‘I never wanted to become an actress’
Fifty years ago, a young Sri Lankan schoolgirl came across a small advertisement calling for actresses. Swarna Mallawarachchi didn’t own more than three or four photographs of herself. She was still in school and the thought of becoming an actress had never crossed her mind – her aspirations so far were to go to university [...]
Lessons from Londolozi
Blue-eyed and with golden-brown hair, Donovan Joseph Heyneke, should more aptly be ‘sighted’ on the pages of a Hollywood magazine. But attired in his khakis, this 25-year-old’s territory is the wilds of South Africa where he is ‘spotted’ in open vehicles engaging in a job for which he has an obsession. A game ranger and [...]
Istanbul – Truly a Turkish delight
It is a city that straddles two continents, a city so beautiful that Napoleon Bonaparte once observed that if the world were a single country, this city without doubt would be its capital. And Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, described it as “ the meeting point of two worlds, the ornament of [...]
When holidaying here was a genteel affair
It is 50 years ago this month that the Ceylon Tourist Board was established marking the official commencement of planned tourism development and regulation in Sri Lanka. The Board – now known as Sri Lanka Tourism – was the successor to the Government Tourist Bureau that had offices in Colombo, London and Bombay. Tourists, however, [...]
Animals are fast becoming non-human persons
A long, long time ago, animals were considered chattel – like chairs, tables, wheel barrows or any item of movable property. Even today such thinking exists and we can add movables like computers and cell phones to that list. Humans are persons and chattel is property. With the evolving global animal rights movement these perceptions [...]
You may not like this, but cockroaches are a lot like us!
Some swear that cockroaches attack people. It’s true that they sometimes rush towards us. Are they in fight mode or in flight? Realistically, they probably see your shadow, a grey mass on the floor, and run towards it to hide. Cockroaches like dark places, even if it isn’t smart for a vulnerable bug to lunge [...]
Krasna Chamber Ensemble concert in memorable performance
Leading violinist Ananda Dabare’s chamber orchestra comprising young musicians gave audiences a performance to remember at the Lionel Wendt on June one. Whether it was Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G major (Bach , Divertimento in D major (K.136) (Mozart) or Serenade for String Orchestra op.48 in C major (Tchaikovsky), Dabare no stranger to the local [...]
Metho choir promises an evening of music that will resonate with all
“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life-bringing peace, abolishing strife.” – Khalil Gibran Internationally acclaimed Methodist College Choir is ready to beguile and entertain the masses once again. This time, their biennial concert “Resonance” will be held on June 10 and 11 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7.30 [...]
A psycho-therapy for a nation still coming to grips with what transpired between 1971- 2009
“The war was over. Thirty years of a bitterly fought war had come to an end. The show of strength between Mara and Kali had ended with victory to both. Mara had triumphed but Kali was not undone. The victor and the vanquished were in reality one and the same. The names whatever be the [...]
Decked in ‘43 group
Imagine wearing the very distinct lines of George Keyt’s most famous work around your neck, on your ears and on your wrist. Sounds strange? That’s what keeps Mihiri Devendra on her toes. The designer has collaborated with the Sapumal Foundation for an exhibition of “wearable art” entitled Collection 43; jewellery that uses iconic artwork by [...]
African flair
Stately Africa costumes were seen in the Ramada hotel last week when Africa Day was celebrated by countries with national flags also proudly displayed in the ballroom.
Veteran designer launches diploma in modelling
Veteran designer/ Choreographer Senaka De Silva in collaboration with the International Academy of Beauticians ( IAB ) has launched a diploma in modelling with the hope of building and developing the fashion industry as a whole. The launch that was held on May 26 at the IAB auditorium with three of Senaka’s former students, beauty [...]
Where fashions bloomed
Making a fashion statement that hasn’t been made in Sri Lanka before. This is what internationally acclaimed floral designer and artist from Singapore Harijanto Setiawan did when he combined the world of fashion and flowers to present his collection of headgear, wristbands, bouquets and dresses at an event titled Silver Dazzle on May 28. Silver [...]
The story of timeless lace
Mod’ ART International Sri Lanka in collaboration with Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (LIFT) will present an exhibition, ‘French lace – the story unfolds’ which will take visitors on a journey of the multiple uses of French lace, both in couture and design. A part of the annual ‘French Spring Festival 2016’ presented by the [...]
