My experience of Independence
Every performing artist dreams of that one event. One opportunity that changes the course of his or her destiny. That one unforgettable and special song/dance/painting/sculpture/role or oration that changes life as they know it and in some cases like this, even defines them. As an opera singer, I have worked tirelessly for over a dozen [...]
Get to Pitipane today to pick up the plastic
What would the world be like without plastic? Although our day-to- day lives would be affected badly if plastic suddenly ceased to exist, the planet would definitely benefit if this were to happen. 269,000 tons of plastic float on the surface of water bodies globally, while in Sri Lanka, plastic litters waterways and oceans and [...]
‘Often it’s only me and the Morning Star’
If you’ve ever sat at your desk, gazed out of the window and yearned to take the road less travelled, Cecil Perera is a man after your own heart. After some 31 years in banking, when retirement came at the age of 60, Perera found his true calling. At this point, he didn’t really know [...]
A haven on Koggala Lake
Arriving at Tri Lanka it was easy to see why there has been so much hype surrounding the opening of this new luxury eco resort. Set on Koggala Lake, arguably the most peaceful and stunning setting in the south of Sri Lanka, this place certainly has the “wow” factor. Located just three km off the [...]
A good ole dose of nostalgia
It’s no revelation that Colombo’s theatre-goers love a good musical. In two weeks time, a mixed bag of new young faces alongside veteran musical theatre personalities hope to shake up local audiences with a very different style of musical. Geared to turn heads in more than one way is “Divorce Me Darling” a joint production [...]
Born Free: Soul Sounds sings for our voiceless friends
All-female ensemble Soul Sounds will stage their next concert “Born Free” on March 17 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. Inspired by the famous movie, the concert is in aid of the Animal Protection Trust, a non-profit making concern that endeavours to foster humane treatment of all animals in Sri Lanka. Soul Sounds as a choir [...]
EWC invites entries for competition and Channels
The English Writers Cooperative of Sri Lanka (EWC) invites entries for the 2016 short story, plays and poetry competition. Short stories and plays should be 1500 words and poetry 30 lines. Entries should be emailed to sippikat@gmail.com. Neatly typed copies of same should also be sent by registered post to Dr. Premini Amerasinghe 17/1, Swarna [...]
‘Our differences are all cultural not biological’
The Sydney Kolam Maduwa, staged The Lost Culavamsa or the Un importance of being earnest about Aryan and Dravidian (a derivation from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of being Earnest) at the Lighthouse Theatre, Macquarie Park, Sydney, Australia on February 20. The play was written and co-directed by the irrepressible Ernest Macintyre with fellow co-director Adam [...]
Black and white in focus at photography exhibit
Mahesh Ganganath Namalgamuwa captures some exotic shots of landscapes or portraits of a cross section of society in a manner incredibly appealing to the viewer. A photographer who is trying to create a strong identity for himself by highlighting more natural elements in the images he captures, Mahesh will hold his first solo exhibition- ‘The Inspiration [...]
Letters
People have lost lives because of this road closure in Kandy After reading the letter in the Sunday Times of February 21, regarding the opening of the A 26 road block opposite the Kandy Dalada Maligawa, I wondered whether there are any other people in Kandy who share the same views as the writer. The [...]
Promotion for retired Army officer
Brigadier Harsha Gunaratne VSV who was prompted to the rank of Major General on the grounds of distinguished service rendered to the Sri Lanka Army was among a select group of retired army officers who were selected for promotions recently. Major General Gunaratne retired from the Army in 1985 after a distinguished career in active service. [...]
Appreciations
DR. DONOVAN MARK AMERASINGHE A one of a kind doctor who went about doing good How soon the days have gone by. On March 1, it was one year since you bade goodbye to all of us who loved you in life. But though you are gone from our sight and from our lives, still [...]
Mini-hospital at Royal College grounds
Royal College grounds turned into a mini-hospital, as the Royal College Doctors’ Association (RCDA) paid obeisance to teachers in a different form by giving of their time and skills at the Annual Medical Screening Programme 2016 held on February 21. Organised in collaboration with the Royal College Past Teachers’ Association, around 180 doctors including specialists [...]
NSASL National Stroke Walk actively promotes stroke care
The ‘National Stroke Walk’ to mark National Stroke Day was held in Negombo on February 27 at 7 a.m. by the National Stroke Association of Sri Lanka (NSASL) with a large crowd participating. The walk was led by State Minister for City Planning and Water Supply Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Health Services Director-General Dr. Palitha Mahipala [...]
