On the streets where he stencilled
The stencil of a smiling child is sandwiched between a photocopy shop and a dilapidated building on Dawson Street, while the alley in Vauxhall Street, dotted with bird droppings and peppered with buildings as colourful as its residents, plays host to one of the leading names in the international street art scene. As we wind [...]
Sri Lanka still unfriendly towards the handicapped
As October 1 draws near, the world looks forward to a day that paradoxically, celebrates both children and elders. Ceremonies will be held, cakes will be cut and smiles will be shared, yet there will also be a significant segment of these very people for whom the daily struggle of living will not abate. They [...]
A day out at a special school
He wakes up eagerly and clamours to go to “school”. School is a trishaw ride away from their humble home off the main road, in a hall close to the Puttalam town. It is a Tuesday in August and regular schools are on vacation but 30-year-old Arush Ahamed has come to “school”. Most probably it [...]
Coming back for more than just the music
For two regulars at the Country Roads Concert that has been around for the past 25 years, the time has once again rolled around to pack-up for the sunny island, with a song in their minds and smile on their faces. Dirk from the German band , the Mavericks and British songbird Astrid Brook tell [...]
Coco’s edgy styles too on the ramp
COCO debuts its newest collection at the CFW Resortwear Show 2014 with a surprisingly edgy and avant garde collection. Retaining the quintessence of the fun-loving COCO brand, this Collection gains inspiration from within, tapping into the feminine inner soul and pushing the boundaries of fun, life and laughter. The COCO Collection on the ramp at [...]
Letters
Uva results and lessons for politicos of all hues Both the government and opposition have cause to celebrate the Uva election. The government won, albeit barely. The opposition sprung many surprises. The nation is still a two- party democracy with the JVP being the “significant other”. The government won the council but has been put [...]
Appreciations
Bernard Tilakaratna A man for all missions Tribute by Bradman Weerakoon at Bernard Tilakaratna’s funeral on 28.09.2004 I have been asked to say a few words on this sad occasion as we say a final goodbye to a towering personality of our times. I feel very privileged to do so. Most of us gathered here [...]
CFW: Designers rooted in craft to watch out for
As the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Resort Wear Collection prepares to make a splash on the seaside resort of Negombo from October 1- 4, among the designers to watch out for are Indian success stories Abraham and Thakore and New York label Harare who make their debut at CFW. Both labels are built on a [...]
CJS goes back to its roots
Intertwining nearly 100 years of jewellery artistry into the centuries old beauty of Galle, Colombo Jewellery Stores launched its ‘Hometown Store’ at the Galle Fort Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, ceremonially opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. CJS has its roots in Galle; it began in 1922 right in the heart of the Galle Fort and Galle [...]
From the feminine to corporate look, Avirate’s latest hits the store
Having carved a niche for capturing the best of global fashion designs of various decades; the little black dress of the 1920s, the cocktail dress of the 30s, the 1970s jumpsuits and contemporary trends, Avirate’s ‘Autumn/Winter 2014 Collection & Corporate Wear’ is its latest tribute to the fashion conscious woman. At a recent press briefing [...]
‘Marist Fantasies 2014’
Reviving fond memories of schooldays past, the ‘Marist Fantasies 2014’ dinner dance organized by the Old Boys Union of Maris Stella College, Negombo, was held at the Colombo Hilton on September 13. Pix by Indika Handuwala
He well deserved the honour
Reading the news that Dr. Wimal Dissanayake had won recognition at the Sahitya Day ceremony with the presentation of the ‘Sahitya Ratna’ award made me so happy. He very well deserved such recognition. He has been out of Sri Lanka for several decades – yet he was very much a part of us. He wrote [...]
Celebrating 30 years as an accompanist in the local classical scene
Sri Lanka’s organ master Neranjan de Silva has been on the scene for a long time. He has been involved with so many different musical and theatrical groups, worked with so many engineers, and simply contributed so much to Sri Lanka’s arts and media world that he himself can’t keep track. Wherever he goes, people [...]
