Red, the colour of his childhood
As the colourful, slogan-shouting and flag-waving May Day processions take to the streets on Friday, in the minds of the older generation would be created the image of the ‘Father’ of the Labour Movement in Sri Lanka, Alexander Ekanayake (A.E.) Goonesinha. This is the man whose statue, depicted wielding an upraised hammer, adorns the entry [...]
Letters
Mr. President, focus on pledges, not party politics On January 8, some 6.2 million people voted for Maithripala Sirisena the common candidate in the belief that he would work towards a ‘stable country’ and fulfil 100 things in 100 days – but would not head the SLFP or lead the UPFA in elections. What is happening [...]
Of frogs in the well and the selfish gene
What a noble beast man is. Sometimes, such as when he protests on behalf of his fellow human beings: Demanding that their dignity, their honour, be safeguarded! Especially noble when that human being is one’s erstwhile leader, a much revered figure, in his time veritably a king. Churlish is the character of the critic who [...]
Where faith flutters high
Walk into ‘Deepaduttara’ on Baseline Road, Dematagoda, and what greets the eye is a group of five women seated in front of their sewing machines totally absorbed in their work. They only pause when a customer enters looking for a bulk of Bauddha kodi. Vesak flags that represent the Buddhist faith are seen everywhere during [...]
Working day and night to spread the light
Vesak, the festival which marks the Birth, Enlightenment and the Passing Away of Lord Buddha sees every mansion and humble home, shopping mall, office complex and wayside kade being illuminated with sparkling lanterns, flags, bulbs, lamps and other decorations. In the days gone by, making lanterns or Vesak kudus was something that both young and [...]
Seeing the bigger picture through photographs and film
Liz Fernando, a German of Sri Lankan descent, is an award-winning artist and photographer. She holds a degree from the prestigious LCC photography programme at the University of Arts, London. So authentic is her published work “Trincomalee – My father’s stories and the lost photographs” that it has found its way into the permanent private [...]
When the pen falls
Novels unfinished due to the inopportune death of the author form an intriguing aspect of the history of literature. They’re an eternal mystery for readers. What might have been? It’s a subject that’s interested me for some time and manifested itself in “Ceylon Connection with Dickens’ Unfinished Tale”, The Sunday Times, 11 & 18 October [...]
He told the story of this country and its people his way
Barbara Sansoni wrote a beautiful piece on Nihal Fernando in ‘The Wild, The Free’, The Beautiful’. “What is this man with his small band of disciple photographers from Studio Times? His work tells us he is an explorer, a naturalist, endlessly patient and impervious to the discomfort of mosquitoes and heat, a sensuous man., passionate [...]
This little rat may make big news
Though well surveyed for its flora and fauna, Sri Lanka still holds a lot of mysteries in natural history. In recent years Sri Lankan naturalists have continued to uncover the secrets of our wilds. Some of the finds are new to science, and some are new records for the country. Among fauna they have been [...]
Tiger, Tiger burning bright, not the two-legged kind but the eight-legged
They would scout the area during the day, looking for spots where these elusive creatures would be hiding and traverse the same path at night. It was on one such night-foray, when the moon was in a game of hide-and-seek, that the research team headed by environmentalist Ranil Nanayakkara of Biodiversity Education and Research (BEAR), [...]
Jetwing Lagoon and Jetwing Yala get beach bonanza
Jetwing Lagoon, Negombo and Jetwing Yala, recently unveiled a further addition to their already diverse offering: beach access, complete with comforts such as beach bars, lounge areas and a swimming pool. Jetwing transformed the formerly known Blue Lagoon into the resort it is today , due to its status as the country’s first resort and [...]
Arrivederci Roma
Dean Martin’s song “An Evening in Roma” flashed through my mind as we alighted from our train at Rome’s Termini station. I was looking forward to revisiting this romantic city after many years. Being vast and dotted with archeological sites it is best to have a check list of preferences. We settled ourselves in the [...]
