A view from within
Earlier this year, activists from the Cinema for Peace Foundation thought smuggling copies of ‘The Interview’ into North Korea via hydrogen balloon was a good idea. Adam Johnson doesn’t agree. The author is not against smuggling things in, in principle. He’d just rather the activists choose a different film.In the now widely criticised Hollywood comedy, Dictator [...]
Bringing life under the sea to land
It was when Rose Robin heard the sound of voices, the rush of people walking past her and the echoing footsteps along a long hollow tunnel at the Jaffna Railway Station, that images of dolphins leapt into her mind. “I knew I wanted to do marine animals, but honestly it sounded like dolphins, it’s just [...]
On course with his own brand of yachts
Curious are the glances that he draws when he makes ready to ‘test’ his products on the Mahaweli gushing by, close to his home down Weerakoon Gardens in Kandy. The knot of people who would gather by the river-bank as he unloads his boat from a vehicle and sets it afloat on the waters would [...]
Letters
Remembering our last King This March marks the 200th anniversary of the darkest day in our island’s history. King Sri Wikrama Rajasinha, the last king of the millennia old Sinhala kingdom, was deposed by a cabal of his treacherous nobles on a day such as this. I will not repeat the description of the ghastly [...]
Why “Town hall” sessions are not a walk in the park
A funny thing happened on the way to the forum. I took a walk in the park and found that the civic forum had come to not the market square, but the meandering scene. Or to be more accurate, a relatively novel (for us) forum – the Town Hall Discussion – had come to the [...]
Big strides in keeping little hearts alive
The Lady Ridgeway Hospital’s Paediatric Cardiothoracic Unit reaches the milestone of 1,307 surgeries of which 1,070 were ‘major’ in 2014. Kumudini Hettiarachchi reports Adjacent rooms with muted instrumental music playing in the background cutting out the hustle and bustle of the cries of children and the sound of worried parents rushing about. Purposeful are the [...]
Three musicians on a unifying musical journey
“I used to have this idea that I was just a cellist. Just a cellist,” he says, face set. But over the period of his still young career, the horizons have broadened magnificently for Joshua Roman. Called (unceasingly it seems) the “rockstar” of classical performance, over the last near-decade, the 31-year-old American cellist has been [...]
Looking down on Mother Lanka
The walls of the gallery are bare, eschewed by the photographs for the office upstairs. I find them there, in the company of photographers Dominic Sansoni and Sebastian Posingis and writer Richard Simon. The trio are surrounded by the prints that sit patiently in tidy stacks, nevertheless succeeding in claiming a great deal of space [...]
Designing ways to move forward
Colombo Fashion Week returns this March, on a platform it has built for itself. Since 2003 CFW has towered over local fashion as a pillar of strength, launching new designers and revitalising the careers of others. It has introduced brands and raised the bar for every aspiring designer in the country. This year, when Fashion [...]
Tea and cheese: The perfect pairing
It was the great American food writer MFK Fisher who famously said, “Wine and cheese are ageless companions, like aspirin and aches…or good people and noble ventures.” In this ultimate marriage of indulgences, the cheese is believed to bring out the best qualities of the wine – and vice versa. But to Dutch cheese aficionado [...]
‘We sing for our audience’
Whoever said never work with your sibling can eat their words, because this March Rohan and Ishan De Lanerolle will celebrate six years of their double act, and they’ve only got a few debates to show for it- and a whole arsenal of sold out, star-studded performances. On March 3, their fans will take the [...]
Have perfect ‘no-frills’ holiday in Negombo
“No frills” seem to be the buzz words to watch for when looking for a hotel that is affordable, but is also comfortable to stay in. However, when you check online for comments by travellers about hotels they have stayed at because they are cheap, you’ll find remarks such as “room too noisy beside a [...]
BMICH: The light at the end of that unforgettable day
“Sir … sir … the Hall is burning!” Someone burst into the Board Room, shouted these words at us and rushed away. We were at our monthly Board meeting; I was Secretary to the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Talk stopped abruptly; elderly Board Members looked at one another, nonplussed. But this meant ‘work’ to [...]
Refreshing dip into Bora Diya Pokuna
I felt great to have been invited to the February 14 premiere of Bora Diya Pokuna (Scent of the Lotus Pond), a film by Satyajith Maitipe that waited nearly ten years, post production, to be screened. The Censorship Board’s prudish disapproval of some sex scenes and passionate dialogue was behind the delay. The director stuck [...]
Another feather in Jayantha Chandrasiri’s cap
We start learning about warrior King Dutugemunu very early in school. We continue to learn and read about this hero who unified the nation in 2nd century BC, virtually throughout our life. Now renowned filmmaker Jayantha Chandrasiri presents ‘Maharaja Gemunu’ – a lavish cinematic creation on this great personality. It’s a powerful movie running for [...]
