Let’s give them all a chance to study
Dressed in a pressed blue shirt and jeans with his meticulously styled hair, and speaking with a slight foreign accent, he looks like any other young Sri Lankan who has returned to Sri Lanka for the December holidays. His story begins too like most other young Sri Lankans living across the globe. He grew up [...]
Heal the scars of a night of horror
It was quite a normal occurrence in their village of Kadirapura, close to Dehiattakandiya in the Ampara district. A thovil ceremony was to be held at a house about a kilometre away to rid the spirits allegedly possessing two of their relatives, a man and a woman. The inveterate curiosity innate in many a Sri [...]
Letters
Desperate pensioners have only one wish now; early exit from this world From the date of implementation of a two-tier system- one quite handsome for those who retired after 2006 and the other an abjectly lesser pension for those who retired before 2006, our appeal for remedial action hangs in the air. This discrimination [...]
Appreciations
Achcha had a big heart and embodied the noble tradition of service to others Sita Ranatunga Describing my grandmother and how much she meant to me and to many others is no easy task, so I will start from the very beginning. I suppose the first grandchild is always special. I can only imagine how [...]
Growing passion for lichens
It is not the stunning, large beauties of the plant world that are the passion of 41-year-old Dr. Gothamie Weerakoon but the humble but vital lichens that many people do not even notice. As she delivered the ‘invitee address’ at the annual conference of the British Lichen Society on Thursday (January 9) at the University [...]
Meet the artists, appraise their works: An invitation to Kala Pola
“I went to Trinity College-the best school in Kandy,” says artist Amaresh Pereira proudly, “but when I decided to follow art further, I even lost my best friend.” Living with this frustration of not being accepted he says, “the George Keyt Foundation is where I felt truly at home and valued.” He describes the Kala [...]
Veteran artist gets set for exhibition of exhibitions
Renowned artist S.H.Sarath is preparing for his next exhibition, out of more than a hundred he has done so far. “The Maha Valli Exhibition of paintings” as he calls it will take place at Lionel Wendt on January 21 and 22 and will be on from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. The opening ceremony will [...]
Labels and signs of our life times
We Sri Lankans too often can’t resist defying signs. Confronted with a sign that says ‘Do!’ or ‘Don’t!’, we submit reluctantly sometimes; at other times rebelliously subverting its instructions. Token signage, traffic symbols, and graphic behaviour regulators are no exception. “Don’t cross!” is a red flag to many bovine pedestrians, whose bull-like rush against the [...]
‘Bright Spark’ and more at this year’s CFW
After toasting ten successful years of Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) last year, Ajai Singh and his crew are back with this year’s edition of HSBC CFW. “This time Fashion Week will last for six days,” President of HSBC CFW Ajai Vir Singh revealed. The shows that lasted three days have now been extended over a [...]
The all new F-TYPE Jaguar hits the roads
Regency Automobiles (Pvt) Ltd, the official dealer/importer for Jaguar cars in Sri Lanka launched the new Jaguar F-type early in December at the Museum Gallery Cafe. The all new F-TYPE is the first two-seater sports car in production since the E-TYPE 50 years ago. Speaking at the launch Chairman of Regency Automobiles (Pvt) Ltd, Arthur [...]
Jacquie adds sparkle to CJS luxury rings
Former Miss Sri Lanka and Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernando was in the country once again this week to unveil a brand newcollection of luxury rings by Colombo Jewellery Stores. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, CJS Managing Director Akram Cassim said that his designs were meant to evoke the whimsical charm of the Galle [...]
From people to places, the bond will always bring him back
Back in 1977, Walter Keller-Kirchhoff was a 25-year-old Economics student fulfilling a young and carefree impulse to travel. He came to Sri Lanka on a little Volkswagen aboard a ferry, imagining it to be just another stop on his Asian tour. Life has a way of surprising us and Keller was no exception-almost four decades [...]
Eccentricity in the hills
I think I have discovered the most unusual hotel bedroom in Sri Lanka: one with a swimming pool inside the bedroom, not outside in the garden or by the beach as in other hotels that boast rooms with private swimming pools. This extraordinary bedroom is part of an extraordinary, even eccentric, new hotel in a [...]
Got the taste for Chinese seafood on the beach? Head to Loon Tao
There’s something about Loon Tao that speaks to the soul. For one you can walk in wearing almost anything-from those in an evening gown to beach bums in slippers and shorts, all are welcome. Then there’s the setting; a completely open restaurant and an unhindered view of the setting sun over an iridescent ocean. And [...]
Sea ways to Tambapanni
“W e islanders are all children of the sea, travellers since ancient times, unafraid of outward migration and the search for new horizons….”(Sarala Fernando. Editor) It is long since I sifted through pages of articles crafted by specialists and non specialists, an amalgam of history, archaeology, nautical traditions and technology, brilliant photographic images of ancient [...]