Having a ‘run-time’ of their life
If you were in Kandy last Saturday, lots of young people in white T-shirts with “RUN” printed in bold across their chests, actually running here and there may have got in the way of your leisurely morning. No, they didn’t want you to run from anything, but to run for better health. A lot of [...]
Appreciations
Hema Jayasinghe A Principal to be emulated by all Hema Jayasinghe, respected and loved by all Visakhians young and old, gave her dedicated services as Principal, Visakha Vidyalaya for 17 long years and thereafter as well, until her untimely death on February 26. Mrs. Jayasinghe took over the reins of Visakha Vidyalaya at a crucial [...]
HelpAge Vesak greeting cards
HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) has produced over 100,000 greeting cards for the forthcoming Vesak season. The proceeds will be utilized to perform free cataract surgeries and hold mobile medical camps for underprivileged senior citizens over 55 years. The greeting cards are adorned with 11 colourful graphic designs and depict the important events of Lord Buddha’s [...]
Avurudu festivities at the Grand
It was that time of year, when fun frolic and fellowship brings out the joy of springtime. The Avurudu Hamuwa at the Grand Hotel had all the possible ingredients to do just that for 250 plus resident guests. Grating coconut, eating “bunnis”, kotta pora, and Kana mutti were all included in the day’s programme. The [...]
The most extravagant of treats for a dear mother
The Kingsbury has elaborate plans to bring families together and strengthen family bonds on May 10 –Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is best celebrated, they feel, when you treat her to the best brunch in town: the Caviar & Oyster Sunday Brunch at The Kingsbury Harbour Court. Executive Chef Kithsiri de Silva has nothing but the [...]
Literature for social harmony
A book launch for social harmony was held at the library auditorium of Jaffna University. The books ‘Numbai mage putha Uthum’, the Sinhalese translation of ‘Sandrown Enakketta Thai’ written by Prof. N Shanmugalingam, the head of the faculty of sociology and former Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University and four books ‘Rajayanai Vanam’ the translation [...]
RAASL lecture: Buddhist Mindfulness in Modern Psychotherapy
The Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) monthly lecture for April will be on “The Buddhist Construct of Mindfulness in Modern Psychotherapy” by Ms. Soma de Silva, former Regional Adviser, UNICEF South Asia. The lecture will be on Monday, April 27 at 5 p.m. at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium, 96 Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. [...]
St. Anne’s College executive committee 2016-15
The St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala-Colombo Union elected its new executive committee for 2016-15. Seated ( L-R) : Malik Cader, Brian Angunuwala, Cyril Victor, Jayantha Herat, Bishop Kumara Ilangasinghe, Ranjan de Silva ( President), G. Ajith Weerasundera ( Chairman), Dr. Abey Gunapala, Jasmi Khalid (Treasurer), R.A.M. Marasinghe. Standing ( L-R) : Frederick Wootler, Denzil Samarawickrema, Samapath [...]
National Trust lecture: Kandy the last cultural capital of Sri Lanka
‘Kandy the last cultural capital of Sri Lanka- A world heritage’ by Prof Nimal de Silva will be the 72nd session of the monthly lecture series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday , April 30. [...]
Philippine Consul General completes 21 years of diplomatic service
First Secretary of the Philippine Embassy in Bangladesh Noordin Lomondot, handed over the Certificate of Recognition to Philippine Consul General William John Terrence Perera at the completion of 21 (1993-2014) years of diplomatic service in addition to establishing the Rizal Chapter and Suite 305, business, social and welfare societies in Sri Lanka. On March 1, [...]
What it takes to sustain a malaria-free Sri Lanka
Yesterday, April 25 was World Malaria Day, so declared as a means of highlighting the need to combat a disease which has plagued mankind over millennia, and which still continues to do so. It was an important day for us Sri Lankans, as now, and for a period of just over two and a half [...]