An intimate read on what’s meant by family
When M.T.L. Ebell wrote a book about 25 years in the life of her mother, she needed her father’s diaries to do it. ‘Thus, She Grew’ introduces us to Mignon Dissanaike Perera as a beautiful young woman, deeply in love and on the very threshold of her life as a wife and eventually a mother [...]
A refuge for the soul
IIt is not often that the public gets the chance to look into an expert’s mind. Architect Anura Ratnavibhushana is one of those rare people who enjoys sharing knowledge and the wisdom gained and finely honed through years of experience in the field. His new book offers an expansive look at some of his finest [...]
Both are better, neither is needed
A cousin of a cousin once entered a swanky department store in search of a shirt. (We men do the strangest things.) The man in the mall was accosted by a clerk. What they call a ‘personal purchase advisor’ or ‘gentleman’s gentleman’ or ‘shopping valet’. Their conversation went something like this. I am told… “Good [...]
Iraq Ambassador meets guests at exhibition
The Ambassador of Republic of Iraq, Kahtan Taha Khalaf meets and greets guests at the Exhibition “Atrocities of the Terrorist Group ISIS in Iraq” held at the Embassy premises on September 22.
Organ dedication service
A service of dedication of the new organ for the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour will be held on October 5 at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. All are welcome.
‘The Urban Landscape: Should we ape the West?
The Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka’s (RASSL) monthly public lecture “The Urban Landscape: Should We Ape the West?” will be delivered by Ashley de Vos, Dip. (Arch.) FIA (SL) on Monday, September 29 at 5.00 p.m.at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium, No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. All are welcome.
Lankan wins grand prize at ‘Sugar Art Showcase’
Nisha Fernando, who started out as an interior designer but then branched into a career as a cake decorator has done Sri Lanka proud winning the Grand Prize at the 2014 Michigan ICES Sugar Art Showcase in the United States. “The Michigan Sugar Art Showcase is an International competition sponsored by the Michigan Chapter of [...]
UMT conducts 7th Unity Camp
530 student leaders from all parts of Sri Lanka will gather in Mirissa this October, as Unity Mission Trust conducts the 7th edition of their Unity Camp from October 9 – 12. The camp is hosted by Ekamuthu Oray Makal Unity Mission Trust (UMT), a non-profit Trust that is dedicated to fostering unity, integration, healing [...]
“Prestantia Musica 2014”: A musical potpourri
“Prestantia Musica 2014” will go on the boards on October 5 at 6 p.m. at the Tourist Board Auditorium, Colombo 3. “Prestantia Musica 2014” will showcase musical selections in piano, vocals, violin and guitar, presented by over 100 students of the Prestantia Music School in Moratuwa, directed by Dr. Priyeshni Peiris Perera. The concert will [...]
Festival of Choirs 2014
The annual Festival of Choirs organised by the Western Music Society of Royal College will be held on at 6.30 p.m. on Friday, October 3 at the Bishop’s College Auditorium, with the choirs of Royal College, Bishop’s College, Wesley College, Ladies’ College, Musaeus College, Visakha Vidyalaya, St. Joseph’s College, Asian International School and Elizabeth Moir [...]
‘Pure Piano Moods’ back in action
Mehroon Wahab returns to perform ‘Pure Piano Moods III’ on October 4 at the Goethe Institute hall. Having made a comeback in 2012, this will be her third annual public appearance since then. Her performance for the evening will feature a repertoire consisting of classical, jazz and popular music -from Liszt, Sinding and Rachmaninoff to [...]
Kotahena Festival
The Kotahena Sri Radha Krishna Temple Chariot Festival will be held on October 8 and several cultural programmes have been organised to coincide with it from October 8-12. A special music and dance programme will be staged on October 12 at the Bambalapitiya Saraswathi Hall at 4 p.m by popular dancer Veronica Dasanayake’s troupe. There [...]
ACWBC Elders’ Programme
The All Ceylon Women’s Buddhist Congress (ACWBC), will hold an Elders’ Programme this week at the Sandhya Home. The programme is as follows: – October 1 at 9.30 a.m.: Walk from ACWBC to Independence Square – October 2 at 9.00 a.m.: Ayurveda Medical Clinic – October 3 at 9.00 a.m.: Excursion to see the film [...]
