Little Gonawila waits in hope
A whisper of hope and a formal request sent across the ocean on the wings of prayer to the Vatican in Rome. With the Bishop of Chilaw, Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis, requesting the Congregation of Causes of Saints to begin an inquiry which is the first step towards beatification and canonization of a person, the [...]
Fun and bright hits Galle
Heshan De Silva Heshan De Silva’s collection took the ramp at the Jetwing Lighthouse hotel with an air of quirky elegance. A veteran of CFW’s Bright Sparks shows, Heshan is known for incorporating patchwork and handwoven fabrics into his designs and his men and women’s cruise ship holiday inspired collection with pure leather and shoes [...]
The RAF soldier who keeps coming back
Edgar Anstey’s first image of Sri Lanka was 60 years ago. He caught his first glimpse of the island as he peered through the window of the Hastings aircraft as it approached the airfield of the Royal Air Force, Negombo. Armed only with a grammar school textbook knowledge of what was then known as Ceylon, [...]
Galle Fort’s upcoming trendsetters
Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) is taking one of its annual road trips. In addition to the ramp events a Retail Walk is also a part of this year’s attractions featuring fashionable cafes, restaurants and clothing outlets within the Galle Fort. Marked by a red or green flag, these will be partnered with CFW until Sunday, [...]
Stamp from the past; architecturally and culturally
Sitting proud on Sri Lanka’s Southern coastal belt, Galle is a harmony of bustling city life and colourful tourism which is blanketed by a deep history. Set to the background of crashing waves and salt-stung air the iconic Dutch Fort rests amidst the hubbub of the town. The juxtaposition of two different eras seamlessly woven [...]
Step into a building with many firsts
Subsequent to introducing the Parliamentary system to Ceylon as Sri Lanka was then known, there was a need to familiarise policy-makers and public servants on the art of Parliamentary procedures and debating. To address this need, the YMCA Forum was started by the British with its inaugural session held in 1908. Back in the day, [...]
Appreciations
Hameed Abdul Karim A writer and activist par excellence, he will be missed My friend and brother in Islam, Hameed Abdul Karim is no more. He died in Makkah, Saudi Arabia of a heart attack after completing his Hajj on Saturday, September 26. A death immediately after Hajj is what most Muslims dream of, yet [...]
Letters
Elders day fell on October 1 The Elders’ Home: So, here we are! The beginning of the end is near That’s why we old-timers are here Be it women, be it men We are aware that this is the end. We are worn and useless now; Some still straight and some are bowed The best [...]
Lankan doc who battled on
He fled the fighting in Sri Lanka only to get caught up in Liberia’s war. In July, the West African nation awarded consultant dental surgeon Markandu Kanagasabai its top civilian award for facing down conflict and a deadly Ebola outbreak in the line of duty. Dr. Kanagasabai, 74, is the first Sri Lankan to receive [...]
Country Roads: Looking back with nostalgia
The stage is set. It’s next Sunday- October 11: Country Roads Concert for Children 2015. Presenting top notch talent for almost 30 years, next Sunday’s concert is to feature popular artistes returning to this familiar stage. For some big names in the local music scene, Country Roads brings back their formative years, when they were [...]
Mary Duff is back
Irish singer Mary Duff will be in Sri Lanka for two concerts on October 24 and 25 at the BMICH. She will be accompanied by her six-member backing band some of whom have already performed with Daniel O’Donnell in Sri Lanka last year. Young Irish country singer Jordan Mogey will also be performing at the [...]
Another musical extravaganza by Prestantia Music School
“Prestantia Musica 2015” will go on the boards on October 18, at 6 p.m. at the Tourist Board Auditorium, Colombo 3, presented by the students of Prestantia Music School, Moratuwa. “Prestantia Musica 2015” will showcase musical selections in Piano, Vocals, Violin and Guitar, presented by over 100 students. The show is directed by Dr. Priyeshni [...]
Go online and give a hand to your four- legged friends
The Otara Foundation is to press the government to enact the new Animal Welfare Bill by mobilising mass public support for the legislation via a 100,000 on-line signature campaign launched to mark World Animal Day, celebrated globally on October 4. The appeal, addressed to President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe urges the two [...]
After the hard work; the big day’s tomorrow!
After six weeks of meticulous training on the catwalk, on etiquette, speech training, personal grooming, photography etc, things are hotting-up for the finalists of this year’s Miss World Sri Lanka pageant with the decisive grand finale that will pick the most beautiful woman to represent Sri Lanka at the world pageant only a few hours [...]
Stigmata ready to blaze with ‘The Ascetic Paradox’
Fifteen years since their inception, the pioneers of pure Sri Lankan metal could not get any busier. Slowly unravelling their sleeves the band is soon to produce their fourth child aptly titled ‘The Ascetic Paradox’ (TAP), the album all Stigmata fans both here and overseas have been waiting for. It’s been a long five-year wait. [...]
Fuelled by passion WSP raise bar with Les Mis
It does not always feel natural when a theatre company argues that their play – or in this case, musical – is relevant to contemporary Sri Lankan life. This should be the case in Victor Hugo’s five-volume-epic Les Misérables, whichwas published in 1862. Its action runs up to the June Rebellion of 1832, and is [...]
Take your seat: This has to be experienced not merely witnessed
Is it possible to experience a play rather than merely witness it? This is the question that award-winning playwright and director Indika Ferdinando will explore and hopes to find an answer to when he stages his latest play, “The Irresistible Rise of Mr.Signno” (or the metamorphosis of death by unnatural causes). Ferdinando, whose earlier plays [...]
Story with a lesson: Creating a hazard- free home
It’s story telling time. A group of small kids usher in Sybil nenda onto the stage. She sits on a chair, flanked by the young kids; prepares herself to narrate her story to a large audience that flocked to the Mihikatha Madura at BMICH last Wednesday. To the enthusiastic audience of both children and adults, [...]
The power of wealth and social distinction
An introduction to the book ‘And then there were none’ by Dr. Mala Tudawe A brief historical sketch introduces the reader to the background to this narrative, certainly an asset in placing the Kekulawala dynasty in its proper place and time. Against this background the author explores the historical details of the family which is [...]
Bonsai: Living images
We are surrounded by various forms of beautiful trees, and most of us simply enjoy their beauty, without thinking much about the features which make them beautiful. For a Bonsai enthusiast, these beautiful forms form the basis for inspiration. In order to reproduce authentic miniature images of such trees, you have to analyse their structure. [...]