Come Poson, when pilgrims make an unforgettable journey
Vandanave yamu pevila tisarana seele – vandinta, vandinta ramya atamasthane. So begins a popular song – an invitation to join the pilgrimage to worship the ‘atamasthana’ – the eight sacred places in Anuradhapura. The song is particularly relevant at this time of the year when Anuradhapura takes centre stage with Poson pilgrims thronging the sacred [...]
Thanthirimale: Its recent and ancient past
Unlike Anuradhapura or Mihintale, the very recent history of Thanthirimale goes back only a few decades – to 1960. Pilgrims have been visiting both Anuradhapura and Mihintale for centuries, during the reign of our kings, during Portuguese, Dutch and even British times and post-Independence, but Thanthirimale remained a mystery. People may have been talked of [...]
Bhikshuni Sasana and equal opportunity for women
Do you recall the word ‘Bhikshuni’, the Sanskrit root of the Pali term ‘Bhikhuni? Some of us may wonder whom this wonderful word refers to, because we may have forgotten or indeed not have known, that we had in the distant past within the Buddhist establishment – and indeed have now, for the last three [...]
Designing to blend with rural settings
Geoffrey Bawa is a familiar name for Yang Zhao. “I read a book which featured Bawa as a student,” the architect says barely five minutes into our interview. “So I began to try and learn everything I could about his work. He has definitely influenced career choices I’ve made.” This is why Zhao considers himself [...]
Of Cosby, Crawford, and Cyrus; and what’s not so Rosy in our culture
I recently read an article in which someone named Megan Baldwin claimed, as the title of the piece went, that ‘Beyoncé Argues Convincingly for a Place in the Dictionary’. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo’s not-so-selective offerings, in a corner tagged ‘Crucial Update’, on a site named ‘Racked’. No, dear reader, I am not responsible [...]
Emperor Asoka must be remembered with gratitude as we celebrate Poson
Asoka, the Mauryan Emperor embraced Buddhism after his victory in the Kalinga war. Walking around the battleground, when he saw thousands of corpses and the vast destruction of war, he realized that this was because of his greed to conquer lands. He repented his actions and felt remorse. He dispatched emissaries to the East and [...]
Was Dutugamunu inspired by Asoka?
It was on a Poson Poya Day in 236 BCE that Emperor Asoka sent his son Mahinda Thera to Sri Lanka to establish the Buddha Sasana which took root with the wholehearted patronage extended by the Lankan ruler – Devanampiyatissa (250- 210 BCE.) Barely 40 years after Devanampiyatissa however, the Buddhist Doctrine disappeared from Anuradhapura [...]
R.I.P dear old W.P.B.
I am writing this tribute to the Waste Paper Basket [WPB], a once-essential item of office equipment, exactly 63 years after it first came my way in the ramshackle old Kachcheri in Trincomalee where I took my first faltering steps into Government Service, that wilderness of red tape and humanity, where I spent much of [...]
Poson mission to save lives
While thousands of men, women and children flock to the sacred city of Anuradhapura as Poson Poya dawns on Tuesday, already on ‘duty’ along the picturesque Tissa Wewa are a bunch of schoolboys. Having arrived two days before Poson all the way from Colombo, they have put up their makeshift tent with bare necessities, to [...]
Telling the story of real people making real change
It’s a week-day morning and Greg Snell and David Copithorne are on their way to Kurunegala to embark on a week-long adventure with the youngsters of The Music Project. Their brief is a documentary they will shoot in Kurunegala, then Mullaitivu and at the Jaffna Music Festival. Greg, 29, is the founder of Travel Global [...]
The Trust keeps the flag flying
May 29 marked the 125th birth anniversary of Martin Wickramasinghe. We are reminded of the milestones in the outstanding writer’s life thanks to the work of the Martin Wickramasinghe Trust where a dedicated team led by Dr. Ranga Wickramasinghe keeps track. The Trust ensures that his popular novels and short story books are on the [...]
Letters
Unseen side of recent Jaffna incidents The unfortunate chain of events that unfolded in Jaffna recently could well be the first of that magnitude reported for quite some time. The mob was asking for the physical custody of several men who were accused of gang raping and killing a young girl while the men were [...]
