Visiting the Veddahs, 1899
“The most impressive thing about them was their unhuman apathy and utter lack of interest, a peculiarity of the lowest types of man” – Hiller & Furness, Notes of a Trip to the Veddahs of Ceylon (1902). Between the early research on the Veddahs by the Swiss naturalists Fritz Sarasin and his second cousin Paul [...]
Little guardians of their very own hill
As rain and sunshine played hide-and-seek last Sunday and mild to heavy showers won the day, whooping with joy, knots of schoolchildren clambered up Diyakotha Kanda in the Kalutara district on the border of the Sinharaja Rainforest, a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. This is their very own kanda (hill) and on World Environment [...]
Setting out to help young people achieve their goals
“If you want to have a successful outcome you have to have a successful social environment,” said internationally renowned award- winning scientist and human performance expert, Dr. Dragos Bratasanu, at a recent forum in Colombo. His topic was‘The Future of Leadership: Exponential thinking.’ Thirty two-year-old Dr. Bratasanu, was the keynote speaker for the CXO forum [...]
Chrissie’s cherished memories
Surrounded by memories and memorabilia, she awaits her 95th birthday tomorrow (June 13). Wisps of memories come floating by as Christobel Weerasinghe turns back the treasured pages of time while also showing off this and that sepia-toned photograph lining the walls of her home down Barnes Place in Colombo 7. “I am not having a [...]
Watch out, the mossies are back!
May to July is mosquito season. The long dry spell, uncomfortable though it was, gave us some respite from the vicious little bloodsuckers. Now the conditions are ripe for their regeneration and they are breeding in droves, making their presence known in the house day and night. Sri Lanka is home to 140 mosquito species [...]
A book that allows the reader to have faith in humanity
In the capital city of Polonaruwa lives Asanka, poet of the king. His humble village background did nothing to prepare him for a life of luxury and comfort in the state’s capital. However, at the request of Queen Dayani he and his young wife moved to the great city initially built by King Parakramabahu the [...]
Are you a Brexter and do you need to apologise for it?
There’s a word sweeping the world of new mums: “Brexting”. It is discussed often, with a multitude of varying opinions firing up the internet, even though the actual act of ‘Brexting’ is not really all that new. Whilst some may ponder what this really means and the effect it has on the future generation, the [...]
Sri Lanka bags several awards at SAARC film festival
Sri Lanka won several awards, including the best actress award that went to Kaushalya Fernando, at the 6th SAARC film festival award ceremony held here on June 6, at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall. The ceremony was attended by the guest of honour, D.S. Swarnapala Secretary of the Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs Ministry, [...]
Pathini: Too much Bollywood a spoiler
The film Pathini directed by acknowledged film expert Sunil Ariyaratne, now screening in cinemas in several towns, was to me a hybrid and as such fell between stools. Frankly I was disappointed with it. Why do I use the word ‘hybrid’ in relation to the film? To me, a mere film-goer who however sees films [...]
Everyday conversations that transcend time
It was a quiet afternoon last Thursday down Park Street. There were clouds quietly looming overhead as I sat across the table from the director of ‘Lungs,’ Sashane Perera. ‘Lungs’ opens on June 23 at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre. “The name has nothing to do with Lungs and Duncan Macmillan has never disclosed why [...]
Lit and fashion
It was a gathering of the literary world when the much awaited Gratiaen Prize 2015 award ceremony was held at the BMICH on May 14. Sponsored this year by Sarasavi Publishers, guests enjoyed a convival evening with Thiyagaraja Arasanyagam being announced the winner.
Cotton Collection: Setting trends for 25 years
Cotton Collection celebrated 25 years on June 1, with a news conference at the company’s flagship store on Dharmapala Mawatha. Managing Director Niloufer Esufally Anverally briefly charted her journey from a fashion buyer to heading one of Sri Lanka’s largest fashion retailers, thanking her team and peers for their support. Cotton Collection was established in [...]
Ajai plunges into tested waters with Swim Week
For Ajai Vir Singh, fashion remains the meeting point between creativity and a knack for spotting untapped opportunities-two things he has honed over the space of 13 years as founder and president of Colombo Fashion Week (CFW). In 2012 he launched CFW Resort; this year he will launch Asia’s first ever fashion week dedicated to [...]
‘Changing Lives’: Showcasing community upliftment through photography and film
A picture is worth a thousand words. This saying holds true in many situations because a single image can convey complex ideas in a manner that a description sometimes cannot. Building up on this concept, the European Union Support to District Development Programme organised a photography and film exhibition titled ‘Changing Lives’ to showcase the [...]
A tribute to Linda
The Nelung Arts Centre will hold a performance on June 21 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7 p.m. Titled, ‘A Tribute to Linda’, the show will commemorate the 20th death anniversary of Linda, the mother Niloufer Peiris – founder, Nelung Arts Centre. The performance will present music and dance items. The Royal College Primary [...]
Seminar on “India-Sri Lanka Relations in the 21st Century”
The Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) will hold a seminar on “India-Sri Lanka Relations in the 21st Century” at the Auditorium on Thursday June 16 from 8:45 a.m. – 1 pm. Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha, will make the opening remarks. The Speakers include Dr. Nirmala Chandrahasan, Dr. Steeve Creech, Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya, [...]
WNPS lecture: Human-crocodile conflict in Sri Lanka
The Human-crocodile conflict in Sri Lanka is the title of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society monthly lecture. The presentation will focus mainly on the current situation of the conflict in Sri Lanka with a descriptive introduction to the islands two species of crocodiles and their identification. The lecture will be delivered by Dinal J [...]
Sri Lankan receives Queen’s Birthday Honours in New Zealand
Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in New Zealand, Aruna Abeygoonesekera, has just been awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), an order of chivalry in New Zealand’s honours system established in 1996 by Queen Elizabeth II. The award was announced as part of the annual Queen’s Birthday honours. Mr. Abeygoonesekera received his [...]
Inaugural Cinnamon Travel Blogger awards
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in partnership with the national carrier SriLankan Airlines concluded their 2nd Cinnamon Travel Bloggers Conference-Cinnamon TBCasia on June 7 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The inaugural Cinnamon Travel Blogger awards followed the event. Over 700 submissions were shortlisted to 30 finalists for the 10 categories being awarded. The Judging panel comprised Jens [...]
Letters
Unfulfilled pledges and questionable yahapalana moves Mr. President, you were elected as President on a platform of ‘Yahapalanaya’ administration. But alas! Your promises remain largely unfulfilled. You and the Prime Minister promised to instal good governance and bring to justice those who committed mass-scale corruption. But the people are waiting anxiously for the fulfilment of [...]
Appreciations
Godwin Perera A tree that provided shelter to many On May 24, 2015 when Godwin Perera passed away, Rev. Father Chriso said how lucky he was to have breathed his last on Pentecost Sunday. Yes, amidst prayers and hymns that he liked best during the month of May Novenas and the recitation of the Rosary, [...]