From the tiniest to the biggest events neutrinos have a story to tell
As you sit here, reading these words, trillions of neutrinos are streaming right through you; as if you were a sieve, they pass unnoticed through your clothes, through your skin and bone, through the chair you are sitting on and the floor of the room you’re in. They pass right through the Earth itself and [...]
The grade 5 exam: Reduce the stress, tap the potential of a child
The Education Minister’s proposal to do away with the grade 5 scholarship exam has created a huge uproar in the country. Apparently the National Educational Commission took this decision taking into consideration the psychological impact of this exam on primary school children. But many thought this was an attempt to block the only pathway available [...]
Unforgettable math time with Roy Muthaya’s infallible Sinhala
It was 1965, our first year in upper school of Trinity College Kandy. Vice Principal G.Y. Sahayam, waving his long cane, carefully allocated us seats in alphabetical order in the college hall, for morning assembly. The seats, thus allocated for raw juniors were in the last few rows of the balcony, almost touching the ceiling. [...]
Beginning a prosperous season
“Pongalo- Pongal!” they cry with joy as the pongal boils over the earthen pot. It is high time to thank Sun God (Suryan) for his abundance! “Pongal”’ literally suggesting “boiling over” is considered a harvest festival celebrated during the most auspicious month of Thai- January, marking the beginning of the northward journey of the sun [...]
Anoma Janadare releases part 2 and 3 of her autobiography
Veteran actress and writer Anoma Janadare launched Parts 2 and 3 of her autobiography Punarukthi- Punarakathana and Punaragamana last month. The first book which spoke about the hardships and different stages of abuse faced by a girl from a middle class family has been well received by men and women of all age groups, said [...]
CASA holds 5th annual Joseph Vaz commemorative talk
The 5th Annual Joseph Vaz Commemorative Talk organised by the Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA) will be held on Thursday, January 16 at 3.30 p.m. at the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), Deans Road, Maradana (Fatima Church premises). Dr. Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi, Hon. Researcher, MCD University of Divinity, Melbourne and Visiting Lecturer, University of [...]
‘Sing along with Annesley Malawana’
The Buzz, UAE in collaboration with Cancer Care Association, Sri Lanka is hosting its inaugural event; ‘Sing along with Annesley Malawana’ at BMICH on January 18, in aid of the Cancer Care Hospice, Anuradhapura. Proceeds of the event will be donated to the development of the Cancer Care Hospice- Kurundankulama, Anuradhapura. The Buzz was founded [...]
New Chairman of Risso Kosei Kai Sri Lankan branch
Sunanda Thilakarathna has been appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka branch of Risso Kosei Kai. The international organisation based in Japan has 17 branches throughout the world- there are five branches in Sri Lanka in Colombo, Kandy, Habarana, Polonnaruwa and Galle. Mr. Thilakarathna is also Chairman of the Lions Club of Wattala Orient [...]
Wildlife & Nature Protection Society lecture: ‘Key Biodiversity Areas of Sri Lanka’
The January Lecture of the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka on ‘Key Biodiversity Areas of Sri Lanka’ will be delivered by Prof. Devaka Weerakoon on Thursday, January 16, at 6.15 p.m. at the Auditorium of the Department of Meteorology, 83, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 (opposite the BMICH). Prof. Weerakoon, who is a [...]
Visakha hosterllers get-together
A get-together organised for past hostel students of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, will be held on January 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school premises. The get-together is held coinciding with the Children’s Day celebration for hostel students organised by the Visakha Vidyalaya Old Girls’ Association. For participation please contact Nimali Heenpella on [...]
Marking time: Ancient roots of the modern calendar
Among the oldest civilisations that existed in the storied past of 500-1000 B.C. were the ancient Incas (of Peru) and the Mayas and Aztecs (of South and Central Mexica). These ancient people were famed for building giant pyramids of stone, stone sculptures, and giant stone monuments. The Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs worshipped the Sun God. [...]
Lahiru Montessori concert
Founder Pragna Pradeepa concept and Western Province councillor Jayantha de Silva was the chief guest at a children’s concert organised by Lahiru Montessori of Maligawatte at the Mahinda Vidyalaya hall recently. The picture shows Mr. de Silva presenting prizes to the children and their mothers.
Lafarge Mahaweli Cement hosts customer get-together
Lafarge Mahaweli Cement hosted its year-end customer get-together recently, at Cinnamon Grand Hotel with the participation of the company’s senior management, staff members, distributors and industrial customers working with the company. Popular artistes including Latha Walpola, Annesley Malawana, Mariazelle Gunathilaka, Anton Silva and Athma Liyanage performed at the event along with the band, ‘Sunflowers’.
