D.R. rises to the occasion
Keble’s biography also touches on D.R. Wijewardene’s aversion to speaking in public and two occasions when he had no choice but to do so. Here are he speeches. It is difficult to decide whether we in Ceylon fail to preserve of our distinguished men’s letters or whether the white ants eat them all at the back [...]
He climbed every mountain for a university in the hills
Doyen of the Press in Sri Lanka and a pivotal figure in the movement to obtain Independence, D.R. Wijewardene whose 130th birth anniversary is commemorated on February 23, was one of the behind-the-scenes architects in the setting up of the country’s new university in Peradeniya. In this unpublished biography ‘Life of Richard Wijewardene’, educationist W.T. [...]
A Poya connected with the Buddha Sasana
Navam Pura Pasalosvaka Poya which falls tomorrow, is signified as the day the first ever Sangha Sangayanaya or the Congregation of the Sangha took place for the formation of a code of ethics for the Sangha. It was held on the first Navam Poya Day following the Enlightenment of the Gautama Siddhartha. Although it was [...]
‘It is every science student’s dream to be a small part of something big’
The scientific community and the world at large was taken by storm last week when an international team of scientists managed to detect gravitational waves, finally confirming renowned physicist Albert Einstein’s century-old theory of General Relativity and opening up a brand new vista of the cosmos. This team, known as the the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave [...]
Appreciations
HEMA JAYASINGHE Facing challenges confidently, standing her ground firmly Mrs. Hema Jayasinghe, a much loved and respected principal of Visakha Vidyalaya passed away on February 25, 2015 aged 87 years. She was very well preserved physically and mentally and remained active, leading a full life until that fateful day she visited her elder sister and [...]
A lifelong journey of culinary delights
Lilanie Kadirgamar Geiger set out to compile a book of her mother’s recipes nearly two decades ago and along the way, not only did she discover the key to many of Amma’s culinary delights, it also took Lilanie on a journey filled with memories of good food and good times. The end result is “Amma’s [...]
National Trust lecture: Two millenniums of coins in Sri Lanka
Brigadier B. Munasinghe will deliver the 81st Monthly Lecture of the National Trust – Sri Lanka on ‘Two Millenniums of coins in Sri Lanka’ on Thursday, February 25 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. Coins in our early books are described, to be of [...]
Singer Past Employees’ AGM
The 15th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Past Employees of Singer was held in December at the Sea View Hotel, Colombo 3. The following office-bearers were elected: Patron: Hemaka Amarasuriya President: Bertie Fernando Vice Presidents: Nelson Mendis, Kalyana Dhirasekera Secretary: S. Anton L. Silva Asst. Secretary: Judith Vannitamby Treasurer: A.M.M. Nissar Asst. Treasurer: [...]
Solemn Eucharistic celebration in Latin in all its choral splendour
On Sunday, February 14, 2016 at 6 p.m. sharp, the culmination of all the efforts made by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjit and his band of helpers, were brought to fruition with the Procession of clergy and servers who walked up the aisle to the chancel steps while the choir and congregation sang in Latin “Lauda Sion [...]
‘Brain sport’: Annual Scrabble Tournament kicks off next week
The annual Scrabble Tournament once again kicks off on Saturday, February 27 from 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Alzheimer’s Foundation at 110 Ketawalamulla Lane, Colombo 10. The Foundation is privileged to have world player – Mrs. Shaila Amalean as the facilitator of this event. Scrabble is one of the many games promoted to [...]
Heart patient appeals for help
Fifty-eight-year-old Rohana Gunasekara of Kekirideniya Road, Hewagama Kaduwela is suffering from triple vessel disease of the heart. Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Vajira Senaratne and Resident Cardiologist Dr. Prakash Priyadarshana of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka have recommended immediate cardiac surgery. The patient cannot afford the cost of the surgical consumables necessary for the procedure and [...]
Please help patient with multiple myeloma
W. Chandralatha Gamage (W.G. Chandralatha), 64, from Padukka, is suffering from multiple myeloma. Since her condition is deteriorating fast, Doctors have recommended immediate surgery. The surgery involves insertion of screws into the spine and the Pedicular Screws, Rods and Blockers required for the surgery will cost Rs. 750,000. The post-operative care is expected to cost [...]
Exploring cyber exploitation
The Grassrooted Trust will perform their highly acclaimed series of monologues and skits under the theme – V Day – Valakulen’ ‘Mehathilirindu’(From The Cloud) at the Aesthetic Resort in Colombo 7 on Friday, February 26. V Day –‘Valakulen’ ‘Mehathilirindu’ (From The Cloud) was initially performed in partnership with the Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2016, and [...]
