On the stage that she loves!
It was a stage she was all too familiar with and on Thursday, December 3, Kishani Jayasinghe enthralled her audience at the Lionel Wendt performing with her friends and fellow musicians Soundarie David Rodrigo, Ananda Dabare and Surekha Amerasinghe – a four part show that delivered beautifully in terms of music and entertainment. The lyric [...]
Hearts and lungs in his hands
Wagging her finger, it was his biology teacher who told him categorically that he would never be a surgeon, for his rat-dissection he confesses was “rubbish” securing him only 2 lowly marks out of 10. “I’d love to track her down,” he smiles benignly for now he is not into rat dissections but life-saving heart [...]
Making magic in the museum
My conversation with Sir Roy Strong–who last month delivered a lecture in Colombo on “Shakespeare’s Gardens’ as part of the run-up to the Fairway Galle Literary Festival to be held in January–is sprinkled with fact checking and cautious corroboration. There are snippets of information which are seemingly incongruent with the snow-haired gentleman with heavily lidded [...]
Are Colombo’s budding artists pushing the envelope?
Situated diagonally across the road from one another, in the heart of Colombo 7 (one of the city’s most up-market postal codes) are two of the capital’s key artistic spaces – the University of Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA) and Saskia Fernando Gallery. In the latter, one gets to see regular, well-executed exhibitions by a [...]
Indian, Lankan classical musicians on one stage
As a part of the Pandit Amaradeva Felicitation programme organised by the Amaradeva Foundation, Sri Lanka’s classical music lovers will have a rare opportunity to witness some versatile Indian and Sri Lankan classical musicians coming together on one platform. The classical resonance concert of the two Indian artistes- Anindo Chatterjee and Sri Purbayan Chatterjee will [...]
Letters
Open letter to the President and the Prime Minister: We the people have been stabbed in the back! I wish I could have written a letter giving you praise and thanks, however I pen these sad sentiments with grief. On January 8, a majority of us were so elated that at least someone who can [...]
Finding WG’s voice
On most evenings, after the sun wearily set over traffic-choked roads in Colombo and the city began to wind down for the day, Dileepa Abeysekara would head home to immerse himself in the company of a motley crew of characters. There was W.G. Karunasena – intrepid sports journalist with an undue fondness for arrack,his faithful [...]
Appreciations
Felicia Kusum Fernando She was blessed with brains, wit, beauty and ability to care Ammi, died on May 15, this year at Durdans Hospital after a brief illness. She was born on August 23, 1939 in Koralawella and married my father Stanley Fernando. This appreciation is to honour her memory and the beautiful meaningful life [...]
A book on the maestro
‘Amaradeva Maha Gandharva Vibudhayano’ (Amaradeva Music Maestro and Sage of Sri Lankan Music) by Dr. Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara will be launched on December 10 at the Panibaratha Theatre of the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Albert Crescent, Colombo 7 at 3 p.m. The 1000-page book, a Surasa publication,is a biography of Pandit Amaradeva and [...]
FGLF programme is out; a few surprises too!
The Fairway Galle Literary Festival announced its programme this week delivering on the promise of a uniquely Sri Lankan feast of art and culture. Though the list of participants was released weeks ago, the festival programme still has the odd surprise, the biggest of which is that Amitav Ghosh, who earlier this year released the [...]
Looking back, at fashion
The grand finale of Sri Lanka’s Up and Coming Fashion Designer 2015 held at Waters Edge last Monday was more than just a competition amongst the top finalists to grab the coveted title. It was a manifestation of fashion trends of decades gone by. The spectrum of distinctive styles, designed by the young fashionistas captured [...]
At Il Ponte it’s authentic Italian dining with new chef
Hilton Colombo’s Il Ponte has a formidable reputation for classic Italian cuisine done well. Last month, the restaurant welcomed new head chef Massimo Zampar and introduced a completely redesigned menu to the restaurant. Chef Massimo grew up in North East Italy, and his region’s cuisine-Mediterranean merged with Austro-Hungarian influences-played a major role in his passion [...]
Set out on a hypnotic journey with Alan Bates
Prepare to be mesmerised as British comedian and hypnotist Alan Bates takes the floor at a charity dinner show at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Colombo on Tuesday, January 12, at 6.30 p.m. The tickets priced at Rs. 10,000 include pre- dinner cocktails and a wine-paired dinner well as his and her door gifts. [...]
Reception on board
With the Pakistani naval ship Shamsheer docking at the Colombo Port, the Mission Commander invited guests through the Pakistani High Commission in Colombo for an evening reception on board.
Get tribal with your resort wear this season
Home-grown resort wear brand Rum Punch launched their first store based collection ‘Active Tribal’ at Dilly & Carlo’s flagship store on Flower Road, Colombo 7. The range debuted at Colombo Fashion Week’s SWIM edition in August 2015. Employing seasonal shades of blue, yellow and purple, Rum Punch designer Rukshika Fernando Seneviratne uses a colour-blocking technique [...]
Nara – In awe of ancient Japan
The ancient city of Nara, in the southwest of Japan’s largest island Honshu, is a must-see for any visitor to Japan. Nara became Japan’s first permanent capital during the 8th century and today has a rich collection of traditional sites, no less than eight of which have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. It was [...]
A vision fast disappearing
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Mustang in Nepal, one of the least known, least visited part of the Himalayas. Getting to Mustang is no easy thing. One must take a light plane to the end of the motorable road north of Pokkara and trek from there. There are no hotels or shops so [...]
A decade of dedicated service
This year Mithuruwela, the Cancer Support Network celebrates ten years of service to those affected by cancer. The organisation was established in 2005 by two breast cancer survivors, Professor Ryhana Raheem, Emeritus Professor, Open University of Sri Lanka and Attorney-at –Law Mala Thalayasingam. Its founder members included Attorney-at-Law Suhenthiran Thalayasingam, the late Sirancee Gunawardene, former [...]
Holiday magic at Odel
The magic of Christmas and the festive season made an early appearance at Sri Lanka’s favourite department store with ODEL’s annual Yuletide makeover transforming the Alexandra Place mansion in characteristically glamorous fashion. ‘Do you believe in Magic?’ – a question guaranteed to spark anticipation in young and old alike – is the theme for this [...]
Senaka Bibile Oration
The Prof. Senaka Bibile Oration was delivered by National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) member and Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama on November 27 amidst a large and distinguished gathering at the BMICH.
Award for Gayathri
It was a rare first for Sri Lankan women in the field of music when Gayathri Khemadasa picked up the award for Best Original Score at the 2015 TV Derana Film Awards on November 13. In doing so, she became the first woman to win an award for scoring the music for a Sri Lankan [...]
Rizny Ismail -the banker
Rizny Ismail started his banking course over 20 years ago at Standard Chartered in the fields of retail banking, corporate banking and correspondent banking, looking for a challenging career to expand his future. As product manager credit cards and personal loans he developed a wide range of experience. He was a member of the core [...]
An evening of Yuletide favourites with “Friends In – Harmony”
“Friends In – Harmony” will present an evening of Carols, Yuletide favourites and a Sing along on December 11 (Friday) at the Russian Cultural Centre, from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Ample parking is available at Torrington Avenue. For tickets priced at Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000, please Contact Barbara 0777587781 / Minal 0777797144 or Indrani [...]
Helping children deal with diabetes
An urgent need, a programme to make children under-16 with diabetes and their parents aware on how to control this disease will be held on December 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Viharamaha Devi Park, Colombo. Organised by the Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and the [...]
British Scholars’ Association annual Christmas party
The British Scholars’ Association of Sri Lanka will hold its annual Christmas party on December 18 at 7.30 p.m. at the Colombo City Hotel, 33, Canal Row, Colombo Fort. Membership of the association is open to those who have followed study/training courses in universities/higher education institutes in Britain for not less than one academic year [...]
11-month journey for maiden art exhibition
Kekuli Unamboowe Abeyratne launched her maiden exhibition, titled ‘A Tumultous Journey to a Tranquil State of Mind’, on December 2 at the Lionel Wendt. The exhibition was held on December 2 and 3. The 68 paintings exhiibited were mostly abstract art and were all competed in the span of 11 months.
Frosty Fab Foods holds tree lighting
Popular food chain Fab Foods held their second annual Christmas tree lighting on December 1 at their Castle Street outlet in Colombo 8. The event was based on the theme of the popular Christmas carol ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and all decorations matched the theme. The aim of the event was to celebrate the start of [...]