A missing link
It all started when my father stumbled upon a small railway lamp discarded in the dungeons of the Ceylon Naval Armament Depot (CNAD) within the Naval Dockyard at Trincomalee. Made by Sherwoods Ltd., Birmingham, U.K., the lamp is black with a red glass lens. My father connected the lamp with the small independent railway line [...]
Elections angst: The hard, sharp edge of child’s play?
The other day, on a whim, I said Oh, all right! to be a ‘professor’s assistant’ at a children’s party. A rather creative friend of mine, ambitious Mother of Three and aspiring to be Mistress of the Universe, had failed to refuse to entertain the madcap notion that children don’t like to play. Much. Nicely. [...]
Letters
Those days and names of our racing heydays This letter has been prompted by the article, Turf Club robbery and murder in 1949 that appeared in the Sunday Times 2 of October 19. My intention in writing is to fill in the gaps with dates, names, locations and circumstances. The writer has not mentioned the [...]
Canvas of discovery while ‘on the road’
For an artist who can pack you off on a journey with his paintings, Anup Vega’s biggest difficulty is describing his work. Talking of his newest pictures adorning the walls of the Barefoot Gallery, he says they are a collection of both busy musings and scenery that he feels lucky enough to be inspired by. [...]
There’s so much you’ll find out about our top predator
This fascinating book is a result of the author methodically collecting information on individual leopards of Yala National Park for nearly eight years. It is filled with new findings and is a “must read” for anyone who is interested in the ecology of our top predator. Yala Block 1 is recognised world over as the [...]
Fishing for sea cucumbers– how long can this go on?
Sea cucumbers look completely unappealing — like sausage-shaped animal droppings on the sea floor. Yet, these relatives of sea stars and sea urchins are extremely intriguing biologically. Although they are soft-bodied, they have a compound in their skins called ‘catch’ collagen that has the amazing capability of liquefying or solidifying based on signals from their [...]
Hello bees, goodbye elephants
For many villagers in Wasgamuwa, elephant attacks are a daily threat. The people have to rely on luck to be safe from the marauding jumbos who roam around their villages, especially during crop seasons. But that may change. Kylie Butler, 34, a PhD student from the University of Newcastle is trying out a new way [...]
A shining light to Lanka’s budding scientists
Two things are clear -Dr. Sarath Gunapala is a local celebrity and no one is more surprised than he to find this is so. Last week, an eager audience left only standing room in the small auditorium at the American Center, as they crowded in to hear a lecture by the Director of the Center [...]
Exciting jazz duo to give a taste of old numbers and new
It all started with a private jazz concert at Windsor Castle for Downtown Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and Prince William on the eve of the Prince’s engagement to Kate Middleton. Grammy nominated guitarist Martin Taylor and Scottish-Canadian jazz singer Alison Burns had been spotted by British TV mogul Michael Parkinson, a man responsible for launching [...]
It’s certainly no walk in the park
When a reviewer said, “nothing has been said-everything has been communicated”, Ruwanthie de Chickera knew that her vision for Walking Path was not in vain. That the play’s international audiences also immediately understood what was being presented- a social experiment in conditions that some would describe as uniquely Sri Lankan- further cemented this fact. ‘A [...]
Nattukkari once again at Punchi Theatre
Namel Weeramuni’s acclaimed production of Nattukkari, will go on the boards at the Punchi Theatre on November 21 at 3.30 and 6.45 p.m. enlivened by its popular cast – Malini Weeramuni, Surangi Kosala, Ruwan Wickramasinghe, Daya Tennakoon, Senate Dikkumbura, Visaka Jayaweera, Senevirathne Bandara, Anil Wijesinghe, Tarindu Madusanka, and Tirana Lokugamage Samantha.
Christmas special with turkey and all with De Lanerolles
Welcoming the festive season with family, Christmas cheer and of course, music, the De Lanerolle Brothers present “The Night Before Christmas”. Keeping in tune with the beloved poem, their Christmas show will celebrate the elements that makes Christmas the family-oriented holiday that is looked forward to by all. “It’s going to be very different in [...]
Jith’s seasonal concert to celebrate a time of peace
Veteran director and chairperson of the Creative Arts Foundation, Jith Peiris is all set for his annual Christmas show. “Dashing through the snow” will be held on November 29 and 30 at the Bishop’s College Auditorium from 7.30 p.m. onwards. The curtain opener for the show will be by well known male choral group, The [...]
All Saints have a ball
The Past Pupils’ Association of All Saints College, Borella organised a sing-along at the BMICH’s Banquet hall to celebrate the school’s 110th anniversary and to raise funds for the school’s building fund. With Noeline Honter, Ronnie Leitch and Mariazelle leading the way, it was an evening of much festivity enjoyed by all.
