On the heels of the wild beauties of Delft
They are the living “landmarks” of rugged Delft, inextricably linked with this island located in the Palk Straits across from the Jaffna peninsula. With an arrogant toss of their heads, manes and tails flying, they gallop along the coastline, daring anyone to come up-close. They are the wild horses which are such an integral part [...]
After 21 years Samanthie ‘finds’ her mother
Rewind to 21 years ago, span over a deserted Colombo city and zoom in on a bus stand. A woman huddles from the cold of the night with her newborn, wondering what tomorrow will bring. She has nowhere to go-just discharged from hospital, she has been abandoned by her family. “I thought- is this is [...]
Letters
Ideas for smoother traffic flow on Galle Road and Duplication Road Construction work is being carried out on both sides of Galle Road and Duplication Road, causing much inconvenience to road users. Let’s bear with it for the sake of development. It is said the World Bank has released a large sum of money for [...]
appreciations
Rohan Medonza You were too big in life to be ever forgotten Rohan Bennet Pramuk Medonza had a head start when he joined school in January 1960. His older brother –the debonair Ananda, was already well known as a fine cricketer, and he would keep his peers spellbound with tales of his Aiya’s feats with [...]
Reyna’s Prophecy is the stuff that cult fiction bestsellers are made of
Radhika Philip’s debut novel is everything that you’d want a good read to be, but nothing that a Sri Lanka writer’s book is supposed to be. Reyna’s Prophecy, a 366 page novel by an unheard of Sri Lankan writer living in Sri Lanka,has all the makings of a paperback bestseller, and Harper Collins, its publisher [...]
Turning her body and soul into music
Sitting across from her now, it’s impossible to tell that Shani Diluka went to bed exhausted, her head aching. It was impossible to detect even last night, when she took her bows with violinist Gabriel Le Magadure and cellist Valentin Erben, basking in the wild applause from their audience at the end of a gruelling [...]
Having a ball with Koluu
Almost as famous for his burlesque acts as his cooking, celebrity chef Koluu treated fans to another hilarious act in his post Valentine’s Day show. It was vintage Koluu, as Colombo audiences have come to know with the familiar mix of the comic and burlesque and risqué aided by appearances by Otara, Indu, Ronnie Leitch, [...]
Get ready with your masks, it’s the Mardi Gras Ball
The North American Women’s Association (NAWA) established in 1952 will once again host the Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday March 1, at the Cinnamon Grand Ballroom with Misty and DJ Danushka in attendance. The NAWA, a non-profit organisation focuses primarily on how they can uplift and support women and children with special needs throughout Sri [...]
New twist to swing dance and burlesque
H-Artistry – The Global Art of Mixing, is back with another eclectic fusion of art in all its forms. On March 1 in partnership with Mainstage, the H- Artistry event will present different genres of electronic and acoustic music, fashion photography, dance and live art – in a first of its kind event. H- Artistry [...]
Lanka’s handlooms to weave a storm
Much sought after are their ‘products’, with people coming in search of their centre a few months after a life-changer which has lifted them from being mundane weavers to those who have a “good” eye for colour and design. Their products are wide and varied, an explosion of colour in all its beauty — stunning [...]
A passion that began with a little toy drum
The 11 million rupees Arun Abeyagunawardena pledged to the Chitrasena-Vajira Dance Company last month is a sequel to a toy Kandyan drum Chitrasena gave him when he left for Australia with his parents 50 years ago. “I must have heard Kandyan drum rhythms when I was in my mother’s womb,” says Arun. “My passion for [...]
In the beginning was Rekhawa
The National Trust – Sri Lanka’s monthly lecture will be on ‘Rekhawa- waking the slumbering Sinhala cinema’. The lecture to be delivered by Prof. Asoka de Zoysa will be at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, February 27. This lecture and discussion attempts [...]
Water’s Edge gets a Long Bar
The launch of the Long Bar at Water’s Edge by Chef Rohan Fernandopulle attracted a celebrity gathering. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the chief guest at the event.
Between the sandy beach and the lagoon
Just a 20 minute drive from Chilaw on the A3 highway, the newly opened Anantaya Resort and Spa is designed to capture the beauty of its surroundings, cocooned by a golden sandy beach and a mangrove filled lagoon. Anantaya is the only property in the area, ensuring guests exclusive use of the secluded beach. The [...]
Riverside retreat away from the mainstream
If you want to stay somewhere different from the usual mainstream, five-star, package, boutique or backpacker hotel, where can you go? Sri Lanka is blessed with so many unusual properties with a warm personality offering nifty accommodation, it’s hard to choose. However, at last, I think I’ve found an ideal option: it’s the perfect retreat. [...]
Sharing love with a wedge of cake
We’ve heard about chain mails and chain prayers but chain cakes is something new to us in Sri Lanka. Shanaz de Lanerolle, proprietor of Anna’s Kitchen has maybe started a new trend. In her “Share the love” Valentine promotion one round cake gets cut into eight pieces and one person can nominate seven others to [...]
