Hidden treasures in the ‘City of Gems’
Mention Ratnapura and the first thing that comes to your mind is the incredible assortment of gems it is famed for. The ‘City of Gems’, just 90 kilometres from Colombo is a perfect destination for our ‘All in a Day’ travel series which explores the lesser known attractions as well as the known. While the [...]
Letters
A plea from a senior citizen I think that it is pertinent to draw the attention of the authorities to the plight of senior citizens on Elders’ Day. In the situation we are in, there is nothing to celebrate since our income is barely adequate for our day- to-day existence. We who have been working [...]
Appreciation
Rear Admiral (Retd) J.H.U. Ranaweera An officer and gentleman I feel it is a great privilege to write about a naval officer who spent a lengthy span of his life serving one of the prestigious armed forces in the country, the Sri Lanka Navy. For the past 40 years I have been blessed to have [...]
Haven in a hospital
Amidst the hive of activity that is a hospital, with patients walking in and out and doctors and nurses hurrying to their wards, there is a tiny corner for those troubled or traumatized. This corner in the clinic where women are screened for non-communicable diseases at the De Soysa Women’s Hospital (earlier known as the [...]
Looking for talent, intelligence and heart
It’s no secret that Toastmasters can change lives, as it has with many young and old students and professionals around the world. In Sri Lanka, though, Toastmasters was a “well-kept secret” for a long time, says Arunasalam Balraj. Over the last decade it gained in mainstream popularity, rapidly becoming a go-to destination for many young [...]
Are you eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka is proud to partner with the Sunday Times, one of Sri Lanka’s leading newspapers, to produce a bi-weekly “Ask the Consul” column to answer common questions about the visas to the United States. This week we again feature the popular Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program (https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/) which opened on [...]
Being in the ‘now’
As the evening shadows lengthen as if beckoned by the last glow of the setting sun sedately dipping into the horizon, a clay lamp flickers before a small pristine statue of the Samadhi Buddha. Fifteen men and women sit cross-legged or with knees drawn up and the arms wrapped around them in a hall on [...]
Country Roads 2014: Lively tunes for a worthy cause
Two beautiful white horses tethered by the courtyard fountains at the Mount Lavinia Hotel hinted that something out of the ordinary was going on inside. A warm welcome at the entrance of the cacti-strewn Empire Ballroom from a cowboy courteously tipping his hat signalled the return of the Country Roads Concert. Music with the Power [...]
Casual elegance on the beach
It’s a rare opportunity for any audience – to escape the confines of another hotel ballroom and to sit instead on a beach, shuck off your heels and dig your toes into the sand, all while taking in the collections of world class designers. But then again, it’s the HSBC CFW Resort Wear Show and [...]
A reader’s haven
The ruckus of construction and unending traffic are typical of a day down Duplication Road, the array of offices and shops adding to the bustle. Snugly situated in the middle of all the hubbub is a cosy retreat for anyone who wants to take a minute to escape the rush. Offering the avid bookie a [...]
Practical guide to bringing up children
This book is a labour of love and commitment, from its author Dr. B.J.C. Perera, who having experienced a yawning hiatus in the management of sick children by their parents, has successfully infused a fresh whiff of knowledge and optimism to parents, care givers and doctors. It does not assure a gilded passage to the [...]
Capturing a child’s imagination
The moment I took Sashi’s book in my hand, read its title “Welcome Home Little Fish” and saw the pictures of a fish and a frog, I thought to myself that this would be a story between two watery friends- a fish and a frog. Because I read the back page first, I thought what [...]
Experience is the best teacher
I expected this to be just another book on the subject of `Surviving a marriage’. However, as I began to read, I found it extremely difficult to lay it aside. The writing is simple and the contents it goes without saying that “experience is the best teacher!” The book presents a comprehensive study and analysis [...]
Phantom fever
All of Colombo (and the suburbs) is probably singing some version of “Masquerade” or “All I Ask of You” by now. The Phantom of the Opera is officially an epidemic. From the lights to the glitz and glam and the mystery and horror, the Workshop Players’ Production of the longest running (and probably the best [...]
Why I am fanatic about ‘the’ opera but not quite a “phan”
It was a dark and stormy night. No, really, it was! And trudging through muddy puddles while sloshing through rivulets of water en route to the Wendt made my mood dark… Then my spirits lifted perceptibly as the bright young usherette at the entrance proffered a programme, interpolating, “One must suffer for one’s art, no?” [...]
Vaccine symposium for medical professionals
The Vaccine Forum of Sri Lanka will hold its 5th Symposium on Vaccines on October 19 at the Lionel Memorial Auditorium of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. This symposium will be open to all medical professionals. The registration fee is Rs. 500 and registration will commence at 8 a.m. at the [...]
Senior Citizens Scrabble Tournament 2014
The annual All-Island Scrabble Tournament 2014 will be held on Sunday, October 26 at the Colombo Hilton Hotel. Sri Lankan citizens over the age of 50 years will vie for the Deshabandu Clara Motwani Cup, the championship trophy. Registrations will be from 8 to 8.30 a.m. and the games will commence at 9 a.m. Play [...]
Appeal for cancer sufferer
Chandra Lalith Jayaweera of Netolpitiya, Tangalle has been suffering from an acute cancer in the stomach for more than one and a half years. Consultant surgeon Dr. Sarath Kumara has performed surgery on him. Currently he is receiving treatment at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital from Consultant Oncologist Dr Dehan Gunasekara. He needs to be given [...]
WNPS lecture: Protecting the environment with REDD-plus
The monthly Wildlife and Nature Protection Society lecture will be delivered by Conservator- General of Forests and National Programme Director, Sri Lanka REDD Programme, Anura Satharasinghe on Thursday, October 23 at 6.15 p.m. at the Department of Metereology auditorium, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. REDD- plus is one of the buzzwords in the decades-old climate change [...]
Ceylon College of Physicians strengthens ties with London
With a top representative of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), London, being invited to speak at the 47th Annual Academic Sessions of the Ceylon College of Physicians (CCP) this week, the strong bonds between these two prestigious institutions has been further strengthened. While the RCP’s Associate International Director for South Asia, Dr. Fraz Mir, [...]
Supporting a worthy cause through performing arts
HSBC will partner the Council for Business with Britain (CBB) to hold the third annual CBB drama competition for school students with the aim of raising funds for its distance training/learning programme (ELT) that is conducted in many rural schools. The competition is open to international and local schools and the preliminary rounds will take [...]
BASL workshop
A workshop on Conveyancing and Secretarial Practice arranged by the Notarial Practice Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka will be held on October 18 from 9 a.m to 1 p.m at the Dr. H.W. Jayawardene, QC Auditorium – BASL The panel of speakers are-: Nihal Peiris, Attorney-at-Law on Conveyancing, Registrar General; a Representative [...]
New book discusses the importance of Chinese tourists
The first copy of the book ‘She is mine: How to win the hearts of Chinese tourists?’ was handed over to Minister of Economic Affairs, Basil Rajapksa by authors Dr. Nalin Abeysekera and Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta. The book, a partnership of University scholars as well as industry experts, discusses the importance of Chinese tourists to [...]
