‘Storming’ Bogambara
A morbid curiosity or is it fascination impels us with the hundreds of men, women, some carrying tiny babies, and children including those in school uniform, to the “star” attraction. The stampede, bypassing everything else, is towards the red-painted gallows. A clamour is obvious when the Sunday Times team climbs up to the gallows on [...]
Letters
Set up war crimes tribunal; it has its advantages As the United States resolution against Sri Lanka makes headlines in the media, it is reported that the Government is determined to fight the move tooth and nail and will not abide by it even if it is passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council [...]
Appreciations
Dr. Walter R. Gooneratne A man of the wilds and the much loved doctor of Maha Oya Dr. Walter R. Gooneratne, son of the well known Headmaster of S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, O. P. Gooneratne, died on March 7, at the grand age of 90 years. He passed out as a doctor in 1948 [...]
‘Call me Arjuna’
Stopping by the Moors Sports Club down Braybrooke Place on a weekend, you may have noticed a foreigner in cricket whites towering over the little ones aspiring to be the next Sangakkara or Mahela. What comes as a big surprise is that the cricketer was none other than the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea. [...]
Rare cactus in full bloom
Pereskia bleo is a rare leafy cactus, currently in full bloom with its bright orange flowers and clusters of funnel shaped fruits at the premises of All Saints Church, Hulftsdorp. The historic church on Hulftsdorp Hill faces the Supreme Court complex and the cactus is easily viewed. Pereskia bleo is not a desert-adapted cactus, like [...]
Leopard in her lap at Browns Beach Hotel
As a schoolboy in the Kandyan hills, I read with avid interest, the Belgian explorer Armand Denise’s book of his exploits in different parts of the world. Little did I dream that not only would I visit some of the places he mentioned but that, like him, I would have a beautiful blonde wife who [...]
A gift from the heart for Hartley
It was indeed a moment of elation for all Sri Lankans present when Sri Lankan born Senator Ian Kiru Karan delivered an address at the last German National Day celebrations in Colombo, invited to speak as the Guest of Honour by the German Ambassador Dr. Juergen Morhard. It was after Senator Karan spoke that the [...]
A family launches books of topical interest
It’s not often that we hear of two books being launched by the same family on the same day and at the same place. This is what happened last week at the Mahaweli Centre in Colombo when a mother, father and son released their books. Names like Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy and Winston [...]
Stretching the boundaries of books
When Sharmini Pereira sees a book, she sees a gallery, a museum, a space for artistic interaction.The founder of Raking Leaves, an independent publisher of contemporary artists’ book projects, Sharmini has discovered ways to stretch and manipulate the architecture of a book, so that it holds more than the sum of its pages. By adding [...]
Harking back to the days of ‘God save the Queen’
This book by Lakshman Umagiliya brings back memories of my own past, growing up as a teenager in this island home under British rule. To quote from his own words: ‘I am a retrograde, maybe going backwards into a worse state than the one I was born into. I am heading for Eton, to wear [...]
Women’s Day reception
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the High Commissioner for Australia in Sri Lanka Robyn Mudie hosted an evening reception at the High Commissioner’s residence.
Edgy vibes from Moratuwa Uni’s young designers
Once a year the Department of Textile and Clothing Technology of the University of Moratuwa showcases its brightest and best, and this year 18 students out of a graduating batch of 39 showed the quality of their work on the ramp at the Galadari Hotel. First on the ramp was Thakshila Weliange’s collection called “Amulet” [...]
A taste of the Middle East
Hilton Colombo Residences launched its Middle Eastern food promotion under the theme of “Flavours of the Middle East” at its poolside restaurant, Verandah Bistro. This buffet promotion for dinner will be held from March 20 until April 5 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m and will offer diners an array of authentic dishes from the [...]
Turning a Bible story into drama
Angelo Pereira has always loved plays. He was never an actor or director of any sort, but grabbed every chance to see theatrical productions. “I learnt a lot by watching,” he says. “I learnt a lot about plots, and about acting and directing.” It is not a surprise, then, that into his twenties, whenever he [...]
They deserved to be honoured
It was a pleasant surprise to find two stamps commemorating two stalwarts who had contributed immensely to the local cinema, in the stamp pack I just received from the Philatelic Bureau. One features maestro Premasiri Khemadasa and the other script-writer/director Tissa Abeysekera. The sad part, however, is that I have yet to see these stamps, [...]
