Books are still alive and kicking!
The debate rages worldwide – is digital killing print media? Will this generation witness the extinction of the book? Whatever the case may be in other parts of the world, a stroll through this year’s Colombo International Book Fair reassures us that print is not dead yet. At least, not in Sri Lanka. The Colombo [...]
A balancing act
Prof. Tariq Ramadan’s visit to Sri Lanka is curiously timely. Fifty years ago to the very day he was delivering the M.A. Bakeer Markar commemorative lecture (September 21), Bakeer Marker – late Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, spoke up in favour of Said Ramadan, Tariq Ramadan’s father, in response to questions raised in [...]
1333km around Sri Lanka to raise awareness for 1333
On August 29, around 40 cyclists took off from Independence Square on a ride they hope would save the life of at least one person. Fifteen of them would go on to ride 1333 km around Sri Lanka to raise awareness for the toll free 1333 hotline that provides free over-the-phone counselling island-wide. A project [...]
A fledgling country rising from the ashes of a chequered history
The early migrants of Timor-Leste had links to Sri Lankans, says Kumudini Hettiarachchi as she discovers the many facets of a land that faces many challenges too. The sea with its turquoise waters shimmering in the sunlight is never far away in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, as in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is across [...]
Teaching gender sensitivity through theatre
What constitutes gender insensitivity in the workplace? Perspectives may vary. Whichever way you look at it careless and sometimes deliberately damaging social conduct in the workplace can have severe impact on employee performance and professional development, say a group of theatre practitioners from Mind Adventures Theatre Company and Power of Play who hope to address [...]
Spreading the goodness of yoga
Uncharacteristically, she is not there to meet us in her lovely home with minimalist furniture in Nugegoda on Tuesday. As she walks in slightly late, she is not flustered only sincerely apologetic. There is a calmness about her even though she has been attempting to sort out numerous requests, some quite volatile, to attend a [...]
Letters
Elephantine problem: Wise governance better than good governance Everything appears to be going askew with our national mascot – the elephant. The United National Party, whose symbol is the ‘elephant’, has tamely consented to the idea of a ‘jumbo’ cabinet and ‘jumbo’ appointments of state and deputy ministers and what not in the government. In [...]
Appreciations
His popularity never waned RANJIT DE SILVA Ranjit de Silva (“RS” to his friends at his alma mater and at Aquinas,) sadly passed away peacefully in the United States, his chosen country of residence, on January 1, 2015 after a brief illness at the age of 77. He leaves his beloved wife Niloufer, his loving [...]
Lankan food with a twist
For 25-year-old Andrew Speldewinde retirement has come a few decades early. Just a few months ago, Speldewinde began serving guests dinner in his family apartment in Colpetty. He named his ‘home chef venture’ Contemporary Ceylon. While he also works as a business consultant for an IT services company, his new project is already earning him [...]
Flavourful street in the heart of the city
The Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct’s spatial equation has seen minor changes since its inception but for the most part, the main food stalwarts remain the same. This week on Eat Street we go past the Dutch Hospital Complex, to explore Chatham Street’s food offerings. There’s been a visible effort to ensure that Chatham Street maintains [...]
A gentle, polite introduction to nature
The Yala Adventure is the first hotel I have stayed in that, instead of in-room television, offers a private butterfly garden, toddy rope walking and abseiling as entertainment. Not only that, its most expensive rooms are canvas tents with grand teak beds. This extraordinary hotel is set in the tamed wilderness beside the Yoda Wewa [...]
A crocodile legend and the Cristo Rei of Dili
The mountains too are never far-away in Dili and while delegates to a health conference, with some trepidation, talk of how a crocodile was seen waddling along the street close to an embassy, the inextricable bond between these reptilians and Timor-Leste is not only heard but also seen. Almost all those in Dili are quick [...]
Post-war melancholy caught in a gem of a film
OUT of the hundreds, or thousands, of movies we filmgoers have seen, some would have left a memory of a single face dominating the screen and leaving a mark on the mind. The faces may range from brooding and troubled to serene, happy or simply beautiful. They stay with you long after you have left [...]
Story of a ‘might-have- been’
The history of cinema is punctuated by a number of great ‘might-have-beens’: film projects with extraordinary artistic potential that unfortunately were never realised. Probably the best-known of these is Sergei Eisenstein’s Que Viva México! There are others just as tantalising. Take The Alien, which, if it had been made (around 1967-8) would have had a [...]
Unveiling the beauty of ‘La Sari’
Designer Nilanka Silva unveiled her latest collection under her brand name, ‘La’ Sari’, at the Park Street Mews presenting wholly wearable and striking creations. Nilanka is a great believer in one’s freedom to emphasise one’s individual body style and the collection on the ramp celebrated the diverse beauty of the human body. ‘La’Sari’ translated from [...]
The 70th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam celebrated
The 70th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was celebrated in Colombo with a dinner reception at the Balmoral ballroom of the Kingsbury hosted by Ambassador of Vietnam to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Phan Kieu Thu on September 1.
