Fishing around in Chilaw
Driving past lush paddy fields and bountiful coconut plantations, glimpsing stately walauwas, our ‘All In A Day’ travel series takes us to Chilaw, some 79 kilometres from Colombo. Its diversity immediately hits us; fertile land, immaculate beaches, old churches and kovils, timeworn architecture and the sparkling waters of the lagoon. After a two-hour journey, our [...]
Letters
The fall of a president through greed and the rise of a humane leader The demise of the Executive Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa was due to excessive greed and thirst for power. When he won the Presidential Election in 2010, the electorate gave him the required majority to amend the constitution; the only amendment he [...]
Rescue of the Republic from regimentry of the jackboot?
National Independence Day has come and gone, yet again, with the traditional fanfare one associates with our island-nation’s Independence Days of bygone eras. But amidst the customary celebrations – suitably low key and republic style, as in halcyon days, after a hiatus of several years – our nation’s governors may have missed a remarkable opportunity. [...]
The convent girl who’s taken up the SLMA mantle
In a ‘rare’ class is Professor Aurelia Jennifer Perera — the 8th of the fairer sex among 118 Presidents of the prestigious Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and 4th among 15 Deans of the Medical Faculty of the University of Colombo. It is during an interview sandwiched between numerous meetings at both these august institutions [...]
Goddess Pattini and Our Lady of Madhu
The newspapers today are full of the welcome news of the possibility of success for the democratic process and the rule of law in Sri Lanka. Some of us might be tempted to forget another important event namely the visit of Pope Francis, a good man, and the hope he represents not only for Catholics [...]
Awaiting a musical adventure
Ramya de Livera Perera is one of the best known and respected music teachers and pianists in the country. Her one-time student, Mandhira de Saram, is famous in her own right as a passionate and soulful violinist, not counting the musical legacy she claims as a de Saram. Put these two powerfully musical women on [...]
Hummel’s Trumpet concerto by our leading trumpeter
Music lovers will have the rare opportunity of hearing the Trumpet as a solo instrument, when Naveen Fernando performs a trumpet concerto with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka on Sunday, February 22, at the Ladies’ College Hall. Fernando, Sri Lanka’s leading Trumpet player and leader of the Colombo Brass Ensemble, will perform Hummel’s Trumpet [...]
Finding ability in their disability
Vinusha Paulraj traces the continuing success story of the differently abled Guides set up under the Sri Lanka Girl Guides in 1924 Nadeeka Diyawanthi Samarakoon can’t wait to show us a picture on her phone. Leaning over she points to the screen and says “Look, I made that.” The picture was of a rug one [...]
Welcoming the Sun from a sacred mountain top
The annual pilgrims’ progress to Sri Pada, the holiest of holy hills has already started. The devotees include Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Apart from the sanctity of this revered peak, its splendid fascination lies in the shadow cast at sunrise. Many are the enthralling and awe-inspiring accounts that have been written both in verse [...]
Questioning practices, beliefs and biases about teaching and learning English
What does it mean to become an English teacher in a global community in which the English language carries tremendous capital and its hierarchical status often remains unquestioned? How can English teachers assist their learners to access privileged forms of English while supporting their critical awareness of its history of colonization and discrimination, which is [...]
This author means real business!
When a saara-vita man entered the auditorium of the National Library Board, raucously peddling his wares, “vit- vita”, the audience was rudely jolted out of the quiet atmosphere. The man was interrupting the proceedings of the launch of “Honda Mudalaali”, by Buddhika Karunaratne – a journalist of the Mawubima newspaper. Before the embarrassed audience had [...]
From banking to books
Known for his characterisation of strong women and liberal views on religious themes, Amish Tripathi, who shot to fame in India with his self-published debut novel, the Shiva trilogy, has audiences at the Jaipur Festival all agog with the announcement of his next book, ‘Scion of Ikshvaku’. Smriti Daniel reports from Jaipur When Amish [...]
After a long silence, a sequel to ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ will not be the reclusive author Harper Lee’s only published book after all In an announcement that left millions both shocked and thrilled, publisher Harper announced on Tuesday that ‘Go Set a Watchman,’ a completed novel the Pulitzer Prize-winning author wrote in the 1950s then put aside unpublished, will hit store [...]
Appreciations
Prof. Anslem Stanley Dissanaike Outstanding academic, scientist and researcher Excerpts from an eulogy at the funeral service I bid farewell to Prof. Stanley Dissanaike, as a person who many years later succeeded him in his professional field of expertise -parasitology and tropical medicine, in which he excelled. I speak on behalf of many colleagues whom [...]
The birth of a new journey
Genèse – an exhibition of paintings by Sumali Piyatissa to be held on February 14 and 15 at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. marks a new beginning for this young artist who has rediscovered her passion for art, amidst her career in the financial sector. With a collection of [...]
PGIE launches innovative new programme
On January 23, the PGIE (Post Graduate Institute of English) affiliated to the Open University of Sri Lanka, launched a unique programme in teaching literature, leading to a postgraduate diploma or master’s qualification. Director of the PGIE, Dr. Hemamala Ratwatte, speaking at the event highlighted the uniqueness of the programme – a clear first in [...]
Jayatillake Hall alumni get-together
The annual get-together of the alumni of Jayatillake Hall of the University of Peradeniya will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 14 at the Police Welfare Association Hall, Frazer Road, Bambalapitiya. All past Jayatillake Hall members are welcome. Those interested in attending are requested to contact Major General A.M.G. Seneviratne on 0777306284.
‘Wisdom Talks’ on Yoga and Hindu culture
An ancient practice of discipline both for mind and body, Yoga is even today, a popular form of exercise and lifestyle adopted by many. Sri Lanka’s foremost yoga centre Astanka Yoga Mandir in collaboration with Sri Bathrakali Amman Kovil and Shri Ponnambalawaneswara Devasthanam hope to give Colombo’s yoga followers a further glimpse into the diversity [...]
A Million Blooms
“A Million Blooms” – an exhibition of Western and Ikebana floral arrangements will be held in the Bougainvillea Ballroom of the Galadari Hotel, today February 8 and Monday, 9 from 10 a.m to 7 p.m. on both days. The exhibition is presented by the Shi-en Ikebana & Floral Art Society, a non-profit organisation formed in [...]
Women and Media Collective holds photo exhibition
In celebration of 30 years of activism, the Women and Media Collective will hold a photographic exhibition of the collective struggle by many women and women’s groups. The exhibition will be open on February 10 at 4 p.m. and remain open to the public from February 11 to 13 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. [...]
