History, legend and neglect lie side by side
In Panduwasnuwara you’ll catch a glimpse of history and folklore, woven so intricately together that it’s difficult to discern the difference between the two. The 12th century kingdom temporarily occupied by King Parakramabahu I is more correctly identified as Parakramapura, but the locals (and visitors) stubbornly cling on to the old name, and the legendary [...]
Pandit Amaradeva strikes a note from the past
On a Wednesday afternoon we are at the home of Pandit W.D. Amaradeva, in a cosy sitting room, anticipating the moment when we could meet the legend in person and hear from him of his life’s journey. As we wait, we catch a glimpse of what he has accumulated over the years – a collection [...]
Calamansi Cove: Be part of tomorrow’s tourists
I stayed in a room called Papaya at the Calamansi Cove Hotel. Each of the 11 other rooms are also named after fruits, with Pomelo and Passion being favourites because they are next to the swimming pool. But each one of the fruity rooms (Mango, Guava, etc., but no Durian) has a similar interior. It’s [...]
Head to Negombo for a gastronomic adventure!
Negombo’s Lewis Place has the tentative swagger of a teenager who has finally come of age – a teenager in the throes of change, wondering where to fit in. With its proximity to Colombo (38 km) and the Katunayake airport (8km), Negombo tends to be a transit hub for most tourists and is either the [...]
An evening of fragrance and roses
Celebrating all that is feminine, the House of LUX launched their fragrance-infused new soap range at a glittering fragrance extravaganza at the Cinnamon Grand recently. Film stars, models, singers, fashion icons, beauty queens, corporate heads and many other familiar faces posed for the ‘clicks’ against dainty rose wall backdrops as they walked past the French [...]
The annual Business Today awards at Hilton
The annual Business Today awards were held at the Colombo Hilton recently with invitees from the corporate world gracing the occasion.
Letters
Sickening state of affairs at private hospitals Many private hospitals in Colombo and other areas are flourishing as government hospitals are crowded and, in some instances, they do not even have essential drugs. But sadly, private hospitals have become a law unto themselves. When a patient is admitted even for minor treatment, he is subjected [...]
Appreciations
REV. ANTHONY MALAVIARACHCHI A man of God who was humane and michievous I remember vividly my first meeting with Fr. Anthony as a pre-novice way back in 1977, some 38 years ago. He was the regional superior of the Redemptorists in Sri Lanka at that time. It was just last August that Fr. Anthony celebrated [...]
DSI makes new strides with ‘W’
‘W’ the new store by D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd opened its doors at No. 515 Galle Road, Colombo 4 with the Chairman of D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd Nandadasa Rajapaksa along with the Managing Director Thusitha Rajapaksa, Director Kaushalya Perera, Chief Operating Officer, Ruwan Kannangara and other members of the company’s senior [...]
Ramya de Livera Perera and Soundarie David at Lionel Wendt
It was an appreciative music-loving audience who filled the Lionel Wendt theatre on November 12 to hear the sounds on two pianos performed by two of Sri Lanka’s best known musicians Ramya de Livera Perera and Soundarie David. This was the duo’s second concert in collaboration with Zonta – to raise funds for Zonta’s continuing [...]
Too many festivals, too little exercise
For 10 years the Healthy Life Clinic, headed by Consultant Physician and Diabetologist Dr. Kayathri Periasamy, has been trying to change the attitudes of Sri Lankans toward diabetes. “There was very little focussed diabetes care in Sri Lanka when we started out,” notes Dr. Periasamy. “It is a disease, yes, but with awareness people can [...]
Two acclaimed poets
Our new mini-series in collaboration with the Fairway Galle Literary Festival will over the next six weeks introduce you to visiting authors through our column. Follow along and you will stand to win two full festival passes in our draw. All you need to do is answer the questions we will pose later in our [...]
Await the sound of difference!
On Friday December 4, the Dutch Burgher Union (DBU) will come alive with a sound that has not yet been heard in Colombo. Multi-award-winning saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa together with his quartet “Gamak” will play selections from his recent albums at another “Jazz Evening” for the benefit of The Sunshine Charity. The work Rudresh creates is [...]
‘Vessel’: A collection of released artistic energy
‘Vessel’, an exhibition by Layla Gonaduwa, opened on November 17 at the Barefoot Gallery. Revolving around the concept of herself as a vessel, this collection of mixed media paintings and sculpture are soothing to the eye and mind. There is also a running motif of water that adds to the tone and density of this [...]
SOSL Christmas Concert to ring in seasonal melodies
Be swathed in the joyous melodies of Christmas at the much-awaited SOSL Christmas Concert on December 12, ringing in the festive season with much gladness and exultation. While the orchestra is tuned to perform their very best under the baton of Conductor Dushy Perera, the melodious voices of the Mary Anne David Chorale and Soundarie [...]
More Lankan flowers in bloom
“What’s that flower?” is a question most of us find ourselves asking with annoying regularity, whether at a plant show in Colombo or on a trip to Yala or Horton Plains. And there is almost never anyone at hand to supply an answer. In 2008 Jacob and Johanna Vlas, a pair of Dutch flower lovers, [...]