Brazilian flautist and Eshantha to present an evening of Bach music
Performing in Sri Lanka for the second time, Brazilian flautist Celina Charlier will be collaborating with Sri Lankan pianist Eshantha Peiris to present ‘Inspired by Bach’, at the Russian Cultural Centre on Saturday, June 13 at 7.30 p.m. The concert will feature compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), as well as music by Charles Gounod [...]
A songful, learning collaboration
“You Raise Me Up”, a rare evening of sacred music with the De Lanerolle Brothers will take place at the Trinity College Chapel on Saturday, June 6. Each school term, there is a highlight event for the Trinity College Choir, including the Lenten service in the first quarter of the year and the carol service [...]
Paintings inspired by observation
If every artist has a signature style of his or her own, Jayantha Silva’s is to capture the individual human form on canvas. ‘Expressions -12’ Jayantha Silva’s annual exhibition of figurative art will be held on June 6 and 7 at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from 10 a.m onwards showcasing the artist’s inborn talent [...]
Dining in elegance with Villeroy & Boch
The Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association together with Abdul Rahims & Villeroy & Boch hosted a grand dinner at the Victorian, the Kingsbury Hotel on May 22. Villeroy & Boch showcased their latest collection of tableware, glassware and cutlery to leading hoteliers while beverages were provided by Pernod Ricard Lanka. Villeroy & Boch’ established in [...]
It’s a ten-year b’day bash at your favourite Commons
It’s everyone’s favourite hangout and yes, it’s ten years old. The Commons coffee house is celebrating with exciting new menus and weekly specials in June. Food and coffees have been their forte and the wide selection of sandwiches, burgers, wraps, Rotti specials and of course the milkshakes, frappes and other delectable desserts are all there [...]
EU Day celebrated in style
Europe Day was celebrated in Colombo earlier this month with EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives David Daly hosting a well attended reception at the Hilton Colombo Residences.
Appreciations
Bertie E. Wijeratne Thathie was the darling of the family My father, Mayadunnage Bertie Edward Wijeratne, who was born on June 1,1935 hailed from a low country family whose origin was Sedawatta, Kelaniya. He was a very lovable and down-to-earth person who always wanted to help the downtrodden. Thathie being a member of a family [...]
A reunion to be remembered
From May 15 to 20, sandwiched between the Bradby Shield matches was the reunion of the Royal College 1962 entry Group. This year’s organising committee comprising Thamby Navaratnam, Dushy Perera (and wife Tanya), Dilanjan Soysa and Dushantha Munesinghe were hosting the 2015 reunion in Sri Lanka, following the previous one, held in Toronto two years [...]
SAARC Film Festival opens
The SAARC Film Festival opened in Colombo at the National Film Corporation on May 26 with several films from member states being exhibited. The festival was declared open by veteran film director Sumithra Peries. The festival concludes today.
11th annual Conference on Buddhist studies
The 11th annual Conference on Buddhist Studies organised by the Dept. of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenapura in association with The Buddhist Times Trust will be held on November 27-28, 2015. Academics and researchers are invited to present papers relating to Buddhism from a variety of disciplines such as Philosophy, Civilisation, History, [...]
Hilton youth forum
Hilton Colombo and Hilton Colombo Residences took part in Careers@Hilton Live: Youth in Hospitality Month, Hilton Worldwide’s largest ever global career event showcasing to young people, the many opportunities available in the hospitality industry. Throughout May, Hilton Worldwide hotels and corporate offices around the globe hosted events to inform those looking for employment, including young [...]
Mother Courage presentation
In response to the article, ‘Mother Courage’ published onthe PLUS cover-page of the Sunday Times of April 19, the Lions Clubs of District 306 A1 gifted D.M. Nadira Harshani, the mother of three autistic children, with an over-lock sewing machine. We regret that the photograph of the presentation published in the PLUS of May 24, [...]
Aid for Batticaloa Teaching Hospital
More than 15,000 patients sought help at the casualty room of the Teaching Hospital in Batticaloa last year – the great majority of them victims of motor vehicle and work place accidents. Proper treatment of these people requires more than just a casualty room. What is needed in the ‘ golden hour’ to save a [...]
