts to those they love. We make our lists and hope we will have everything ready and gift-wrapped, with loving messages attached, in good time. How did it all begin? This custom of giving gifts at Christmas is said [...]
Christmas features
Make every day Christmas Every day is Christmas, when you have the kind of mind that stores up all the goodness and the sweetness it can find. When you don’t need an occasion, to spread a bit of cheer, but just keep on a-giving, of yourself throughout the year. Every day is Christmas, with a [...]
Leafing through best picks
Shehan Karunatilaka, author of ‘Chinaman’:Best: Wave – Sonali Deraniyagala Enjoy isn’t quite the word to describe the experience of reading Wave. People who haven’t, think it might be depressing, which it very much is. But in places, it’s also strangely uplifting, celebratory and funny even. As a piece of prose it’s tenderly crafted, but as [...]
You will wonder anew at our wildlife
Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne is nothing if not meticulous. In his case, years of in-depth study, coupled with the flair of a natural writer and canny photographer’s eye are thoughtfully combined. For some years now, he has argued the case that Sri Lanka is a wonderful place to see wildlife, nay, he would persuade you, [...]
People and events
Christmas Eve Carol Service at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels The Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Polwatte, Colombo 3 will have its Christmas Carol Service as usual on Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24 at 6 p.m. This year the readings will be the traditional Bible readings and the choir will [...]
Veteran singer celebrates 50 years in the industry
Veteran singer Desmond De Silva celebrates his 50th anniversary in the entertainment industry with a grand concert on Saturday, December 28 at the Musaeus College Auditorium at 7 p.m. Desmond launched the celebration of his 50th aniversary global tour which kicked off in July with an open air concert in his hometown Matara. The popular [...]
Colouring the world
Shareeda Farook has many dreams to achieve with her paintbrush. This is why all her paintings have a greater meaning. For all proceeds of her exhibition will help colour the lives of those in need. “I want to change the lives of children who are ailing and children who are deprived. There are many children [...]
Dhamma and meditation teacher to visit Colombo
Ajahn Sujato, senior pupil of Ajahn Brahmavamso will be in Colombo in the first week of January 2014. The popular Dhamma and meditation teacher will deliver a talk at Royal College on Friday, January 3 at 5.30 p.m. where anyone interested is welcome to attend. Admission is free. As well as being a meditator and [...]
Selfish selfies and other ills
Quick! What do Barack Obama and Helle Thorning-Schmidt have in common? (Some of you, I can hear, are asking: “Who the Helle is this other person?” Well, dears, she’s the Prime Minister of Sweden. And Ms. Thorning-Schmidt is the lady who was part of a photographic threesome that recently became the talk of the town. [...]
