Lanka’s moment of crystal glory
Richard Boyle uncovers the little known saga of how George Keyt and L.T.P. Manjusri figured in a major international exhibition in 1956 in a medium unfamiliar to them After many years I encountered a copy of the beautifully illustrated exhibition catalogue, Asian Artists in Crystal: Designs by Contemporary Asian Artists Engraved on Steuben Crystal, published [...]
Letters
Changes envisaged or the 100 days: Which is paramount? What looms large at the moment appears to be the mismatch between the changes envisaged and the days available in the 100 days to achieve them. What is paramount? The beneficial changes or the number of days? Are we to nitpick regarding the number of days [...]
My friend Vajira is 83 today!
Many are the tributes that have been paid to Vajira the Dancer, both in Sri Lanka and internationally. There is little more that I can add, so, I would like to focus today, on her 83rd birthday, on Vajira the person. This is my personal tribute to her, as a fellow dancer, admirer and I [...]
Slavery in our own backyard
Prof. K.D. Paranavitana, well-known historian, takes us back to a murky past during Dutch Ceylon in the 17th and 18th centuries Strange would have seemed the line of people making their way to church on a sunny Sunday morning. Dressed in their Sunday best, the line would be led by the ‘master’ or ‘mistress’ followed [...]
Lankan makes waves at John Lennon songwriting contest
Sri Lankan-born musician/composer Dimitri Zaik snagged a top spot amongst the final prize winners under the ‘World Music’ category for Session II at the annual John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2014. The John Lennon songwriting contest is an international songwriting contest, which began in 1997, having been set up in memory of John Lennon by his [...]
Exploring social realities through temple drawings
Reginald S. Aloysius whose first solo exhibition will be held at the Hempel Galleries, 30/3, Barnes Place, Colombo 7, from March 19 to April 10 is a British-born artist of Sri Lankan Tamil descent whose background has informed his work exploring themes of globalisation, emigration, and the destruction of tradition through development and modernisation. Through [...]
Be a part of the passion of French food
Chefs of Cafe Français and the Waters Edge share a gourmet preview with Purnima Pilapitiya as they get ready to cook up a custom-made menu to celebrate an international event, Gôut France or Good France On the evening of Thursday March 19, diners in 150 countries will experience an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Be it in [...]
For the first time, a week of conducting and vocal workshops
Sri Lankan Choral Week 2015 starting on Saturday, March 21 will culminate in the grand production of St. John’s Passion by J. S. Bach at St. Paul’s Church, Kynsey Road, on Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Sri Lankan Choral Week (SLCW) takes place in Sri Lanka for the first time, under the co-direction of [...]
CFW hits the ramp
Colombo Fashion Week resumed its place at the helm of the local fashion industry last Thursday (March 12) with an opening show that packed a punch. Two sessions, both at a specially erected marquee at the Hilton poolside, played host to hundreds of industry heavyweights and invitees at the spring/summer edition of the event. For [...]
Appreciations
Roland Edirisinghe Columnist for the ‘London Economist’ remembered It is now two years since Roland Edirisinghe passed away on March 16, 2013, after a brief illness. I knew him as a longstanding friend, having come to know him in the late 1960’s. At that time he was the local correspondent and representative of the “Economist [...]
Elegance in lace and batik
For certain, it would be hard to find a woman who is not captivated by exquisite, handmade lace and intricate hand embroidery. These beautiful techniques captured by Andrea Boekel in a range of home items such as table linen, bed linen, cushion covers, table runners and placemats will be featured at a sale on Saturday, [...]
University mate dons robes
It was May 18, 1989. I watched my sub-warden at Jayatillaka Hall at Peradeniya campus, Dr. Jotiya Dhirasekera walking down the steps at BowalawattaVajiraramaya in the Hantane hills with shaven head, dressed in white as a ‘upasaka’ to sit at the feet of the Most Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Mahanayaka Thera requesting that he be ordained. [...]
21st AGM of the CIMA Students’ Society
Hasanji Ellawala was installed as the president of the CIMA Students’ Society for 2015 together with the new board at the CIMA Sri Lanka Division. Abdul Qadeer was appointed as the Vice President for the year. Manjula De Silva, the Managing Director of HNB Assurance and the Deputy Chairman of the CIMA Sri Lanka Board [...]
Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists AGM
The following office bearers were elected at the annual general meeting of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists held recently. Patron – Dr. J.B. Peiris President – Dr. Sudath Gunasekera President-Elect – Dr. A.T. Alibhoy Immediate Past President – Dr. Arjuna Fernando Joint Secretaries – Dr. Nilanthi Fernando & Dr. Senaka Bandusena Treasurer – Dr. [...]
Two-day Yoga workshop
Yoga which evolved in ancient times is now universally practised for its therapeutic effects on mind and body, enabling practitioners to enjoy a profound sense of wellbeing. Yoga teaches the individual to achieve a calm mind which in turn helps to channel energy throughout the body. The healing powers of yoga are particularly relevant today [...]
Book launch: ‘Sixty Four Days in India’
Photo journalist Padmakumar P. Mettasena’s book, ‘Sixty Four Days in India’ written in Sinhala, was launched at the Saegis Campus, Kohuwela on March 4. The story revolves around the writer’s encounters during a 64- day stay in India, after he decided to flee the country in 2013 due to a predicament he was in. The [...]
‘Sri Lanka – The Way Ahead’: Lecture by British High Commissioner
A lecture titled ‘Sri Lanka – The Way Ahead’ will be delivered by British High Commissioner John Rankin, at 5.30 p.m. on March 18 (Wednesday) at the Auditorium of the Organisation of Professional Associations, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Colombo 7. The lecture which is open to the public is organised by the British Scholars’ Association [...]
WNPS lecture on majestic Sri Lankan elephant
The Wildlife & Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka’s monthly lecture for March 2015 is titled ‘A slide show and talk- Majesty of the Sri Lankan Elephant ’ and will be delivered by Vajira Wijegunawardane on Thursday, March 19 at 6.15 p.m. Vajira Wijegunawardane served on the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Conservation in 2001 [...]