Saptha Rangi School of Dance marks 25th anniversary
The Saptha Rangi School of Dance presents its first ‘Pahimpath Mangalaya’ to mark its 25th anniversary on March 10 at 6 a.m. at Abeya Karunaratne Mudalindaramaya Temple in Welipitiya, Panadura. Thirty-one students will take part in the event. They have been trained by Directress Visharada Ms. Radeesha Samangi Bodiyabadu, the senior dancing teacher at Musaeus [...]
‘Japanese Week’ : Celebrating 60 years of friendship
The Lanka Japan Friendship Society announced the launch of ‘Japanese Week’ – a week of celebrations to be held from March 11- 19. This week of celebrations will be held in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Lanka Japan Friendship Society. Speaking at a press conference last week, President of the Lanka Japan Friendship [...]
International Award for Nishani Ranaweera at WWLCA 2016
Nishani Jayasinghe Ranaweera, Managing Director of Diligent Group, Sri Lanka and Qatar Trading and Contracting WLL, Qatar brought pride to her motherland when she was conferred the “World Women Leadership Achievement Award’ at the World Women’s Leadership Congress (WWLCA 2016) held at Taj, Lands-end Hotel on February 17 in Mumbai, India. Mrs. Ranaweera holds an [...]
Please help baby Diyon
Baby Diyon Avinsa Silva, who is one-and-a-half years old, needs urgent open-heart surgery as he is suffering from the condition ‘Tetraology of Fallots’. As the operation will cost around Rs. 750,000, his parents who live in Ragama are desperately seeking donations from the public to get it done as quickly as possible at a private [...]
Nippon Paints launch region specific palette
Nippon Paints launched nine new colours, for 2016-2017 – Founder Blue, Volcanic Black, Being Peach, Fast Car, Green Tuft, Tavern Buff, Lush, Blue Lullaby and Grey Knight as their fashionable in-scene additions to their range. Speaking at the launch to a gathering of industry professionals, Assistant General Manager Nippon Paints Lanka, Nimantha Abeysinghe said it [...]
Helping people lead a happy healthy life
Twenty years can fly when you are involved in work you love – that’s how Tharanganie Weerasena looks at her 20 years as a pharmacist, a career that when it started with Colpetty Pharmacy, made Tharanganie the youngest person to own a pharmacy in Sri Lanka. Colpetty Pharmacy started on March 11, 1996 at 374, [...]
Lions Honour Past District Governors
The President and members of all nine Lions Clubs in Region 1 of District 306A2 met collectively to honour Past District Governors of the Region last week. Among the Past District Governors so felicitated were: Lion Fouzul Khalid, Lion Neil Seneviratne, Lion Ashroff Razak, Lion Paddy Withana, Lion Nimal Aluthge and Lion Duminda Munasinghe, This [...]
A fitting finale
It had been a hectic week of fashion, food and more fashion.The much awaited final day of HSBC CFW Spring-Summer 2017 hit the ramps on Friday, February 26. Starting the final evening’s show was a guest designer from the runways of Milan, the sought after Gaetano Navarra. Presenting his glitzy anniversary collection, just after its [...]
Fashion through Rid’s lens
Spectacular fashion shows are just the tip of the CFW iceberg. Ultimately intending to build a fashion-friendly ecosystem, photography workshops for aspiring photographers have been a part of the programme for a few years and this time around, celebrity photographer Rid Burman was invited to impart his expertise. Based in India, Elle, Vogue, Filmfare, Sony, [...]
The Body Shop is here!
Globally popular personal-care brand, The Body Shop officially arrived in Sri Lanka last week. The days when the eco-friendly, vegetarian beauty products survived long flights in luggage before reaching local users came to an end last Monday as their newest outlet was launched at The Fairline Building (No.425), Galle Road, Colombo 3. Stocked with a [...]
CFW: Styles off the ramp
Providing plenty of glamour off the catwalk of the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week, local fashionistas drew the eye in their designer creations.
Behold the designer brides
Kingsbury Hotel’s Balmoral Ballroom was turned into a gala bridal fiesta recently when the leading names and some emerging talent in the bridal industry got together to showcase their wedding collections at the recent Designer Wedding Show 2016 held in late February. An event much anticipated by the young couples planning to tie the knot, [...]
Tour Colombo in a tuk-tuk
If you’re Sri Lankan, you’ve been in a three-wheeler; and if you haven’t been in a three-wheeler then what are you waiting for? The three-wheeler (or tuk tuk as it’s more fondly and viscerally known) captures everything that’s quirky about the Sri Lankan way of life. So what better way to see the country’s commercial [...]
Ladies VIP Night celebrates women
Join the ladies and enjoy an evening of fun as Ladies VIP Night partners with Clique Gastro Bar & Club to celebrate women and International Women’s Week. Guests will engage in fun activities like parading their fingers down a mini red carpet “Mani Cam”, especially designed for you to show off your creative nail art. [...]