Disparate memories dancing to the tune of the show’s language
Constanza Macras has only been in Colombo for a day and two nights when we meet – but she tells me her questionnaires came before her. The choreographer of ‘The Past,’ Macras is fascinated by how we remember things. Her noisy, challenging production was staged for Colombo audiences later that evening and as she has [...]
Appreciations
W.P. Abdul Aziz His life was so full and admirable W.P. Abdul Aziz who breathed his last peacefully on December 27, 2014 was our loving grandfather. He was affectionately called ‘Vapa’ not only by his children but all extended family members, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The stories he had related to us about his life [...]
White by Spa Ceylon – nominated for World Spa Awards 2015
Spa Ceylon, Sri Lanka’s well-known spa lifestyle brand, has been nominated for the World Luxury Spa Awards 2015, for Service Excellence, with the nomination of White By Spa Ceylon. The World Luxury Spa Awards promote official spa participants amongst 141 countries for a period of one year in order to create maximum awareness. “We have [...]
Old Girls’ power: Fun through sisterhood
I was a silent observer at a meeting of a group of enthusiastic past pupils of some leading girls’ schools as they planned what would be the first of its kind here for fellowship, fun and charity. Girls of various schools, perhaps rivals in their schooldays, now meet in a spirit of camaraderie planning an [...]
Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation annual ‘Scrabble Bash’
The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation annual ‘Scrabble Bash’ will be held on Saturday February 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mrs. Shaila Amalean will be the facilitator of this event. Scrabble is one of the many games promoted to stimulate brain activity. Consequently the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation introduced the ‘Scrabble Bash’ seven years ago in [...]
College of Forensic Pathologists 13th Annual Academic Sessions
The 13th Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka will be inaugurated at 9 a.m. on February 28 at the Sri Lanka Foundation, Independence Square, Colombo 7. The Chief Guest will be Supreme Court Judge Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, President’s Counsel and the Guest-of-Honour, Sri Jayewardenepura University Vice Chancellor Prof. Sampath [...]
‘Rare Disease Surveillance Programme’ underway
The ‘Rare Disease Surveillance Programme’ has got underway with measures to establish a database on rare diseases in children by the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. Genzyme India, a Sanofi company, has extended its support to the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians to set up this database and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in [...]
25th Anniversary Report from Anuradhapura Central College PPA
Anuradhapura Central College, a leading school in the North Central Province is 67 years old. Its Past Pupils’ Association (PPA) has branches locally in Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala and abroad in Australia and Canada. The PPA Colombo branch has made elaborate arrangements to issue its 25th Anniversary Report today (February 22), at the OPA, Stanley [...]
Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel
Yasantha Kodagoda, attorney-at-law, has been promoted to Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel. He was earlier Deputy Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department. Mr Kodagoda was a student of Ananda College. He completed his primary legal education at the Sri Lanka Law College and his postgraduate legal education at University College London, Britain. He [...]
National Trust lecture: Wit between Hulftsdorp and Parliament
The 70th session of the monthly lecture series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka will be held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, February 26. Senior lawyer and former Provincial Councillor Ranjan Gooneratne will speak on the Wit and Humour between [...]
Bhagavad Gita: A manual for your life
Living is an art, a skill, a technique that needs to be learnt and practised. The Bhagavad Gita presents the eternal principles of life and living which transcend race or religion. The principles equip one with a strong intellect to meet the challenges of the world and achieve success and peace in all aspects of [...]
Bollywood Extravaganza
A Bollywood Extravaganza by the A to Z Hot dance group from India will be held at 7 p.m., on Thursday, February 26 at the New Kathiresan Hall, No. 339 Galle Road, Bambalapitiya. The event is organised by the High Commission of India and the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka [...]
Social service team aids landslide affected areas
Social service.lk provides dedicated service to improve the lives of underprivileged individuals and families through their team of social workers. Founder Shihan Haniff’s mission is to alleviate the sufferings of the poor. Social service.lk cares for people from all stages of life, from children to senior citizens. Their vision is to lead positive social change [...]
Shankuleela: Kathakali and Mohiniyattam performance
The Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo will present Shankuleela, a Kathakali and Mohiniyattam performance by Hirimbura Gamage Madusanka Priyadesha, Leakhani Wathsala Jayasinghe and Jaystheepa Sakthivel at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 23 at its auditorium located at 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. Hirimbura Gamage Madusanka Priyadesha completed his BA at the Kelaniya University and trained in [...]
