Beauties and the feast
Bringing out the elephants in place of the red carpet, Cinnamon Lodge Habarana welcomed the top 15 contestants of the Miss Universe China 2014 pageant on Tuesday. For their part, the contestants’ sunny smiles and energy levels seemed unhampered by the four hours spent in a coach soon after landing in the country early that [...]
Redefining an ancient concept
The University of Peradeniya is currently gearing up for One Health International Conference, 2014, scheduled to take place on September 5 and 6, with pre-conference workshops organised for September 4. All eight faculties of the University have been involved in planning the conference which is geared towards introducing definitions, concepts, and basic theories in the [...]
Launch of Sinhala translation of “Origins of Love”
Saman Athaudahetti’s latest creation “Adara Ankara” is the unabridged Sinhala translation of popular Indian writer Kishwar Desai’s book “Origins of Love”. It will be launched at 4 p.m. on September 1 in Committee Room ‘B’ of BMICH with the participation of Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe, Deepika Priyadharshini, Nirosha Virajini an [...]
10 week course on Christianity
Alpha is a 10 week course designed for people who are curious about Christianity. It is also a great learning ground for new Christians as well as for those who want to brush up their knowledge about basics. Anyone is welcome! The thought-provoking sessions look at subjects such as ‘Is there more to life than [...]
Luxury watches on display at Galle Face Court
Jaeger-LeCoultre, the world acclaimed wrist watch manufacturers are in Sri Lanka for all luxury wrist watch lovers. Their latest collections of 2014 were presented to Sri Lanka last week at the Chatham showroom in Galle Face Court 1. The collection, including its exceptional Hybris Mechanica and Haute Joaillerie creations, was available for public viewing for [...]
‘Treasured Memories’
Well known writer and columnist Ilika Karunaratne presenting the first copy of her book ‘Treasured Memories’ to Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe recently.
Seenigama Esala festival
The Esala festival of the historic Sri Devol Maha Devalaya commenced on July 31 with the tradition ‘kap situweema’ ceremony . The Sri Devol Maha Perahera will take place on September 1 and 2 in the afternoon. On the first day the perahera will wend its way to the ancient Thelwatte temple and on the [...]
Janasarana programme at Buddhist Congress Hall
The monthly Janasarana programme was held at the Buddhist Congress Hall at Bauddhaloka Mawatha recently in the presence of Mrs. Soma Edirisinghe, who initiated the programme. Pragna Pradeepa concept founder and Provincial Councillor Jayantha de Silva handed over walking sticks to the needy.
Shanghai to San Francisco in 100 minutes
China is developing a’supersonic’ submarine that could travel from Shanghai to San Francisco in less than two hours. Researchers say their new craft uses a radical new technique to create a ‘bubble’ to surround itself, cutting down drag dramatically. In theory, the researchers say, a supercavitating vessel could reach the speed of sound underwater, or [...]
Can fruit halt Alzheimer’s?
Pomegranates may help stop the spread of Alzheimer’s disease, claim scientists. An ingredient called punicalagin helps prevent the inflammation that destroys brain cells known as micrologia, according to a team at the University of Huddersfield. It is hoped the findings may also potentially benefit sufferers from rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease by reducing painful inflammation [...]
The containment debate: Round two
PARIS – At the Cold War’s outset, there was an intense debate in the United States between those who wanted to contain communism and those who wanted to roll it back. Was it sufficient to fix limits on the Soviet Union’s ambitions, or was a more aggressive stance, sometimes described as “containment plus,” necessary? The [...]
Judgment that triggered Martial Law riots in 1915 Ceylon
Martial Law was declared in 1915 in Ceylon by Sir Robert Chalmers the then Governor. The British Government Agent of Kandy was directly responsible for the riots. The rioting was in consequence of the denial by the GA of the Central Province to the Buddhists of Gampola permission to conduct their procession as of old [...]
Papal visit to Lanka should propel anti-mine campaign
His Holiness Pope Francis sent a message in late June this year to the 3rd Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) in Maputo, Mozambique. In the message, he mentions “Reduce the stockpile of weapons! Ban weapons that have no reason for existing in human society and instead invest in education, healthcare, saving [...]
This love affair with a beauty is breaking down
A peacock is one of the most beautiful and best-recognised birds in Sri Lanka, and loved by everybody. The bird is also venerated as the vehicle of Lord Kataragama, so people do not harm it. “Peafowl prefer open habitation to dense forests. Land clearances definitely allowed peafowl to expand their range,” said ornithologist, Prof. Sarath [...]
Violence, threats prompt more Muslim women in Britain to wear a veil
LONDON, (Reuters) – When youth worker Sumreen Farooq was abused in a London street, the 18-year-old decided it was time to take a stand — and she started to wear a headscarf. Farooq is one of many young Muslim women living in Britain who have, for various reasons, chosen to adopt the headscarf to declare [...]
IPS at 50, leads that don’t bleed
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – Tarzie Vittachi, a renowned Sri Lankan newspaper editor and one-time deputy executive director of the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF, once recounted the oft-quoted story of an African diplomat who sought his help to get coverage in the U.S. media for his prime minister’s address to the General Assembly. The diplomat, a [...]
