Never a dull moment; on or off the stage
Namel Weeramuni lives atop his little theatre. Amid the clutter of small shops and heavy traffic in Borella, the building which houses the Punchi has always stood out, its unusual form highlighted by an uneven layer of thick orange clay that gives it texture and character. Four storeys up, a breeze blows steadily through Mr.Weeramuni’s [...]
Be a part of the laughter and tears of Vagina Monologues
The first time they were here, almost a decade ago, India-based theatre company Poor Box Productions performed the Vagina Monologues to a curious, unsure audience, leaving them enlightened and applauding by the time of the curtain call. Seated in the audience was Priyanganie Mushin, current president of Zonta III Colombo, on whom this play created [...]
On the trail of the greatest crime writer
Agatha Christie’s bust isn’t that big. But everyone on the English Riviera will tell you where to find it. The bronze bust is on Cary Green near the grand pavilion on the seafront at Torquay. It’s the only statue anywhere in the world of the famously prolific crime writer, author of “The Mousetrap” and the [...]
Sunset on a truly gifted Test great
Call me cynical or slightly reality-challenged. But for the life of me I could not see what the great big fuss was all about. The leadership turned up en masse so as not to miss the event – or the attendant photo ops. Seasoned cricketers applauding restrainedly from the sidelines as much as churlish schoolboys [...]
Reality behind a picture perfect fishing scene
Against the backdrop of the vast blue ocean, the group of stilt fishermen seated on a narrow pole tied to a stick – the riti-panna with their fishing rods kithul pitta in hand, make a colourful picture. The view indeed is a perfect frame for the camera lens. Standing safely on the shore both locals [...]
Letters
Election violations: Is anyone really interested in stopping them? With the announcement of every Presidential, Parliamentary or Local Government election the run-up to the poll is full of violations of election laws. The elections chief only sermonises. When the laws are blatantly violated, when his own officers are obstructed and threatened with death he is [...]
A journey of faith
When at school while learning about the many times that the Blessed Virgin Mary made appearances here on earth, I found myself wishing often that I was one of those chosen children in Fatima. Why they occupied such a space in my thoughts more than with other apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will, [...]
Expert touch for craft
The BMICH will be the venue for a celebration of diverse crafts as the National Craft Council opens their annual craft exhibition and fair “Shilpa” to the public on August 28. Bringing together artisans, designers and the public, Shilpa has, over the years proved to be an eye opener to people, an occasion for the [...]
Sirima’s mission continues through beautiful sounds
A charity concert ‘Symphony for a Child’ was presented by the AIDS Foundation of Lanka on June 29 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, under the patronage of the High Commiss-ioner for UK in Sri Lanka John Rankin. ‘Symphony for a Child’, an annual event in London since 1999, is a concept developed by Srima Jayasekera. [...]
A leading voice of classical carnatic
Renowned Indian Carnatic vocalist T.V.Ramprasadh and his troupe will present a concert on Wednesday, August 27 at 6 p.m. at the Indian Cultural Centre auditorium, 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. The concert is presented by the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo in collaboration with the India Sri Lanka Foundation. A prominent Carnatic classical vocalist, whose uncompromising [...]
Canvas of Lankan art soon in London
In October this year, 14 Sri Lankan artists will, for the first time in a remarkably long time, exhibit their work at a show dedicated solely to Sri Lankan art in London. ‘Serendipity Revealed’, a travelling exhibition that displayed in Hong Kong will find its next home at The Brunei Gallery in Central London for [...]
Portraying twisted social fictions
Born in 1971 in Colombo, Vajira Gunawardena is known for his bright coloured canvas works. His art is also of a deeply conceptual nature. Gunawardena completed his Bachelor in Fine Arts at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Sri Lanka and has held regular solo exhibitions locally over the past twelve years. He has participated [...]
Bancassurance Achievers award ceremony
The Bancassurance Achievers award ceremony was held at Waters Edge last month, hosted by CEO, NDB Bank Rajendra Theagarajah and CEO AIA Assurance Shah Rouf. Below guests at the ceremony.
Rukshan toasts his daughter at her Italian wedding
Composer/singer Rukshan Perera’s youngest daughter, Nadina Perera married her Italian sweetheart Stefano Cravero in the romantic setting of an Italian Cathedral and a beautiful castle in the northwest of Italy on July 5. The couple had met in Bangladesh when both worked for Nobel Laureate Dr. Mohamed Yunus. Rukshan composed a touching song for his [...]
Celebrating beauty
It was not the standard grand final of a beauty pageant when the Lite 87 Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe winner was announced last Sunday at the Colombo Hilton. The preliminaries had been duly conducted earlier, but the finale took the form of a reception rather than a show for a select gathering as [...]