A fiesta of culture and community
This year’s Galle Music Festival wrapped up with a successful concert at Colombo’s Galle Face Green last Monday, marking the end of the three day fiesta of music. Held every year in Galle and Jaffna alternatively, the Festival, organised by the Sevalanka Foundation and Concerts Norway (Rikskonsertene) organisation under the funding from the Royal Norwegian [...]
Inauguration of the Sri Lanka United Kingdom Society-Junior Chapter
The Junior Chapter of the Sri Lanka United Kingdom had its inaugural installation ceremony on February 8, at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. The chief guest at the event was Chris Parakrama, President of the Sri Lanka United Kingdom Society. The Sri Lanka United Kingdom Society (SLUKS) was established in 1985, to strengthen and further [...]
British Scholars’ Association office bearers
The following were elected office bearers of the British Scholars’ Association President – Prof. Ravindra Fernando Immediate Past President- Rohaan Abeywickrema Vice Presidents- Ranjith Gurugamage, Gamini Fernando & Dr. V. U. Ratnayake Hony. Secretary – Dr. Kamakshi Perera-Mubarak Hony. Treasurer – Jayantha Wickramasinghe Committee Members – Capt. Rohith Fernando, Susila Jayasuriya, Gayani de Alwis, Chatrini [...]
Conspiracy, thy call sign is MH370!
Chances are that it continues to be off the radar. The missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing, that is. My bet is that today, Sunday, March 23 (or whenever it is you’re reading this), it is still quite “lost”… echoing plot arcs of the eponymous TV show that ended recently (Lost, ABC: 2004–10). The 777-200ER is lost; [...]
7th annual RAASL Research Conference
The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL) is holding its 7th Annual Research Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences on Thursday, March 27, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 at the Mahaweli Centre, 96 Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Nelum Pokuna Mawatha), Colombo 7. Registration will be from 7 a.m. to – 8.15 a.m on March 27, [...]
STSD award for Joy Fernando
Well known teacher and founder Directress of the International Institute of Music Speech & Drama Mrs. Joy Ferdinando was awarded a certificate “in recognition of her outstanding work in establishing the Sri Lankan Festival and Summer Schools in order to promote speaking of English and the performance of drama”. The presentation was made at the [...]
GFS sale: Market on the Green
The Market on the Green will be held on Wednesday, March 26 from 10 a.m. onwards at the GFS, 58 Green Path, Colpetty. A variety of miscellaneous items will be on sale, as well as home made lunch packets, short eats etc. There will be free demonstrations on Make Up and Skin Care at 11.30 [...]
Ramanathan students Silver Jubilee
The Silver Jubilee get –together of the past students of the Ramanathan Hall, University of Ceylon, Peradeniya will take place on Sunday March 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.It will be held at the Police Families Welfare Association Hall No.07 Joseph Frazer Road, Colombo-5, next to the Police Officers Mess. For more details, please [...]
Young Architect of the Year 2014
It was two wins for Chartered Architect Ranga Dayasena — ‘The Young Architect of the Year 2014’ awarded by the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects and the ‘Design award of Excellence’ under the ‘Community Architecture’ category at ‘Architect 2014’ – at the National Conference and Exhibition on Architecture held in February. Principal Architect of Axis [...]
National Trust lecture: ‘A Voyage in Sri Lankan Design’
Archt. Tilak Samarawickrema will take as his theme ‘A Voyage in Sri Lankan Design’ when he delivers the 60th Session of the monthly lecture series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27. Tilak Samarawickrema [...]
“Acid Wessa” to be staged on March 30
Dhanajaya Karunarathne’s “Acid Wessa” is based on the themes of cruelty against cruelty, destruction against destruction, love against love. Two shows will be staged on Sunday, March 30 at 3.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. The play, which is rated for an adult audience, will star popular artists such as, Kaushalya Fernando, Jagath Manuwarana and Priyantha [...]
CMSC present ‘From Venice to Vienna’
“From Venice to Vienna”, a concert offering an eclectic selection of music will be presented by the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC), on Thursday, March 27 at 7.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. Venice is in reference to the place of composition of Il Signor Bruschino, Rossini’s first major success in opera. The [...]