When I grow up, I want to be…..
Last evening I came across an interesting short video…it started with a couple of teachers in front of a classroom of pre-school children, telling them that they were going to start the day drawing pictures of three professionals. The children were asked to draw a fire fighter, a surgeon and finally a fighter pilot. There [...]
Can we get better results for our stroke patients?
With current technology allowing the economically advanced nations to get good results on patients with strokes, why are we lagging behind? I am informed that the clot buster drug re-combitant Plasminogen Activator, is now readily available at the Emergency care Units of Teaching Hospitals and is being administered to patients who after emergency CT scans [...]
Nations through the eyes of artists
A unique art exhibition featuring paintings by well-known Sri Lankan artist, Royden O Gibbs and photographs by young Indian Anavi Singh was on at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from May 28 – 30. The exhibition titled ‘Monumental Connect and Many Other Shades’, organised by Aide-et-Action, featured the works of Royden Gibbs, executed during his [...]
Sri Lankan delegation at Taiwan’s Presidential Inauguration Ceremony
The 14th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony of Republic of China (Taiwan) was held on May 20. A three-member delegation from Sri Lanka was invited to this Ceremony by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROC (Taiwan). It comprised Lasantha Goonewardena (Chairman of Lankaputhra Development Bank and Past District Governor of International Association of Lions Clubs), Sathira [...]
102nd AGM: Sri Lanka Scout Association Colombo District Branch
The Sri Lanka Scout Association, Colombo District Branch held their 102nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently in the College Hall of Royal College, Colombo 07. The Key Note Speaker at the occasion was Major General Milinda Peiris, Chief-of-Staff, Sri Lanka Army. The Executive Committee of the Sri Lanka Scout Association Colombo District Branch comprises the [...]
A day-long workshop on Reiki
Reiki is a healing technique that is fast gaining popularity worldwide. In Sri Lanka too, Reiki practitioners, who use the technique that channels energy into the patient by means of touch to activate the body’s natural healing processes, are gaining popularity. Wijayasena Gangodage, a trained practitioner of Reiki is keen to promote the process of [...]
Public event on ‘Illegal Trade in Wildlife’ to mark World Environment Day
The Institute of Environmental Professionals of Sri Lanka (IEPSL), together with Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) and the Base for Enthusiasts of Environmental Science and Zoology (BEEZ), a student body with a common interest in Zoology and Environmental Sciences based at the University of Colombo, will conduct an expert session on ‘Illegal Trade in Wildlife’ the [...]
Positive Living with PD monthly meeting on June 9
Positive Living with PD is a secular, non-profit support group, that hopes to break through the stigma that surrounds Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and uplift the quality of life for all people living with PD, their care-givers and their families. The group’s next meeting will be on June 9, at the Sacred Heart Church Hall, Rajagiriya, [...]
Red Lotus Flood Relief Scholarship Fund
The Red Lotus Humanitarian Assistance Organisation, which is incorporated by an Act of Parliament Act No. 8-2011, has initiated a scholarship programme for schoolchildren affected by the floods in Narahenpita, Borella. A needs assessment has been done, and the cost of one schoolchild for one month is Rs.1,500 while for a period of one year [...]
Nominations period extended for Professional and Career Women Awards 2016
Women in Management (WIM) and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, the organisers of the 6thProfessional and Career Women Awards, 2016, have extended the last date to receive nominations for the awards. This is being done to attract additional nominations, particularly from the regional districts of Sri Lanka. The launch events for the [...]
Letters
Treachery: Violation of faith or betrayal of trust? Truth always hurts but the truth always sets a guilty conscience free. The present regime of the people was brought into power by the people for the benefit of the people. The election pledges were many and for the sake of good governance major political parties supported [...]
Appreciations
Asoka Devendra Outstanding teacher, propagator of the Dhamma and social worker Well-known as a teacher, disseminator of the Dhamma and social worker, Asoka Devendra, passed away on January 15 this year to continue his Samsaric journey, the cycle of births and deaths. Born on May 17, 1925 in Asgiriya, Kandy, he died at the ripe [...]