Khan conducts Umpires’ Workshop
Internationally acclaimed cricket umpiring trainer and umpire Aurangzeb Khan on the invitation of the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires’ Association (SLCUA) conducted a one-day workshop on last Saturday at the Bloomfield Cricket and Athletics Club in Colombo. The workshop was attended by a large gathering of local umpires from all parts of Sri Lanka. Khan, from [...]
Gallipoli: Today’s peace dotted with poignant memories
I am seated by the large window in my 5th floor hotel room in the Turkish city of Canakkale, looking out over the picturesque Dardanelles Waterway at the hills of the Gallipoli peninsula across the water. Gallipoli lies on the European side of the Dardanelles – close to where 3,000 years ago the ships of [...]
Letters to the Editor
Declaration of assets is fine, but what’s important is what happens next It was heartening indeed to read in the newspapers recently that the Elections Commissioner was insisting on the declaration of assets by candidates at the forthcoming elections. Although this is a requirement that every prospective candidate should have been aware of, only about 60% [...]
Appreciations
Who can forget such a wonderful bro-in-law RANJIT W. ATUKORALA It is with deep sadness that I am trying to pen some lines recalling memories of my dear brother-in-law (Ranjit Aiya) who passed away peacefully, just as the Vesak full moon began to wane. My earliest recollection of him is of a little boy in a [...]
An energy-saving lifestyle change
Remember all those times you forgot to switch off your room’s ceiling fan and earned a big earful from your parents or spouse? Those days may well be a thing of the past soon enough, thanks to Professor K.K.Y. Perera who has invented an automatic electronic speed and time controller (known as a Smart Fan [...]
What is happening to Kandy, the world heritage town?
The blue waters of the Kandy Lake had a soothing effect on my restless mind. Early one morning my family members and I paid a visit to the Sri Dalada Maligawa with a bowl of milk rice as an offering to the most venerated Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Entering the Maligawa, my mind was [...]
Star of Africa for Sri Lankan doctor
Sri Lankan Consultant Dental Surgeon Dr. Markandu Kanagasabai, has been honoured with Liberia’s top civilian award, the distinction of the Grand Commander in the Order of the Star of Africa, at a ceremony held in Monrovia, the West African nation’s capital on July 17. The honour was conferred upon Dr. Kanagasabai by Liberia’s President Ellen [...]
A vision of paradise
“The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only paradise we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need, if only we had the eyes to see.” – [...]
A record of a lifetime of camping
Written by two inveterate jungle men, ‘Into the Wilds of Sri Lanka’ is an excellent guide to those going to camp or stay in the jungles. The two authors are both very experienced and regular visitors to the wilderness areas round the country. They have camped in almost all the landscapes in the country. This [...]
Python tales
The first account of the Indian python (Python molurus) in English literature concerning the island is by Robert Knox in An Historical Relation of Ceylon (1681). He uses the common Sinhala name pimberah (pimbura). Knox’s account contains an ancient and universal misconception – that the small appendages on the tail (anal spurs in fact) are [...]
Swimming into the limelight
It’s not every day that a model gets to walk on water. On Friday, a lucky few got the closest possible experience when gliding down a runway while the rippling blue waters of the Hilton’s pool provided the perfect setting for Sri Lanka’s first ever swimwear fashion show. CFW Swim is the first of its [...]
The Blue returns with a new look
Nocturnal party people in Colombo well remember the Blue Elephant at Hilton, despite the venue being closed for the past three years. Now it’s back with a more mature face after a Rs. 200 million face-lift. “It’s called The Blue,” announces Hilton’s Director of Sales Conference and Events, Arosha Perera proudly. After nine months of [...]
Incisive take on the rich and indulged
Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke gets things rolling by encouraging the crowd to be“raucous and merry.” This night’s audience doesn’t need to be told twice. Over the next hour the Mind Adventures Theatre Company presents ‘Blowhards’ – a trio of short plays, each taking for its theme a modern interpretation of an ancient malady. Narcissism, corruption, exploitation and [...]
South Africa gets a taste of soul-sounding music from Lanka
Soul Sounds, Sri Lanka’s premier female ensemble was recently invited to South Africa to participate at the Ihlombe Choral Festival 2015. The choir led by musician Sounda-rie David Rodrigo, have been performing both locally and internationally since 2004. South Africa had been on the cards for the group for a long time, given their special love for [...]
Pandit Subhen Chatterjee here to celebrate India Day
To celebrate the 69th Independence Day of India, the Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo presents “Bandish Fusion” a musical programme on August 14 by Pandit Subhen Chatterjee and his group. The Grammy-nominated and internationally acclaimed percussion maestro Pandit Subhen Chatterjee,along with his fusion band Karma will perform at the Bishop’s College Auditorium at 7 p.m. [...]
A mega show with De Lanerolle Brothers
The De Lanerolle Brothers are not resting on their laurels. This show is big! The BMICH will present the De Lanerolle Brothers “keeping it real” with a live 12 piece band directed by Shobi Perera on September 14. Call the hotline agents on 0777 996 991 for prior reservations.