‘The Cutting Station’ turning heads in Bristol
The Cutting Station unveiled its 2014 campaign -the ‘Beauty of Styling’ at an evening launch on August 15 while also celebrating a strategic tie-up that takes it overseas. Established in 1999, The Cutting Station is headed by Johann Peiris. Located at Jawatte Road, the salon has a branch at Water’s Edge in Battaramulla. From trendy [...]
Going wild with nuts, bolts, silencers
The exhibits are striking, maybe even startling. Birds and animals, made of scrap metal, yet instantly recognisable in their composition. The artist says he made quick sketches in the wild and then gathered waste metal products such as motor parts, cutlery and assembled them proportionately to form creations of stark beauty. “The journey towards an [...]
A Bollywood treat
The lively beats of the Dhol and tunes from the Bollywood silver screen took the audience on an emotional journey last Sunday when the acclaimed Indian singer, Shaan, who is the voice behind many memorable moments in films performed for eager Bollywood buffs gathered at Stein Studios. Put together by the Indian CEO Forum in [...]
The De Lanerolle Brothers say thank you for the music
To mark their 5th anniversary, the De Lanerolle Brothers have organised a Thanksgiving Service in collaboration with the young and dynamic choir “OKTAVE” together with Neranjan De Silva on the organ. All proceeds of the service go towards the Organ Fund of the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour of which Ishan, the younger of [...]
Appreciations
Victoreen Hassan A loving, caring wife It is with a sense of deep sadness that I write about my loving wife Victoreen. Six years have passed since I lost the light of my life. We married on October 8, 1968 and spent a happy and peaceful wedded life for almost 40 long years with fun, [...]
K.N.O. on Mudliyar David De Saram’s Pin Pota
The Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) monthly public lecture will be delivered by Prof. K. N. O. Dharmadasa, Professor Emeritus, and the former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya. His lecture is titled “Some Observations on Mudliyar David De Saram’s Pin Pota”. It will be on Monday August 25 at 5.00 [...]
Public lecture on bird migration
To mark the onset of Bird Migration Season and to launch the Migrant watch 2014/15, the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) has organised a lecture on bird migration by veteran Ornithologist Prof. Sarath Kotagama. This will be on Saturday, August 30 from 9.30 to 11.30 a.m. at NBLT Hall of the Department of [...]
Clifford Richard back with stylish show
Well-known singer Clifford Richard is back with a concert that is stylish, satisfying, memorable and full of audience interaction on August 31 at the Bishops College auditorium at 7 p.m. The 2 ½ hour show is packed with a great selection of popular songs from Elvis, Tom Jones, Engelbert, Jim Reeves, Cliff Richard and many [...]
National Trust lecture: Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka
A Panel Discussion on Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka with speakers Somasiri Devendra, Malik Fernando and Rasika Muthucumarana will be the National Trust’s monthly lecture for August. The 65th Session of the monthly lecture series will be held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. [...]
50 years of teaching
When Nicolas Johnpillai found himself staring down the barrel of a rifle during the height of the civil unrest in the early 70’s he was convinced he was a dead man. He was just 22, a trainee at the Maharagama Teacher Training College. That day, despite many warnings he felt compelled to accompany a good [...]
Subway takes off with auction of giant submarine
Subway Sri Lanka was officially launched last Wednesday at the Taj Samudra Hotel. The brand launch was accompanied by a charity auction where a three foot submarine was auctioned for a staggering Rs. 55,000 to raise funds for the Room to Read foundation. The event was graced by well known faces in the business world [...]
Old-world charm of China’s Fujian Province
China’s Fujian Province has a few things in common with Sri Lanka. “Tea is a big deal there as well,” smiled Deputy Manager of the Xiamen Tourism Group, International Travel Service, Fish Chen. Opening the travel promotion seminar held at the Taj Samudra this week with members of the Fujian Administration of Tourism and the [...]
‘Ape Kattiya’ to transport water to Polonnaruwa
‘Ape Kattiya’ will carry water to drought stricken Polonnaruwa today, Sunday, August 24. ‘Ape Kattiya’ is a voluntary organisation founded in 1994 by government servants working in Polonnaruwa assisted by people in the district. Their membership includes the then government agents, additional government agents, DRO’s and others of government service. On August 24, the members [...]
“Battle Zone”: Sri Lanka’s first reality game show
For the first time on Sri Lankan TV, CSN has initiated a reality programme of adventurous and thrilling games. “Battle Zone” / “Sangrama Adaviya” will be aired from August 30 for 24 weeks demonstrating thrilling experiences and adventurous games faced by 16 popular artistes and sports stars in Sri Lanka during 24 days in a [...]
