She inspired, she empowered
Life was an adventure for Ena de Silva. Even if you had never met her or stepped into her legendary home, you would know something of this pioneering and incredibly charming woman who passed away last weekend, peacefully at home in her beloved Aluwihare at the grand old age of 93. Ena was of a [...]
Letters
Death sentence should not be confused Recent killings, especially of little children and of women have brought the implementation of the death sentence once again to the forefront. Whenever a sordid crime is committed, there is a loud public outcry for the gallows to be reactivated. Government authorities therefore interview prospective candidates for the “alugosuwa” [...]
From 1864, it has seen it all
Lined by Dutch cannons strategically placed to ward off returning Portuguese fleets, the mile-long promenade by Colombo’s sea front was the favoured spot for the colonial gentry ‘to take in the air’. It was British Governor Sir Henry Ward who commissioned the Galle Face Green, as we know it, in the late 1850s. Earlier the [...]
Returning again and again to a familiar landscape
Though she was born in Kuala Lumpur, and has since lived in England, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, Minoli Salgado will tell you her earliest memories are of her grandparents’ home in Sri Lanka. Revealingly, this is a country she feels compelled to return to again and again in her writing. A poet and the author [...]
Aiyo! lamented aiya to the adigar
Work on the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has been underway since the turn of the century, but will not be finished for another decade or two. It is likely to have a staggering 600,000 main entries, double the number of the second edition which included over 200 words of Sri Lankan [...]
Await Mark Ronson at Electric Peacock Festival
By now the news must surely be sinking in among those music loving Lankans in the know. Yes, it’s actually happening – the internationally acclaimed Mark Ronson is headlining the Electric Peacock Festival here in December. The phenomenal talent at the centre of a (long-overdue) revival of soul, funk and Motown; the artiste behind the [...]
Fusing art and technique to tell India’s story
Indian photo-artist Jayati Saha amazes any viewer with her frames of nuanced light and shadow, seamlessly fusing her art with technical finesse. Based out of Kolkata, India, Jayati’s journeys have taken her to the India not known or seen by many. The Indian Cultural Centre will present a photographic exhibition ‘Celebrating life with Colours’ by [...]
Christmas with “Friends in Harmony”
The popular orchestra “Friends in Harmony” will present a Christmas programme of Yuletide Carols & Songs on December 11 at the Russian Cultural Centre from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. The programme will conclude with a sing-a-long. Tickets are priced at Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 2,000. Please contact: 0718563985, 0777797144, 0777587781 for details.
Young Lankan Scrabblers on top at World Scrabble Championship
Young Sri Lankan Scrabblers did their country proud when they claimed the prize for the Best Team at the just concluded World Youth Scrabble Championship 2015 along with other top prizes. Janul de Silva won the prize for the best player in the under 14 category while Vignesh Pirapaharan claimed second place in the same [...]
Back in February for a Colombo show
He shot into the spotlight with his memorable audition on ‘The Voice Australia’ last year and ever since Julian Simonsz has been captivating audiences both in Sri Lanka and Australia. His energetic performances on stage, the launch of his new self-titled EP and his phenomenal covers on YouTube speak volumes of a musician who’s made [...]
The man beyond and behind the glam
To those who little knew the designer Kirthi Sri Karunaratne, the man was an enigma. It was impossible to attend a high society fashion show or even a cosy Christmas concert and not glimpse the veteran couturier, his diminutive frame clad in a snazzy vest with a silk scarf – a familiar yet silently intimidating [...]
Who will be the Up and Coming Fashion Designer of the Year?
Twenty aspiring young designers will take the stage to vie for the honours at the grand finale of the “Up and Coming Fashion Designer of the Year 2015”on November 30 at Water’s Edge at 7.30 p.m. 36 semi-finalists were put to the test when they were interviewed by a distinguished board of judges at the [...]
Anokhi’s bold and trendy designs at Rithihi
Jaipur’s age old block printed vegetable dyed craft in both Indian and Western wear will come to Colombo on November 13 and 14 when the exclusive saree boutique, Rithihi presents an exhibition of beautiful Anokhi designs. With over 40 years in the textile industry of Jaipur Anokhi uses the age-old craft of hand carved blocks [...]
‘Those were the days my friend’
It was a time to celebrate old school ties and friendships forged in boyhood when the Sackoba Ball 2015 organised by the St. Anthony’s College Katugastota Old Boys’ Association was held last month at the Cinnamon Grand.