You can see it; the ‘fire’ in his photographs
“I consider Sri Lanka as one of the last Edens left on earth and wildlife as its true children. So I want to make my maiden book a lasting tribute to the beauty of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage,” says Rajiv Welikala who will launch his coffee table book along with his wildlife photography exhibition on [...]
Dialling back to hundred years ago
On November 12, there was in Colombo an unusual book launch. Unusual because the contents of the book deal with the development of telecommunication in the country over a period of about hundred years. The author of the book is P. K. Wickramarachi, the first Manager of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), now in retirement. The [...]
Binding together an era fast fading
Looking for Kumar Sangakkara or Shyam Selvadurai in Chandrabhanu Samaraweera’s Who’s Who of Sri Lanka will be in vain, because all the people whose biographical sketches are in the book belonged to an older, sepia-tinted world- at least for a part of their lives. The antiquity of the period covered by the book makes the [...]
Mastering the art of crocheting
Nilanthie Wijegunawardene first tried her hand at crochet, 50 years ago, as she was just about to have her eldest daughter. Nothing could have been ever more motivating to her than being surrounded by a mother, aunt and even an attendant who were skilled at crocheting. Once she started to discover the endless possibilities of [...]
Lanka Mahila Samithi: Exhibition and sale of handicrafts
The Lanka Mahila Samithi will hold its annual Exhibition and sale of Handicrafts at the Lionel Wendt Gallery, No. 18, Guildford Crescent, Colombo 7 on Tuesday, December 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entire spectrum of articles on display and for sale are of high quality craftsmanship. A variety of attractive handicrafts produced [...]
L.G. Singers Christmas Carols
Christmas Carols with the L.G. Singers will be held at the Bethel Chapel of the Seventh-day Adventists, 7, Alfred House Gardens, Kollupitiya on Friday, December 4 at 6.45 p.m. The service will include 16 carols presented by the singers.
Sri Lankan wins Green Apple award
Eco-engineer Athula Jayamanne has bagged the bronze award at the International Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice for his invention on waste water treatment and its further development and application. Mr. Jayamanne was presented the award at a ceremony held on November 15 at the Houses of Parliament, London, United Kingdom. Although the Green [...]
Working for a better life for people with disability
The National Institute for the Care of Paraplegics will mark the International Day of the Disabled which falls on Thursday (December 3) by distributing hampers including dry rations and food items to deserving paraplegics from Kuruwita and Weliweriya. A sale of compost fertiliser, coconut shell handicrafts, woodwork, packed condiments, stitched items, patch-work, vegetables, plants, electrical [...]
Derrick J wins Gold Award in Australia
Sri Lankan-born Derrick Junkeer or Derrick J as he is known in Australia won the Gold Award at the annual Serendib Awards Ceremony which recognises innovative, inspirational and professional Sri Lankans of Vision. This presentation was made at a gala ceremony in Melbourne on October 2. Derrick J received this award in recognition of his [...]
Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam celebrates 85th anniversary
The Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam will celebrate its 85th anniversary with ‘Konjum Thamil’ next Sunday (December 6) at 5.30 p.m. at the Saraswathy Hall, Lorenz Road, Colombo 4. The Konjum Thamil programme will include a Ganesha Samarpanam, a saree parade, ‘The Story of the Kalagam’ in song, word and dance, regional customs, traditions and culture and [...]
Concert celebrating 100 years of Frank Sinatra
A Sinatra concert, celebrating 100 years of Frank Sinatra presented by Gananath & En Route with a guest spot by Umaria and Devshan on December 12 will be held at the British School auditorium from 8 p.m. The jazz band “En Route” has Gananath Dasanayaka, vocals and sax, Debbie Arnolda on piano, Maxie Petersz (veteran [...]
DBU Christmas sale
Once again the DBU has organised its Christmas Sale on Sunday, December 6, from 9 a.m. onwards. There will be a whole range of items, including Christmas décor, linen, pottery, jewellery, garments and plenty of food,including famous Burgher delicacies such as Boroa, Fougetti, Lamprais, Milk Wine, Home-made Ginger Beer, Beef Smore,Black Pork Curry and a [...]
Undergraduate, post graduate and research/PHD scholarships for studying in India
The Indian High Commission, Colombo has announced the offer for the following ICCR Scholarships for 2016-17 academic session: – Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme: Hundred (100) slots are being offered under this scheme which covers all Undergraduate Courses (except Medicine) including Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, Commerce, Humanities and Arts (including Classical Music, Classical Dance and Visual [...]
Geriatric Medicine Association holds Annual Academic Sessions
The Sri Lanka Association of Geriatric Medicine established in 2014 held its Annual Academic Sessions on November 19 and 20 on the theme ‘Ensuring dignity in the silver age’ . The World Health Organisation Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr. Jacob Kumaresan was the Chief Guest at the inauguration held at the Galadari Hotel on November [...]