Galle Fort: Soak in the old and new
It is no exaggeration to call the Galle Fort, one of the best day get-aways from Colombo. And it’s just a 45- minute drive away on the Southern highway which makes it an irresistible destination. Pack for a day, put on your walking shoes and grab a hat and of course, that camera! The beautiful [...]
Appreciations
Thambipillai Sathananthan That was Satha Thambipillai Sathananthan, a retired postmaster, popularly known as Satha to his close associates passed away on March 4. He was an epitome of love. He never lost his temper, as the word ‘temper’ was not in his vocabulary. I knew him for more than 30 years and we worked together [...]
Letters
Child-centred policy can clear the education mess With the Sunday Times reporting that mathematics is a stumbling block for 50 per cent of the GCE O/L student population – it clearly needs the attention of education experts. When we attend the International Seminar on Autism in Malaysia under the patronage of the First Lady of [...]
33 day journey ends in a golden sunset
The send-off was official and unusual. Just before sea-kayaker Sandy Robson paddled across the Palk Straits to the Indian coast from Talaimannar on May 1, to stamp the ‘exit’ on her papers were Immigration officials who had come all the way from the department’s unit at Norochcholai in Puttalam. Not only were they in uniform [...]
St. Mary’s College Trincomalee 150th Jubilee Celebrations
The 150th Jubilee Celebrations of St. Mary’s College in Trincomalee fell on April 4, this year. It was indeed a strange coincidence for a school to be set up when such a proposal was, perhaps, not even thought of at the time. Strange as it may seem, the then Bishop of Jaffna Rt. Rev. Dr. [...]
British Airways Flying high
British Airways celebrated the first anniversary of their service from Colombo to London with a gala reception at the Kingsbury Hotel last month.
Aegis goes places
Global outsourcing and technology company, Aegis Limited celebrated their expansion in Sri Lanka with a reception for clients and guests at the Taj Samudra hotel last week.
Indian touch to Ruchira K
Mrs. India 2013 Ruhani Sharma models creations from Rebel designer Ruchira Karunaratne’s recently launched line of bridal and couture gowns ‘Ruchira K’. Her hair and make-up was by Romesh Atapattu, jewellery provided by Elly Creations and she was photographed by Prishan Pandithage.
PC party
A large gathering of the legal fraternity, friends and family were present at the party held on April 26 at the ……………..to felicitate Shavendra ……………on his appointment as a President’s Counsel.
Let’s stop lionizing our politicos
We read with interest the recent argument of a minister of state that the media has a fair share of the blame to bear for the spread of ethnic chauvinism, race hate, and religious intolerance. If we understand him right, there would be none of the above – if the press did not report it. [...]
The siege of Colombo
The month of May 2014 marks the 358th anniversary of the siege of the Colombo fort and the beginning of the end of Portuguese rule in the island of Ceylon. The siege of Colombo, though a major turning point in the Colonial history of Sri Lanka, stands apart from the other patriotic battles such as [...]
Self – effacing, affable and erudite monk
Members of the Sangha have been the lifeblood of the long and chequered history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. From time to time, especially at times of urgent need, there appeared such members to render the services necessary to prop up and sustain the Sasana. The great chronicles of Sri Lanka speak eloquently of such [...]
Something new from Sybil
“Creating a work of art in words and thoughts is most fascinating. A collage of artistic grandeur, an intermingling of ideas, sequences and a medley of human characters so different to one another. A blending of all these ingredients together as an eloquent whole is indeed a heartening experience in creativity.” This is how Sybil [...]
Await an evening of Opera with SOSL
The BMICH hall will soon reverberate with the sounds of great operatic music, performed by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka and the SOSL Chorus under the dynamic direction of British conductor, Gregory Rose. “A Night at the Opera’ on May 31 will feature timeless gems from the operatic repertoire – the rich sounds of [...]
Planting the seeds of religious values
Set against the backdrop of an ancient Indian palace in the city of Savath is the story of the king’s beautiful young daughter, Thara who falls in love with a poor woodcutter Dharaka. As the story unfolds, several dramatic events follow suit. When their scandalous affair comes to light she is confined to her house [...]
Giving back to her school the way she knows best
Kishani Jayasinghe will return next Sunday (May 11) to the place she loves best; onstage, under the spotlight and performing for an audience she holds dear to her heart. With this show comes a hint of the nostalgia for she will be singing on the invitation of her alma mater Visakha Vidyalaya, returning to Colombo [...]
Events
Dr. K. Balasubramaniam memorial lecture The People’s Movement for the Rights of Patients (PMRP) will conduct the Dr. K. Balasubramaniam memorial lecture on Saturday May 10 from 9.30 p.m. at the Centre for Society and Religion (Fatima Church premises, 281, Deans Road Maradana). Dr. Balasumbramaniam worked for almost two decades with the revered Prof. Senaka [...]
Helping people face their future
Her silent service has brought comfort to many. She listens to their stories that are painful and sad and helps them face the future with renewed hope. Consultant on Psychosocial Counselling, Mrs. Gnanatheepam Shanmugam (known to all as Gethsie) has counselled hundreds of women and children from remote areas like the war-torn North and East [...]
NFOA New Year celebrations
Spectacles and walking sticks did not stop the elders who are young at heart from having a wonderful time. They paraded for the crowning of the Avurudu Kumaraya and Kumariya, put on blindfolds to dot the eye on the elephant, carried the lime on a spoon, played raban, participated in Kanamuttiya and also danced the [...]