Feast on an array of Thai dishes
Hilton Colombo Residences is hosting a Thai food promotion at its main restaurant, Union Bar & Grill. This buffet promotion for dinner offering diners an array of authentic Thai dishes will be held between February 20 and March 8 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. American Express card members will enjoy 30% savings on total [...]
A fresh look at South Asia’s post-colonial conflict
Professor G. H. Peiris has grappled with several difficult themes and in working the essence of these, as he saw them into an outstanding monograph, he has make an important contribution to scholarship. In writing on political conflict in South Asia he has produced, a study of a political system that has evolved mostly under [...]
A new lease of life at Peradeniya!
Perhaps, going back to Peradeniya gives one a new lease of life! The corridors of the main Arts Faculty building seem to welcome us. The lovely architecture, the large sunny classrooms with wide carved doors and windows and the endless lawns and lovely trees full of flowers….. As I walked the length and breadth of [...]
CANSA and SLPI workshop on climate change and development journalism
The Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute conducted a Workshop on Climate Change and Development Journalism for local journalists on Monday, February 10, at the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), Colombo 5 that highlighted the energy situation in Sri Lanka, the impact of climate change on the [...]
Only when I laugh – a study in silliness
A funny thing happened at the theatre the other night. It was a grim scene with the kind of torture to make Torquemada chuckle and send out for another set of thumbscrews. And the audience laughed. Mind you, dears, it was not a comedy or a tragicomedy, or even a farce that some theatre companies [...]
Creative delights from Ten Sing Norway
Ten Sing Norway, a performing arts group from Norway are now in Sri Lanka to hold workshops and performances along with local YMCA youth. Ten Sing is an international youth programme engaging teenagers in creative performing arts. Founded in Norway in 1968, it was created to give youth an alternative after-school activity. The YMCA and [...]
Seminar on the novel Gedara Idena Batha
Senaratne Ananda’s novel ‘Gedera Idena Batha’ was launched recently at the Public Library auditorium and in response to many reader requests, the author has organised a follow-up seminar on the book at the Bruhaspathi Campus, Colombo 1, on March 2 at 11 a.m. This campus is located behind the Peoples Bank head quarters building, Colombo [...]
Vidyalankara Montessori receives book donation
Founder of the Pragna Pradeepa concept and Western Provincial Councillor Jayantha de Silva donated books to the children of the Vidyalankara Montessori at Sri Dharmarama Road, Dematagoda recently. The Montessori is managed by the Vidyalankara Pirivena.
RAASL lecture: Re-identifying the Bisokotuwa
The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka will hold their monthly lecture ‘A Mistaken Narrative: How the ancient Bisokotuwa was falsely designated as a valve-pit’ by Chandana Jayawardana on Monday, February 24 at 5 p.m. at the Mahaveli Centre at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. During the British rule, the imbalance in foreign trade caused [...]
Natya Kala Mandhir students to perform dance recitals in India
The students of Natya Kala Mandhir have been invited to present classical dance recitals as a tribute to Lord Shiva at the Indian Natyanjali festivals in temples in Chithambaram, Tanjoor, Nagapatnam, Thirunallar, Mayilaadudurai and Bandanai Nallur Shivan temples during the Maha Sivarathri festival from February 28 to March 3. The recitals have been choreographed by [...]
Hajj: The symbol of Islamic unity
‘Hajj-The Symbol of Muslim Unity’, was the theme of a seminar held at the auditorium of the Iranian Cultural Centre in Colombo recently. Papers were presented by the representative of the Iranian leader for Hajj Ayatullah Seyed Qazi Asker and Pilgrimage Affairs Ayatullah Seyed Ali Khamanei; the Chairman of the Oraganisation of Hajj and Pilgrimage [...]
ITN Deputy General Manager receives CPM
Deputy General Manager (Marketing) of Independent Television Network (ITN), Upali Ranjith received his certificate of Certified Professional Marketer (Asia) at the graduation ceremony of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) held recently. Mr. Ranjith already has a post graduate diploma in marketing from SLIM. The chief guests at the event included Vice Chancellor of [...]
‘Silgath Kokku’ to be staged at Badulla Town Hall
Ranjith de Alwis’s latest play ‘Silgath Kokku’ will be staged at the Badulla Town Hall on March 1 at 2.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. Saranga Dissasekera, Lochana Imashi, Manohari Wimalatunga, Sandhya Rambukkanage, Nilanthi Heendeniya, Milinda Perera and Givantha Arthasad star in this production. Music is by Visharada Edward Jayakody. The show is produced by Rupasinghe [...]
Photo Technica colour lab opens
The Photo Technica colour lab was reopened recently after refurbishment. The picture shows Managing Director Harsha Krishantha Malvenna cutting the ribbon at the ceremony. Pic by Dunstan Wickremaratne
Mystique rules the plot
“Outside was a battlefield!…believe me or not…animals! Yes! Animals were fighting!”, reads Chamasha’s novel; The Swan Pendant, an imaginative portrayal of a mystifying story woven around the island named Carpethia and its buried inscrutability. Young Chamasha Kapuruge, 12, launched her first novel, The Swan Pendant, on September 23 at the Colombo International Book Fair- 2013, [...]
