A home for tradition
In ancient times, messages and orders were communicated from one village to another by an ingenious method. Royal artisans would create a transportable replica of the king and this would be taken around; upon entry to each village the royal messengers would manipulate the king’s hands and body with string, voicing the message so it [...]
Appreciations
Herbert Stanley Anthony A dedicated Lion, he contributed much My association with Stanley Anthony started with Lionism. Lion Stanley was a Charter Member of the Lions Club of Ragama Welisara which was inaugurated in October 1976. As a founder member he served the club in many capacities. He was the club president from 1985-86 and [...]
Debbie’s Whist quest
Deborah Philip and I are discussing energy drinks. In particular, the one that kept her awake till 3 a.m. preparing for her Colomboscope presentation on the Grand Oriental Hotel. Debbie had two sessions scheduled (the second being on another festival venue – the Whist Bungalow), so you could sympathise with her attack of nerves, particularly [...]
Letters
A lesson for all parents I am writing this letter after considerable thought as I felt it our duty to share an experience that may well benefit other mothers with young children when placed in a similar predicament. Our granddaughter who was then 2 years and 7 months, had a slight temperature and vomited a few times [...]
The crowded corridor
Every day the rising sun unravels a beautiful scene at the tree hut overlooking the elephant corridor at Wasgamuwa. The sun lights up a serene looking woodland/grassland bordered by hills on one side, jungle on the other and a large irrigation reservoir in the south. Through this corridor elephants and various wildlife range while groups [...]
It was ‘santhutti’ all the way
What a rewarding experience it was! Pradeep Ratnayake needs no introduction. He is the country’s best sitarist. Last Sunday he was paying a tribute to Ravi Shankar, the world renowned sitar player who passed away a little over a year ago. Whether one could understand the intricacies of the ‘ragas’ or not (possibly most of [...]
Five years in harmony
The very first recording of the De Lanerolle Brothers goes back to when Rohan was six years old performing a solo with the rest of the family accompanying him. “It was about three months before I was born,” says Ishan who recalls growing up constantly surrounded by music. Music clearly does flow through their veins [...]
Sujeeva’s ‘Poetry of the Piano’ for Zonta
Whether it is performing on a prestigious platform in a major city, conducting a master class in piano, founding ‘rush hour classics’ in San Francisco, performing to standing ovations on luxury cruise liners or adjudicating a music competition, concert pianist and Steinway artiste Sujeeva Hapugalle exudes passion and artistry. Her performances have received several accolades [...]
A feast of classical music
The Mano Chanmugam Music Foundation (MCMF) took a major leap forward when it presented a concert at the Oak Room Cinnamon Grand Hotel on February 12, 2014 by a trio of internationally acclaimed classical musicians – our very own Shani Diluka (piano) in collaboration with the dynamic young French violinist Gabriel le Magudure and the [...]
Await the return of the Galle Music Festival
The Jaffna and Galle Music Festivals which have taken place in alternative years have always managed to bridge different cultures through music. Passion, harmony and creativity have come together on one stage to speak to everyone irrespective of language or religion. Now they’re back for the fourth year with more on the programme. The Galle [...]
Progress: More than a walk in the park…
Just the other evening, I took an amble in the arboreal environs of Colombo. I mean the park which now bears the name of one Eastern queen, which once equally regally bore the name of another Western monarch. V Park – as I refer to it in honour of both royal ladies – is a [...]
Glorious sounds for the STC chapel
“Hosa-nna in the high-est!” the young tenor sings, pouring his life into a rounded note that swells and cascades from the balcony, reverberating through the chapel. Behind and beneath his voice, pushing higher, higher, rises the sound of the organ, painting, as the vocalist falls back, New Jerusalem, from the depths of its twelve foundations [...]
Life is a cabaret for Steve Ross
Wearing a bow tie and a deep green suede jacket originally made for Noel Coward, Steve Ross savours an after concert drink. It’s well earned – he’s just finished playing the Crystal Room at the Taj, where his piano still stands under a ceiling ringed in tiny, starry lights. Bowing out after a set that [...]