Founder Chairman of Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. M.P. Wickramasingha felicitated
A reception was held by the Board of Directors of Ceylon Biscuits Ltd to felicitate their founder Chairman M.P. Wickramasingha at the Cinnamon Grand on September 8. Family, friends and clients were among the invitees
Envoy mansion graced by Mr. and Miss England
Mr. England 2015 Christopher Bramell, and Miss England 2015 Natasha Hemmings were hosted at the Envoy Mansion in Colombo during their recent visit to the country with Managing Director of Hameedia Fouzul Hameed, presenting Bramell, with an exclusive tailor-made menswear collection from Envoy London which includes an array of casual and formal fashion staples. Envoy [...]
Mailing our natural history and biodiversity
The first time stamps were used was in the United Kingdom in 1840, by Sir Rowland Hill. Accordingly, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp was introduced on 6th May 1840. This was a means of addressing the problem of recovering the costs of delivering mails. Thereafter, the rest of the countries, throughout the world, including [...]
India and Lanka: Bonds of destiny
India is the most unique place on earth. Every Samma Sambuddha makes His benign appearance on the hallowed land. So do his Chief Disciples, every Pacceka Buddha, and every Chakrawarthi King (World Ruling Monarch). Ancient India was haven to a plethora of philosophers and thinkers of all hues. In the Republic of Lichchavis were a [...]
Embassy of Vietnam to hold charity concert
The Embassy of Vietnam in Sri Lanka will play host to a concert in the name of charity on Monday, October 5 at the Bishops College Auditorium (7 p.m. onwards).The event, titled ‘Charming Vietnam’, is a celebration to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Speaking to [...]
EWC workshop: “Getting it Write”
“Getting it Write”, a seminar organised by the English Writers Cooperative of Sri Lanka was held at the SLFUW on Saturday, August 29 – seen here are some of the participants. The EWC also recently launched the journal, Channels, Volume 21 edited by Sybil Wettasinghe.
Building up their school
Chundikuli Girls’ College, Jaffna, invites all old girls and friends of the school to support their fundraiser, ‘Samarpana’ – a Bharatha Natyam recital to be held on Saturday, October 3 at the Ramakrishna Mission Hall at 6 p.m. The concert is being held to raise funds for the construction of classrooms for the Primary School. [...]
Launch of HSBC Youth Entrepreneurship Awards 2015
HSBC and the British Council launched their fifth ‘HSBC Youth Enterprise Awards’ on Wednesday September 23 at the British Council Library in Colombo. The contest seeks to support and mentor young Sri Lankan entrepreneurs looking to start their own business. Prizes of Rs. 500, 000, 200, 000 and 100, 000 will be awarded to the [...]
ACWBC Elders’ Week
The All Ceylon Women’s Buddhist Congress Elders’ Week Programme is as follows: October 1: Midday Dana to transfer merit to the departed residents 5 – 6.30 p.m.: Bodhi Puja October 2 2.30- 4 p.m.: training in preparation of sweets October 3- 3 – 6 p.m.: Sports Meet October 4 – 9 a.m. -1 p.m.: Ayurveda [...]
Sri Lanka Association of Senior Citizens office bearers 2015-2016
The 15th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Association of Senior Citizens, Nawala Branch was held on July 27 in Colombo. The following office bearers were elected for 2015 – 2016. Patron Founder Member: Ms. Chandra Selvaratnam, Past President: Ms. Duksie Goonatilleke, President: Ms. Chitra Goonewardene, Vice President: Ms. Rohini Jayawickrame, Secretary: Mrs. Savithri [...]
‘Ageing Population – Are We Prepared?’
The Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL)in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science presents a panel discussion, “Ageing Population – Are We Prepared?” on Monday, September 28 at 5 p.m. at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium, No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. The panelists are: Ravi Bamunusinghe (Research Consultancy Bureau)who [...]
Talk on education and protection on World Animal Day
Attorney – at – Law and Chapter Leader of the Dharma Voices for Animals (Sri Lanka – Colombo) Chapter Senaka Weeraratna, will deliver a talk on ‘The Importance of introducing Animal Protection Education into Schools in Sri Lanka’ on World Animal Day, October 4 at 5 p.m. at the Dharmavijaya Foundation Auditorium, 380 / 7, [...]
Urgent kidney transplant
Hotelier Mohan Anthonypillai, a member of the Lions Club of Aluthgama, Bentota is suffering from end stage kidney disease. He requires an urgent kidney transplant. His blood group is O+ and he needs a donor whose blood group is O. He can be contacted on 0770045795.
Voice of Colombo Toastmasters Charter installation ceremony
Voice of Colombo Toastmasters Club, the latest club of the Sri Lanka Toastmasters, recently held its charter installation ceremony at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, a media release issued by the club stated. Founded by the youngest Toastmaster in Sri Lanka, Arshad Mohideen, this club began a new chapter on [...]
Creative thinking: Lanka’s bright sparks at Spikes Asia 2015
Young members of the advertising industry spent an exciting few days in Singapore earlier this month representing Sri Lanka at the Spikes Asia 2015 competition. The three teams competing under categories for Media, Integrated and Digital Communication won at national level to qualify as Sri Lanka’s team at Spikes. Three days surrounded by the best [...]