The Ferguson riots and American nightmare
The recent civil riots in Ferguson, Missouri underscores the fact that all is not well in the criminal justice system and police action in the United States. A recent survey showed that around 75 per cent of the Afro-Amercan and Hispanic people had no confidence in the investigation process of the police in relation to [...]
South Asia must plan for truant monsoons
South Asian nations need new strategies to cope with greater uncertainties and extremes in their summer monsoon, writesNalaka Gunawardene. Data analysis suggests that this wind-driven annual weather pattern – which typically starts in June and lasts through September – is changing. However, it is too early to blame it on climate change. Even minor variations [...]
Singaporeans go barking mad over bid to silence dogs
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – A suggestion by Singapore’s public housing authority that owners of noisy dogs consider “debarking” their pets to avoid inconveniencing neighbours has raised animal lovers’ hackles in the city-state and prompted much ridicule on social media. The authority, the Housing and Development Board (HDB), recommended in a notice posted in a residential block [...]
Giant panda fakes pregnancy for treats
The birth of tiny panda cubs – seen live on television for the first time – was expected to captivate viewers in China. But fans of the endangered animals will be disappointed, because there will be no pitter patter of tiny paws any time soon. Experts say that the ‘pregnant’ panda who was to be [...]
Do you humblebrag after you binge-watch? Well, yolo
People binge-watch their favourite dramas, humblebrag about exciting experiences on Facebook and show off some side-boob in revealing clothes. These are just some of the new words added to OxfordDictionaries.com in its latest quarterly update, giving an insight into current language usage trends. Other new entries include adorbs, binge-watch, listicle, neckbeard, side boob, vape, and [...]
The millionaires who rescue people at sea
A philanthropist couple have launched what they say is the world’s first privately funded vessel to help migrants in trouble at sea. But can one ship really help the thousands of people who try to cross the Mediterranean each year? Last summer, Regina Catrambone and her husband Chris were on board a yacht cruising around [...]
US urges global ‘coalition’ to fight IS jihadists
DAMASCUS, Aug 30 (AFP) -US Secretary of State John Kerry has called for a global coalition to combat Islamic State fighters’ “genocidal agenda” after President Barack Obama admitted he had no strategy to tackle the group. Kerry’s call followed a decision by Britain to raise its terror alert level over fears of possible jihadist attacks. [...]
Lesotho military seize control of police HQ, jam radio stations
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 30 (AFP) -Lesotho’s military seized control of the tiny African kingdom’s police headquarters and jammed radio stations and phones today, a government minister and member of the ruling coalition told AFP. “The armed forces, the special forces of Lesotho, have taken the headquarters of the police,” sports minister and leader of the Basotho [...]
India’s Modi arrives in Japan for visit
TOKYO, Aug 30 (AFP) -India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into Japan on a five-day official visit as their governments seek to boost security ties and counter a increasingly assertive China. Modi arrived at Kansai International Airport near Osaka, western Japan, by special plane for a night in the nearby ancient city of Kyoto [...]
Russia wants humanitarian aid ‘bridge’ into Ukraine: report
MOSCOW, Aug 30 (AFP) -A senior military official said today that Russia wants a “humanitarian bridge” to ferry multiple aid shipments into war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine. Russian authorities, social organisations and businesses “are thinking of organising not one humanitarian convoy, which we have already sent, but a second, third, tenth,” Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly [...]
Ebola hits 5th WAfrican state as Senegal confirms first case
DAKAR, Aug 30 (AFP) -The Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 1,500 people across West Africa spread to a fifth country in the region with the first confirmed case of the deadly virus in Senegal. The case marks the first time a new country has been hit by the outbreak since July and comes [...]
China warns foreign powers not to use Hong Kong as a ‘bridgehead’
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has warned against any foreign interference ahead of a crucial ruling on the city’s political future on Sunday, saying Beijing will not tolerate the use of Hong Kong “as a bridgehead to subvert and infiltrate the mainland”. China’s largely rubber-stamp parliament is set to meet on Sunday, when it is expected [...]
Ear-tox, Brazilian butt sculpting and knee peels
It seems that a simple face lift or sprinkling of Botox just doesn’t cut it in the quest for perfection that’s gripping our society. This year has been all about the bacial (that’s a bum facial), ear-tox (yes, Botox for your ears) and freckle removal. And if you thought those were strange, it’s about to [...]
Are you a cyberloafer?
Researchers have claimed that allowing employees to surf the internet at work could boost their productivity. The results suggest that for those with jobs that don’t involve sitting at a desk, a quick jaunt online can make them more productive. Workers who took the online breaks had a quick chance to unwind, but the researchers [...]
Tire makers race to turn dandelions into rubber
MUENSTER Germany (Reuters) – Dutch biologist Ingrid van der Meer often meets with disbelief when she talks about her work on dandelions and how it could secure the future of road transport. “People just think of it as a horrible weed and ask how can you get enough material for tires from just a small [...]
The robot brain to rule them all
Researchers have begun work on a giant ‘robot brain’ they say could be used by millions of machines around the world. It will be a central store for everything from images to details of how to change a plug. Hosted on a server so any robot can access it, the system is currently downloading and [...]