An evening of entertainment to raise funds
A fund raising event organised by the Church of the Good Shepherd Thimbirigasyaya will go on the boards at Bishop’s College Auditorium on September 7 at 7.30 p.m. The popular orchestra Friends-In-Harmony directed by Indrani Wijesundera, well known brothers Rohan & Ishan de Lanerolle, the dancers of Channa Upuli dance foundation, the Three Sisters Shyami, [...]
WISTA celebrates first year with reception
The Sri Lankan branch of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) celebrated its first anniversary recently with a reception and their annual general meeting. President, Shehara Jayawardana, spoke about WISTA and its aims as well as its achievements over the past year and its hopes for the years to come. WISTA members have [...]
Culinary Art keeps the heat on among local chefs
Chef’s whites was the unofficial dress-code at the BMICH on the last weekend in July. Sri Lanka’s biggest culinary competition, Culinary Art 2015 brought in 25 internationally recognised judges who meticulously went through the 2500 entries including those by homespun talent. Cleanly piped cakes with intricate suspended sugar work made for a seemingly sweet welcome [...]
Chef Kani’s Hippo Dough at your fingertips now!
Chef Walter Lee has a simple food mantra- celebrate the classics, but think new. When he was in Sri Lanka on his third visit last month, the experienced chef and restaurateur was here on a mission: to share his innovative ideas with others in his field. At the Bayleaf last month, Walter, or Chef Kani [...]
Derelict city hotel turns canvas for artists
SHADOW SCENES August 21-30 Walking through the Rio Hotel on a weekday evening is not pleasant, although it’s exciting. Though it sits in the heart of Slave Island, the thick walls cut out most of the noise once you’re inside and the unmistakable smell of dead rat prevails. There’s very little in the way of [...]
Men can be men without the cloak of masculinity
“Voice of Men” was raised on behalf of women. The Foundation for Innovative Social Development (FISD) set the stage for men not ashamed to say that they care for their wives; love quality time with their children; are against gender based violence or, for that matter, gender stereotyping. The many monologues of this drama sequence [...]
Faces from the silver screen
London-based artist Annette Fernando will showcase her work ‘Girls Like Us’ at the Rv8y Studio Gallery in Colombo from August 14 to the 28. Born and raised in London, UK, Annette’s father is Sri Lankan and her mother half Italian, half French. Having initially completed a foundation diploma in Art & Design at the Camberwell [...]
Looking back in anger
On the outskirts of Santiago in Chile, where Villa Grimaldi once stood, there is now a park. In the mid-1970s, it became infamous as a camp where thousands of political prisoners were subjected to interrogations and worse by the Dirección de InteligenciaNacional or DINA -Augusto Pinochet’s secret police. Chile’s current President Michelle Bachelet knows this [...]
Making IT education accessible
Making quality IT education accessible to the rural communities is Sarvodaya’s latest goal. “We operate in six different levels” General Secretary of Sri Lanka’s oldest NGO, Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne explained. Targeting spiritual, moral, cultural, social, economic and political development, the holistic upliftment Sarvodaya has been advocating includes an education wing, of which Fusion Education is [...]
Fusion Education, Sarvodaya’s latest effort aims to provide top notch training islandwide
Making quality IT education accessible to the rural communities is Sarvodaya’s latest goal. “We operate in six different levels” General Secretary of Sri Lanka’s oldest NGO, Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne explained. Targeting spiritual, moral, cultural, social, economic and political development, the holistic upliftment Sarvodaya has been advocating includes an education wing, of which Fusion Education is [...]
LC celebrates “Girl Power” win
The old girls of Ladies’ College celebrated their having won the overall championship at “Girl Power” – a sports meet held on March 8 where six leading schools in Colombo namely Visakha, Methodist, Holy Family, Musaeus and St. Paul’s participated to raise much needed funds to contribute towards a Water Purification Project for the schools [...]
YMCA Moratuwa conducts Blood Donation campaign and free medical clinic
The YMCA Moratuwa successfully conducted its fourth annual Blood Donation campaign and a free Medical Clinic for the second year in succession at its premises on July 25, 2015.The medical clinic offered free consultation, free drugs and free testing of ears, eyes and blood sugar. Nearly 300 persons from the Moratuwa area benefited from this [...]
Rotaract District 3220 holds 25th Assembly
Rotaract District 3220 held their 25th Rotaract District Assembly, the highlight of the Rotaract calendar, at Hotel Ramada, under the theme ‘Together Towards Tomorrow’ recently. The Assembly marked the beginning of the new Rotaract year and included the installation of the District Rotaract Representative (DRR) and the Rotaract District Committee for 2015/16. Adding glamour to [...]
In memoriam Cecil, or how only man is vile
I am beginning to think that there are just two types of people in the world. Those who know who Cecil is or was and how ignobly he died and the whole sordid saga of that sad excuse for a US dentist who lured and hunted this superb creature down and shot the magnificent beast [...]