East and west combine for a worthy cause
‘Mystique’– an evening of fashion, song and dance presented by the Lion Ladies of Lions Clubs International District 306A1 in connection with the three-year centennial celebrations of the International Association, will be held on Sunday, November 30, at the Galadari Hotel at 6 p.m. This fundraiser is for the launch of ‘Sinha Kantha Abhimani’, a [...]
A Cinnamon night
Rohan Karr, Sector Head of Cinnamon City Hotels hosted a reception in appreciation of all those who had supported the Cinnamon City Hotels on November 5 at the Oak Room of the Cinnamon Grand with a lavish spread of food and music to dance the night away.
Appreciations
Sheela Perera A heart made of gold I cried when you passed away I still cry today Although I loved you dearly I couldn’t make you stay, A golden heart stopped beating Hard working hands at rest Archie, missing you always, You never said I’m leaving You never said goodbye You were gone before I [...]
Bringing down the Wall
The German Embassy celebrated 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall on Sunday, November 9, with a festival at the Vihara Maha Devi Park. The highlight of the event was a special 3D rendering of the Berlin Wall, painted by young people from the embassy’s partner schools in the Colombo area, which was [...]
Zonta’s campaign against gender-based violence
On November 8, 1919, more than nine decades ago, delegates from the first Zonta clubs met in Buffalo, New York, USA, to found the Confederation of Zonta Clubs. Today, Zonta has grown into a worldwide service organization working to empower women worldwide with more than 30,000 members in nearly 1,200 clubs covering 67 countries around [...]
Doctor presents herArangetram
It’s not every day a medical doctor is ready to ‘ascend to the stage’ with her Arangetram, but dancing Visharad Dr. Udumbara Sewwandi Kumari from the Paediatric Cardiology Unit of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo is ready to be the first doctor to not only have her Arangetram but also to receive a Visharad degree [...]
Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Oration: “Religion, Philosophy and Science”
The 11th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Oration organised by the Alumni Association of the University of Colombo will be delivered by Prof. Carlo Fonseka, President of the Sri Lanka Medical Council on “Religion, Philosophy and Science” on Thursday, November 27 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, No 100, Independence Square, Colombo 7 at 5.30 p.m. Entrance [...]
Reprints of ‘Uprooted’ trilogy now available
Martin Wickramasinghe is one of the country’s literary giants, his works read and reread by successive generations of Sri Lankans. Bringing his work to a wider audience, Sarasa Publishers, the sole licensed publishers of the great writer recently released reprints of the English translations of his ‘Uprooted’ trilogy – ‘Uprooted’ (‘Gamperaliya’) first printed in 2011, [...]
National Centre for Design in Indian exchange programme
The National Centre for Design & Product Development under the Ministry of Textiles Government of India is currently conducting an international exchange programme related to embroidery, cane and natural fibre industries at the Pragathi Maidan, New Delhi. The National Crafts Council has nominated two leading craftswomen in the field of embroidery to participate in the [...]
Lotus World: A journey to unearth “inner happiness”
The immense success of the film ‘Sri Siddhartha Gautama’ has inspired a quest for the film’s producer Navin Gooneratne and star Gagan Malik. The overwhelming reception of their work at free screenings after its launch early last year according to Navin has set them on a journey to unearth “inner happiness”. Feeling that the film [...]
Last day of YZA’s art and photography exhibitions
Today is the last day of the ‘Kin Wild’ art exhibition and the ‘Young Eye on Nature’’ photography exhibition presented by the Young Zoologists Association at the J.D.A Perera Art Gallery, Colombo. The Young Zoologists Association (YZA) of Sri Lanka is an independent non-government voluntary youth organisation dedicated to protect and conserve nature. The YZA [...]
Alumni Association of Unilever annual get-together
The Alumni Association of Unilever Sri Lanka, formed a year ago in October 2014, will be holding this year’s get-together on Friday, December 5 at the Grand Oriental Hotel, Lotus Ball Room from 7.00 pm onwards. Colleagues from Brooke Bond, Lipton and Ceytea will also participate at this year’s get – together. The programme includes [...]
DBU Christmas sale
Once again the DBU will hold its Christmas Sale on Sunday, November 30 from 9.30 a.m. onwards. There will be on sale a variety of stuff including ready-made garments, semi precious jewellery, costume jewellery, craft items, Christmas cards and décor, gift items, linen, CDs and DVDs, and most importantly famous “Burgher” food, including Lamprais, bolofiado, [...]