The Island of Persephone reveals her many wonders
Before we visited Sicily, I must confess that we knew little about the place – except for having read Mary Taylor Simeti’s evocative book On Persephone’s Island: A Sicilian Narrative about a year in her life on the island as the foreign-born wife of a Sicilian professor in Palermo. If one looks at a map [...]
Relive Roald Dahl’s Easter holidays
One hundred years after his birth and with the release of Stephen Spielberg’s “BFG” , you can now relive Roald Dahl’s Easter holidays. His quayside family holiday home in Tenby in west Wales is available for rent. The famous Welsh story-teller spent every Easter there from 1920-36. “The Cabin” was part of the Welsh walled seaside [...]
When young and old got in the mood for Jazz
On February 7 the grounds of Galle Face Hotel were transformed into a cool and fun music venue, when Mainstage Events hosted the first ever Colombo Jazz and Blues Festival. Tickets sold out and the amazingly picturesque, ocean-side stage was surrounded by people of all ages enjoying the wonderful variety of performers. Arun Dias Bandaranaike [...]
Men can be trendy too
When HSBC Colombo Fashion Week opens this week, fashion- watchers will see a new focus: Menswear. February 25 is the day to celebrate men’s fashions and President of CFW Ajai Singh’s decision to highlight the long overlooked market is in fact, a move to bring the local fashion front in step with the international scene. [...]
Rukshan never fails to surprise us!
Sunday night, February 7- Bishop’s College Auditorium: For the sixth consecutive year, Sri Lanka’s own multi-talented musician Rukshan Perera was in the mood to celebrate the pivotal bookends of his career, one that started at his mother’s piano stool at the tender age of three, and which seems as if it will go on for [...]
‘Lush-way’ to enhance your beauty
“No matter how beautiful you are, small imperfections in your face might make you lose confidence when you are in front of others,” said Chulakshi Ranatunga, Ms. Sri Lanka 2014. Appointed recently as the brand ambassador of Lush Skin Clinique, she spoke at a news conference of how Lush can help enhance the natural beauty [...]
Fragrance in a pendant
Unilever’s most sought after beauty brand Lux marked yet another high point in their fragrance journey as they unveiled their latest innovation – the ‘LUX Fragrant Gold’- a fragrance infused Gold Pendant. The Lux Fragrant Gold promotion to give away the signature French Rose scented gold pendants took place at Cinnamon Grand Colombo last Tuesday. [...]
Letters
Singing the National Anthem in Tamil Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, that was a monumental step forward in building bridges As a person born in Sri Lanka and residing in Australia there were two things I was quite ashamed of, which I could not justify however much I tried. One was the treatment of the [...]
Welcome to new Arsikland, or is it the same with new faces?
Two years ago, audiences flocked to the Lionel Wendt and the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre to bid adieu to Colombo’s most loved politician. Since 2007, Chaminda Pusswedilla ‘the Friend of People, Son of the Village, Father of Democracy, Brother of Freedom, Cosin of Human Rights and Close Relashen of Meediya Freedom’ and his cohorts [...]
Literary venture to keep alive the heritage of Mount Lavinia Hotel
In 1806, Sir Thomas Maitland, the second Governor of Ceylon laid down plans for a mansion which was to be his home in Sri Lanka for the next five years. Standing on a majestic cliff overlooking the sea, the regal manor would become a monument to romance, mystery and a cultural icon for Sri Lanka’s [...]
Bridal big names at Designer Wedding Show 2016
The ‘Designer Wedding Show 2016’, showcasing some of the well known names synonymous with weddings in Sri Lanka, will be held at the Kingsbury Hotel, Balmoral Ballroom on February 23. Organised by the leading wedding magazine in Sri Lanka, Bride and Groom Wedding Magazine, the show is being held for the seventh consecutive year and [...]
CMSC to present Haydn’s Greatest masterworks
The Chamber Music Society of Colombo, in association with the Goethe Institute and sponsored by Fairway Holdings will present one of Haydn’s greatest masterworks, ‘The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross’ (German: Die sieben Letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze), Op. 51, Hob. III:50-56. The concert goes on the boards at the [...]
Unforgettable climb
It still feels like a dream, but looking back I wonder at the marvel of climbing a 7,359 feet mountain a few weeks ago. It was a test of faith and fitness alike. We had talked about it for months, and during our last visit to Sri Lanka we made it happen in a group [...]