There will never be another ‘Olu Pipila’
On the eve of Sunil Santha’s birth centenary, Dr. Tony Donaldson reflects on his enduring and endearing legacy The first centenary of the birth of the recording artist and composer Sunil Santha will be celebrated on April 14. Born in Ja-ela in 1915, Sunil’s ambition from a young age was to be an inventor, and [...]
Letters
High-level drains and low-level roads: Whom to tell? While many letters have appeared in newspapers for and against the Colombo City beautification, what is taking place in the Pelawatte-Battaramulla area will baffle everyone. How new road side drains are being constructed along Pelawatte-Battaramulla area needs some explanation from the engineers responsible for the design. Where [...]
Of National Anthems, identities, and other lingering daydreams
It’s that time of the year when – traditionally – yours truly meditates on all things national and traditional. It’s because the traditional avurudu time is approaching, and it seems as good a time as any to ruminate on national matters that are rarely reflected on at other times. This year, the public discussion (in [...]
Let’s get together, it’s Avurudu in the village
Aluth Avurudu rituals which touched the vital aspects of people’s lives, were the outcome of collective efforts of a village community. No other event has had the wholehearted participation of people of such diverse professions, crafts and skills to foster goodwill in the family. Come Avuruddha, one of the earliest who made himself busy was [...]
Meeting nut with nut
An expert at Pora Pol, a traditional game, Weddikkarage Abeysinghe is determined to take part in the ritual come Avurudu as long as he can, he tells Dhananjani Silva Clad completely in white – his sarong, banian and turban, all in pure white, Weddikkarage Abeysinghe is ready to perform a sacred act. In his hands [...]
It’s the time of year that Seedevi gets cracking on making fire crackers
Bathed in metallic-silver dust, they look like beings from a different planet. But both K. Nirangani Fernando and her golaya are very much on earth and are in a race against time. If not for their contribution and those of their neighbours, the Sinhala and Hindu New Year would not be what it is. For, [...]
An auspicious transition as New Year dawns
Goodwill, happiness and a sense of expectancy fills the air and the hearts of the Hindus and Buddhists as they await the dawn of the traditional New Year. It is observed with great reverence, devotion, a sense of duty and loving kindness towards all stimulating society, enlivening the nation and fostering national consciousness. ‘Pudhu Varudam [...]
Kiti kiti kiti kiti… the sound of Avurudus past
Kuhoooo… Kuhoooo… Kuhooo… the melodious song of the Ceylon cuckoo, the koha, mingled with the morning breeze is heard again. The mango tree fills with flowers and a few small mangoes at the edge of the branches indicate that it will attract many more birds to our garden in the next few weeks. Butterflies flit [...]
The evening belonged to working girls
In the last leg of the Miss Working Girl 2015 pageant held at the Hotel Galadari in Colombo last Wednesday, 12 elegant young ladies took to the runway in a show of talent, beauty and brains. Organised by the Lions Club of Thimbirigasyaya District 306 C2, the Miss Working Girl Pageant is a stepping stone [...]
“Fifty Shades of Tea”takes the cup at Dilmah Tea Challenge
12 teams whisked, baked and brewed alongside each other at the Dilmah Real High Tea Challenge held on April 7 at the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management at SLIIT. The High Tea Challenge is a segment of the much larger Dilmah Real High Tea Global Challenge. The brainchild of Merrill J. Fernando, the Global Challenge [...]
Dilly’s Avurudu look inspired by folk tales
Folktales told fondly to children however, encapsulated an entire culture’s values, beliefs and habits. Interwoven into these folktales were the very fabric of cultural identity, passed down from generation to generation, in order to groom impressionable young children for life in society. Dilly’s, the designer store inspired by the beautiful folk tales of Sri Lanka, [...]
The PC who never gave up on his passion to learn
From PC to VC, is an oft-heard joke that Prof. Gallage Sirimal Ranawella cracks about himself among friends and colleagues. The achievements, though of this eminent personality, who in later life took to epigraphy, surpass the mere fact of him rising from the rank and file that is a police constable (PC) to achieve the [...]
Oh river, remember
As I observe my father curled up in bed, returning to his original foetus position, his sarong folded over his knees, revealing thin limbs, wasted through time, I allow myself no emotion and quietly let my mind go back to another place, another time. On March 28 he was still another year older. As he [...]
Dudley— a visionary, ahead of and beyond his time
As the Sinhala and Hindu New Year approaches, one is reminded of one so many years ago, when the entire nation mourned the demise of an unforgettable statesman. His funeral drew well over a million people, thousands who couldn’t be there for one reason or another, mourned weeping in their homes and lit clay lamps [...]
Nostalgic flight into the past in a zeppelin
There was no taxiing. No waiting for a slot. There was not even a runway. Or any engine roar. Or ear-popping. We simply floated up into the sky above Lake Constance. Once, it was the only way to fly. It was the ultimate high life. Only the very rich could afford to travel the world [...]
From a city of canals to a city of opera and Juliet
The city of Venice came into being in 421 AD when Roman settlers fled to a small group of islands in the north of the country from the invading Barbarians. Venice is known as the “City of Lovers and Canals”. The Grand Canal is the main thoroughfare and cuts through the northern and southern part [...]
Appreciations
DR. NIELHANN GERALD SAMARANAYAKA A gynaecologist par excellence I decided to write this appreciation for my worthy student at the North Colombo Medical College (NCMC) – Dr. Nielhann Samaranayaka, a tall handsome perfect gentleman with an endearing personality. He had his primary education at St. Peter’s College, Colombo where he did brilliantly and was appointed [...]
St John Passion – A transcendent experience
J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion (highlights) was performed by the Sri Lankan Festival Chorus and the Orchestra of the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC) on March 28 at St. Paul’s Church, Colombo 10 with Dinushka Jayawickreme (soprano), Alison Wells (alto) and Gregory Rose (conductor). St Paul’s Church, with its regal dome, high arches and [...]
A fitting tribute to the great musician
Veteran journalist Tillekeratne Kuruvita Bandara deserves a pat on the back for the consistency he maintains in the SLBC quarterly journal, ‘Handa’, which he edits. He selects interesting themes, gets authoritative writers to contribute, selects relevant photographs to add value to the articles (the quality of some, however, is pretty poor), and above all he [...]
On a creative path with a little help from Art linK
Art linK supports creative blood. Last week, at the Kadirgamar Institute, grants were awarded to 12 selected applicants to create new work that the organisers hoped, “will critically engage artists as well as audiences to further social integration and the empathic understanding of cultural diversity.” In a phrase, they want better art to serve humans better. [...]