Celebrations in the land of Egypt
Manel Wickramasinghe celebrated her birthday with a lavish Egyptian themed party at the Kingsbury last week with guests entering into the spirit of the evening dressed in flowing robes and Egyptian inspired styles. Cabaret acts, a live band and sumptuous food completed the evening.
It’s Autumn at Amante
No further back than a couple of decades ago women’s underwear did not make for polite conversation in Asian social circles. Mothers would hustle their adolescent daughters to shops to “quickly buy something” while the daughters in question cringed in mortification. Sheepish fathers, boyfriends and husbands would hover uncertainly in the background. A drive around [...]
Appreciations
Prof. Malkanthi Chandrasekera A beloved cousin and respected colleague My dear cousin Prof. Malkanthi Chandrasekera, a much loved, admired and respected person, passed away on January 30, 2015, aged 64 years. She was the victim of a fatal road traffic accident on January 26 in Mahiyangana, not having worn the seat belt, being in the [...]
A day for dogs
From tiny terrier to imperial Great Dane, dogs of all shapes and sizes were in attendance at Sri Lanka’s first ever Canine Carnival – ‘Unleash’ – organised by the Ceylon Kennel Club along with renowned Indian dog handler and canine behaviourist, Shirin Merchant, at Excel World last Sunday. In addition to participants who came with [...]
Sebs to felicitate Sampanthan
The Old Boys Association of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, will felicitate their distinguished alumni, Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan on November 8 at Ramadia Ranmal Holiday Resort, Moratuwa. Mr. Sampanthan who received his preliminary education at St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna, completed his secondary studies at St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. He will be received by [...]
Gamani Corea Memorial Lecture
Dr. Harsha Aturupane, Lead Education Specialist, the World Bank will speak on “Enriching and Accelerating Higher Education Development in Sri Lanka” when he delivers the second Gamani Corea Memorial Lecture on Thursday, November 12 at 5.30 p.m. at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Committee Room C. The lecture is open to the public.
Lecture: Endangered Mountain Gorillas
Ranmal van der Poorten and Dushy Perera will share their experiences on the ‘Endangered Mountain Gorillas of Central Africa’ on Saturday,November 14 at 11.30 a.m. at the Dr. N.M. Perera Centre, No. 106, Dr. N.M. Perera Mawatha, Borella.The lecture is organised by Ruk Rakaganno. All are welcome.
Sri Lankan wins BMJ South Asia Award
Consultant Ophthalmologist Dr Moditha Madhuwanthi Dissanayake, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, was the winner of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) South Asia Award in the category ‘Excellence in Medical Education’ for 2015. The award ceremony was held at Leela Hotel in Mumbai, India on October 30. [...]
Lions Ladies all set for ‘Rhythms for Vision’
The Lion Ladies Committee of District 306 B2 will present ‘Rhythms for Vision’ an evening of entertainment at Hotel Hilton Colombo on Sunday, November 15 from 7 p.m. All proceeds will be utilised to purchase much-needed opthalmic equipment – an Auto Lens Edger for the Lions Golden Jubilee Eye Hospital in Kadawatha which treats thousands [...]
Training programme for senior citizens in Sri Lanka
With Sri Lanka rapidly having to face the challenges of an ageing population, the online portal ‘Life After Retirement’ (LAR) www.life-after-retirement.com offers older adults lifestyle options, training and workshops on modern and useful topics. LAR also acts as a recruitment portal connecting senior citizens with local as well as global employers. LAR’s workshops cover different [...]
ABC workshop on Bible sharing
The Archdiocesan Biblical Commission (ABC) will conduct the fourth workshop on the Lectio Divina method of Bible sharing on Tuesday, November 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Lake Road, Attidiya, Dehiwela. The workshop will be conducted by Rev. Fr. Don Anton Saman Hettiarachchi, former Dean of the Faculty [...]
Sri Lanka Women’s Association UK celebrates Founder’s Day
LONDON — The Sri Lanka Women’s Association in the UK (SLWA) celebrated its Founder’s Day last month with a Tea Dance at the Holiday Inn, Empire Way, Wembley. The President Mrs Calista Jayasinghe welcomed the guests to an afternoon “Chai Tea” with savouries and sweet treats and a varied programme including lively music and dancing. [...]