A different style statement
Lugging home the spoils of last Thursday’s Good Market was a little different for some. Hurrying to grab the last of some Polos Rotti after an evening of shopping or just strolling down the windy walkway many of the shoppers found themselves among models determined to not only showcase style but make a statement. The [...]
Avirate’s big plans
“These are designed to look good on everyone” is how CEO of Avirate Sri Lanka Asim Younoos introduced Avirate’s latest innovation, ‘Ponte Pants’. Best described as a formal trouser-jeggin hybrid-‘Ponte-Pants’ the zipper-free, button free, light weight pants come in five different colours, “ideal for the travelling woman who needs to be comfortable, yet look professional [...]
The annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects
The annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) concluded with the customary dinner dance with members and their guests enjoying a night of fun and fellowship at the Galadari Hotel.
A book on a man who himself is a book!
Pandit Amaradeva has been described as the voice that speaks to the soul of Sri Lanka, a voice that is the greatest musical instrument in the country. He is Sri Lanka’s premier vocalist, violinist and composer. He has been experimenting, innovating, entertaining, taking the idiom of Sinhala Music into heights of achievement and expression. Yet [...]
Ragging in the sixties: Fun not harassment
Dikovita Kankanamge Nishantha’s body was found hanging from a tree in the jungles of the Peradeniya campus two weeks ago. It was not an isolated death of a University student related to ragging. Rupa Rathnaseeli in 1975, jumped from the second floor of Ramanathan Hall to escape physical ragging carried out by female students of [...]
A place to discover the joys of reading
‘Expographic Books (Private) Limited’ is a name popular among academics and book lovers. ‘Samaranayake Publishers’ is also a name familiar in literary circles but most do not know that the bookstore is owned by the same Samaranayakes who are the well known publishers. Managing Director and founder of the Expographic bookstore and Samaranayake Publishers Ranjith [...]
Honouring an industrial chemist
Entrepreneur and renowned chemist Lakshman Perera, CEO of C and T Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd, who has made a significant contribution to chemistry in Sri Lanka and worldwide, was honoured at the Presidential Awards 2014 at Temple Trees on February 28. The award is in recognition of his valuable contribution in the field of Industrial Chemistry. [...]
Korea donates 55 digital pianos
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea under the auspices of ambassador Arjuna Jongmoon Choi hosted a piano donation ceremony titled ‘Music Raising Hope’ at the embassy premises on Monday, February 24. Sponsored by Korea’s leading company Booyoung Group, a total of 55 digital pianos were handed out to various schools and children’s homes from [...]
Deshabandhu title for Manique
Manique Gunaratne is known for her tireless work on promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. As Senior Trainer at the EFC’s ICT Training Centre for the Visually Impaired she has successfully taught IT skills to hundreds of visually impaired students, with the aim of bettering their chances of employment. As Vice Chairperson for the [...]
University of Peradeniya, Colombo Chapter 23rd AGM
The 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, Colombo Chapter will be held on Sunday March 9 at Shalika Hall, Park Road, Colombo 5 at 9.30 a.m. Vice Chancellor of Peradeniya University Prof. Athula Senaratna will be the Chief Guest and the guest of honour will be Chairman D.S.I [...]
Charles Henry de Soysa: Philanthropist and visionary
The legend of the late Charles Henry de Soysa, will never die or fade away; as is apparent as we approach March 3 each year, his birth anniversary. There are millions, who have benefitted from his largesse, in the fields he chose so well with a vision which was far ahead of his time. There [...]
New travel website offers budget accommodation
Planning for the long weekend? Maybe to take the family out on a brief budget-holiday taking a break from stress-ridden office routine? Or maybe the boss asked you to book a place for a corporate training session. You need not fret any more. Just key in nawatan.com and hey presto! Nawatan.com is aiming at the [...]
Japanese pianist and baritone in concert with Eshantha
Alliance Française de Colombo will present an evening of classical music by Japanese pianist Chiho Akaishi and Rioo Kuratou on Friday, March 14 at the Alliance Française de Colombo’s auditorium at No. 11 Barnes Place, Colombo 7. Leading pianist Eshantha Peiris will perform as the Guest Artist for the evening.This will be an excellent “Piano [...]
