All our presidents’ flags
A Presidential Standard is a vital symbol of office in most countries around the world. In Sri Lanka, the tradition is said to have begun with President J.R. Jayewardene and continues today under the tenure of President Maithripala Sirisena. From swearing-in ceremonies to meetings with Heads of State, a Sri Lankan President in office is [...]
Why I brought Village in the Jungle to the screen
Lester James Peries (LJP), the legend of Sinhala cinema, defies age. When I visited him last week, he, with wife Sumitra by his side, was full of verve and wit on current issues. His 96+ years have in no way diminished his spirit but have added to his personality. This was further in evidence when [...]
25 years of German Unity marked
German Ambassador Dr. Jurgen Morhard and Mrs Petra Morhard hosted an elegant reception on the South Lawn of the Hotel Taj Samudra to mark 25 years of German Unity on October 22.
The Trinity College Old Boys’ Association bids annual dinner dance
The Trinity College Old Boys’ Association held its annual dinner dance at the Colombo Hilton on October 3 with old boys and their partners enjoying a grand reunion.
D. H. Lawrence: A case of not being in love with Ceylon
Like many young people in England during the early 1960s, I became interested in D. H. Lawrence due to the lurid publicity surrounding Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Fifty-five years ago, in October 1960, the case of the Crown versus Penguin Books, accused of breaking the Obscene Publications Act by publishing Lawrence’s book, began at the Old [...]
Letters
Yahapalanaya losing its way and playing the same game in a different name Recently, there has been a spate of media reports levelling accusations against ministers for appointing close relatives to high positions in the public sector. It is further claimed that these individuals have no experience or qualifications for these appointments. Most ministers themselves [...]
KITTO steps into men’s shoes
KIITO Bespoke, the dark horse in the local menswear arena is the only bespoke tailoring house in the country to host Ermenegildo Zegna and the prestigious Holland & Sherry and last week launched its formal shoe collection named ‘Icon’. “KIITO Bespoke is in the business of dressing men for success. but now felt like the right [...]
19th Century Galle as he saw it
If the visitor to Vienna happens to go to the city’s Museum of Military History he or she will find one gallery dedicated to the expedition of the Novara, the flagship of the Austrian navy in the 19th century. Most non-Austrians will be surprised by the very idea that a mountainous and land-locked country like [...]
Travelling the terrain and through history to understand the country
There is not one but many ‘Sri Lankas’, one for each individual. This explains why some Sri Lankans love their country while others wish they were born elsewhere; why D.H. Lawrence hated it while Sir Arthur C. Clarke was smitten enough to make it his home. John Gimlette’s Elephant Complex is the latest travel book [...]
Lankan novelist longlisted for DSC Prize for South Asian Lit.
Sri Lankan writer Minoli Salgado is on the longlist for the US $50,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2016 announced at the Oxford Bookstore in New Delhi last month. The longlist comprising 11 books represents a mix of established writers and debut novelists. It features authors based in South Asia as well as the [...]
Everyone’s junk is this man’s treasure
Chock-a-block is a large wing of a home in Kochchikade, Negombo – not with clutter but a trove of antiques. Crammed full on the floor, on and atop shelves, hanging on walls and in every conceivable nook and cranny are antiques, most probably the largest collection in Sri Lanka, gathered over the years by retired [...]
Galle Face returns with new look that takes us back
Galle Face Hotel needs no introduction. Opening its doors after three years of hibernation, the Hotel was re-introduced to Colombo’s urban landscape on October 26. Corridors and halls which have hosted royalty, clergy and celebrities for the past 150 years have taken a step into the present still however remaining within the hotel’s acclaimed timeless [...]
In a land of innocence
Charles Darwin said about his visit here ¨these islands appear to be a world within themselves – a perennial source of new things”. Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 900 km off the west coast of Ecuador in South America, these were the “Enchanted Islands¨ where in 1835 Darwin made astute observations about natural selection [...]
Brief encounter with nature and city sights
Cinnamon’s City Hotels – Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and Cinnamon Red – partnered with the wildlife and adventure tourism arm of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, Nature Trails, launched their new city tour package ‘Colombo City Excursions’ last month. The new package encompasses a variety of experiences in and around the city, including nature [...]
Appreciations
Arthur Basnayake An outstanding diplomat Arthur Basnayake who passed away last week at the age of 90 was one of the finest diplomats ever to represent Sri Lanka. He was one of the first five recruits to the Ceylon foreign service. He served in over 10 countries as first secretary counsellor and deputy high [...]
Kandy relishes an evening of resounding music
St Paul’s Church, one of Kandy’s most iconic buildings, has hosted choral recitals, pageants, nativity plays, and German Trumpet Choirs in the past but in recent years, especially after the Maligawa bomb blast resulted in the region being declared a high security zone, events have been largely restricted to church services and weddings. The clock [...]
Something for everyone
The last time Kishani Jayasinghe was on a Sri Lankan stage she was singing her heart out for alma mater Visakha Vidyalaya, charming her audience with that special brand of warmth and humour. This time, when she returns to her first home at the Wendt, Kishani will once again sing for a very special cause-although [...]
Dushyanthi to perform Lalo’s Cello concerto in D minor
Well known cellist Dushyanthi Perera will be the soloist in Edouard Lalo’s Cello concerto in D minor at the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka’s (SOSL) concert, on November 6 at the Ladies’ College Hall at 7 p.m. Conducted by Dr. Ajit Abeysekera, the concert also features Schubert’s 5th symphony, and Offenbach’s overture to Orpheus in [...]
Hameedia to host opening dinner of Colombo Film Festival
Hameedia will host the opening dinner of the International Film Festival of Colombo for the second consecutive year on November 6. The festival takes place from November 7 to 11. The International Film Festival of Colombo, was launched in association with the Okinawa International Movie Festival of Japan, to further promote the development of the [...]
“Stitch-Fantasy” exhibition in Kandy
“Stitch-Fantasy” an exhibition of needlecraft by Indumathie Paranavithana will be held from November 6 – 8 at the Kandyan Arts Hotel (opposite Kingswood College Kandy). The exhibition now in Gampaha ends today at Nivahana Hall Gampaha. The exhibition includes embroidery styles such as Eyelet, Ribbon, Brazilian, Stylish, Hand, Handanger, and Punch along with cross stitch, [...]
Holy Mass for the departed
A Holy Mass for the souls of departed Rev. Brothers/Sisters, Teachers, Annites and Familians will be held on November 7 at 4 p.m. at St. Anne’s Church, Kurunegala. The service is organised by the Old Boys’ Associations of St. Anne’s College and the Old Girls Associations of Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala.