Mother love
Heavy with child, they stumble up a small hill with hopes held high and wishes for a safe delivery. It is not only expectant mothers, in different stages of pregnancy, some showing tell-tale signs of how close to delivery they are through swollen ankles, who flock to the Church of the Holy Mother of Expectation [...]
Letters
There’s little justice and fair play for the common man It seems the laws in Sri Lanka are not for the common man or the ordinary citizen. Judging by the recent occurrences in this sector, the high and mighty, the rich and those who are very well connected have a good chance of escaping punishment, [...]
Appreciations
Indranee Hapugalle She imparted lessons far beyond the ivory keys of the piano In my childhood I had the good fortune to come across some people who added so much colour to my life that without them my life might have turned out to be very different. One such person was Indranee Hapugalle under whose [...]
Caring and sharing online
When you are constantly barraged by poverty on all sides, which is often the case in Sri Lanka, it is easy to develop a thick skin. We often find ourselves reluctant to help because you just can’t be sure if you are being swindled, or if your charity will actually help in the right way. [...]
Silent Night; resounding since 1818
Consider the catastrophe. A performance is expected, everything is set, anticipation runs high and then your organ breaks down on Christmas Eve. One might consider an oil-change, even a hefty kick! But all is to no avail and there are worshippers waiting to give praise. What is to be done? Most church members would fall [...]
Let us follow in Mary’s footsteps and bring hope to the hopeless
We thank God for giving us another opportunity to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. In Sri Lanka we are living in the post-war experience, where people are waiting for hope. The Tamil community in particular is waiting for economic, political and social freedom.It is against this background that I would like to focus [...]
Whose birthday is it anyway?
Two thousand years ago, God the Father sent a Gift of Love to this world. This precious gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. If ever there was an opportunity for God to enact His plan with a majestic flourish, it was at Jesus’ birth. But God did not presume upon [...]
Unto us the Saviour is born
‘Christians, awake, salute the happy morn. Whereon the Saviour of the world was born. Rise to adore the mystery of love, Which hosts of angels chanted from above With them the joyful tidings first began Of God incarnate and the Virgin’s Son’ Over 2,000 years ago, there lived in the Judean hills not far away [...]
Sharing the spirit of Christmas in Kolonnawa
We are reminded of the Christmas message of humility and hope as we walk into St. Joseph’s College, Kolonnawa, one bright morning. The entire school consisting of some 430 students is gathered around a makeshift stage that has amazingly been spared from bad weather overnight next to a quaint manger. The excitement in the air [...]
Beneath the pretty wrappings lies the heart of Christmas
If ever there are moments to be savoured, Christmas has them. Why indeed do we bustle so frantically at Christmas time? What truly does Christmas mean? For most of us it has become not only carols, but also the pressing crowds in the shops, the snarl of traffic. If we pause for a moment, we can [...]
Hip hop artiste cum poet and a leading stage personality
Omar Musa Omar Musa knows where to find his muse. He once told an interviewer: ‘I’m not interested in art that doesn’t really deal with life, and death, and madness. But I always try to find redemption and light within that, somehow.” A Malaysian-Australian rapper, poet and author from Queanbeyan, Musa is a former winner [...]
The important role of Buddhist councils to preserve the Noble Doctrine
Unduwap which falls this week, is the third most important Poya next to Vesak and Poson as it signifies the arrival in Sri Lanka of Sanghamitta Theri who came carrying with her the Sacred Bo Sapling. The Bo Sapling represents the Buddha as it was under its Mother Tree in Gaya that the Buddha attained [...]
The ordination of Buddhist Nuns during the time of Buddha
Many stories of the Buddha’s life and even of Prince Siddhartha Gautama (624-544 BC) are centred on women – poignant and sad, yet in most, triumphant in the end. His mother, Queen Mahamaya, died a week after his birth. This had to be; previously ordained by her karma, it is said. Caring for him was [...]
Look smart and stylish this season
For the fashion conscious man who is becoming increasingly mindful of being well-groomed, smart and stylish, the recently unveiled Concepts 2016 Collection by Fouzul Hameed would no doubt be something to fall in love with. Concept 2016, the show conceptualised by the man behind the Hameedia Group- Fouzul Hameed, unfolded the trends and designs for [...]
16 and above for the big and trendy
Re-modelling their Flower Road shop, Cotton Collection introduced a new collection this week. Unveiling Cotton Collection Plus, intended for those in need of “sizes 16 and above” this store is the brand’s inclusive take on fashion according to Managing Director Niloufer Anverally. In an effort to promote positive body image across a wider spectrum of [...]
A vision of loveliness and a brilliant performance
Having literally stumbled upon the wonder of Kishani Jayasinghe when she sang for Visakha over 18 months ago, I was leaving nothing to chance this time around. I moved my holiday to Sri Lanka one week earlier, just to ensure that I could attend Kishani sings with Friends on December 3, at the Lionel Wendt [...]
A chance to dine and mingle with Marco Pierre White
Celebrity chef, Marco Pierre White, of the three Michelin stars, known to local fans as a judge on MasterChef Australia and Hell’s Kitchen, will be in Sri Lanka courtesy of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, flown down by the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, from January 18 to 31, 2016. As part of his visit to the [...]
Dreaming of seasonal goodies?
You’ll have to forgive us – we’re cheating a bit on this week’s Eat Street. Usually, we explore pockets of cafes and restaurants within a selected area. This week to make your food adventures easier during the festive season, we’ve combed through Colombo to give you a glimpse of the selection of seasonal goodies the [...]
‘We’re still the loudest house in the neighbourhood’
It was Frank Sinatra’s velvety strains that first drew him in. Ricky Bahar’s own vocal strength spans across a variety of genres although, admittedly, slants towards the classics he grew up with. Most of these tunes came from his father, singing sensation Ishan Bahar’s playlists. “Ours was the loudest house in the neighbourhood,” he recalls, [...]
North-South exchange: Foundation of Goodness helping hand with schoolbooks
The Foundation of Goodness hosted Northern Province Education Minister, Thambyrajah Gurukularajah at the Foundation of Goodness MCC Centre of Excellence in Seenigama on Saturday, December 12. Mr. Gurukularajah participated in a special North/ South exchange of school supplies packs event as part of the FoG Essential School Supplies Programme for the 2016 school year. He [...]
Events
Christmas and New Year services at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour The Christmas and New Year Services at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 are as follows: December 24- Christmas Eve: Holy Eucharist at 11.15 p.m. (English) December 25- Christmas Day: Holy Eucharist at 7 a.m. (Sinhala) Holy [...]
AOD student wins Lankan Unity Buddy Bear
Academy of Design (AOD) student Katrina Lappen won the Sri Lankan ‘United Buddy Bears’ design competition from among entries received from Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The Buddy Bear concept is unique to Berlin and is a life-size bear sculpture found across its streets. Miss Lappen as the winner from Sri Lanka was then commissioned [...]
Harpo’s spreads the message of sharing
More than 90 children between 8-20 years, along with their teachers were hosted to a festive party organised by Harpo’s restaurants team at the Community Concern Center. The education programme at the centre supported by the Harpo’s Group is twofold:offering these children the opportunity to enhance their studies with extra tuition or to join the [...]
Winner of photography awards
Mahinda Jeevananda took home two international awards, the FIAP Ribbon and the PSA Ribbon for the Open Colour category as well as two local awards, the prestigious L.E. Samararatne Challenge Trophy -Best Portrait Local and the B.P. Weerawardena Challenge Trophy - Best Member Colour at the 60th annual International Competition and exhibition of photography 2015, organized by the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) held in [...]
See the New Year in
Pick your venue at Kingsbury Whether you plan on just enjoying the last, yet best meal for the old year or dancing the night away until the dawn of the New Year, Kingsbury has something for everyone, a press release from the hotel states. “Overlooking the fabulous Indian Ocean, is our Harbour Court with our [...]
Former JCI president at Jaycees 100th celebrations
The Jaycees founded in 1915 in the US celebrated their 100th anniversary at their World Congress held in Kanazawa City, Japan with over 8000 delegates from over 120 countries. The 1989 JCI World President Isfahani Sameen from Sri Lanka attended the centenary congress. This year’s World Congress in Kanazawa was the 32nd World Congress that [...]
Prof. Edirisinghe appointed Chairman Official Languages Commission
Prof. Daya Edirisinghe has been appointed Chairman, Official Languages Commission. Prof. Edirisinghe studied at Vidyodaya University, the Foreign Languages Research Center of Seoul National University, Dongguk University in Seoul and received his D. Litt from the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo. Prof. Edirisinghe has written 25 books and published 60 research articles in [...]
Nurse presents book to President Sirisena
The book ‘Deshaye suwa maha gedara ekasiya panas vasarak’ by Nursing Officer Chamari Shayama Nilanthika Withanage of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) to mark the 150th anniversary of the NHSL was presented to President Maithripala Sirisena recently. Looking on is NHSL Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
Lecture by Prof. C.K. Raju
Prof. C. K. Raju of the Centre for Studies in Civilization in New Delhi recently delivered a public lecture at the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka on “Indic contributions to global mathematics”. Also in the picture is Dr. Hema Goonatilake, President of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka.