A cry from the wilds of Mannar
Unique Mannar Island! Tread very carefully when leaving a development footprint on this island, for it could do more irreparable and irrevocable harm than good, urge environmentalists. While in some parts of Mannar Island which covers about 195sqkm any development or human intrusion could crush hundreds of bird-eggs scattered on the ground, in other parts [...]
When our world turned grey
I am looking at my calendar, it is June, and I think of my sister Ramani who passed away in tragic circumstances in June 1987. With her 50th birthday on the horizon, I think of her celebrating her life and all her accomplishments if she was still here with us. My thoughts often travel back [...]
Where are the women?
Five years ago, I remember seeing Anoli Perera’s “Dinner for Six” (2008) as part of “Home Spun,” an exhibition held at the Devi Art Foundation in New Delhi. The work resembled a traditional dining room setting, replete with neatly placed crockery, plastic flower arrangements and black-and-white portraits. The viewer could only see the installation, however, [...]
One man’s canvas of conflict
Rasika De Silva explores the relationship of men and women with nature in his latest series of paintings“Nature And Humanity” now on at the Paradise Road Galleries. The Ambalangoda-born artist studied at Kandegoda MahaVidyalaya and went on to Sharadha Kala Nikethanaya in Colombo to complete his Diploma in Fine Arts. A printer by trade, Rasika [...]
An exquisite escape into musical excellence!
A Musical Tribute to Mary Billimoria concert at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on Saturday June 18 provided an extravaganza of delight! It was in support of the noble work undertaken by the Sunera Foundation, and certainly was not the first such event; in fact there have been, every year, the presentation of fine artistic performances [...]
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth celebrated in Colombo
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 90th birthday this year and the British High Commission hosted a reception in her honour at Westminster House in Colombo as part of the official birthday celebration.
Roses bloom amidst Lux fragrance
A wonderful garden atmosphere with the perfume similar to a multitude of roses, a rose wall and white picket fence with green vines trailing over it was the first glimpse of what was in store for all those who attended the House of Lux reception held at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Colombo on [...]
Unveiling a lacy look
Lace as we know it can trace its roots back to the late 16th century, and the specifics of its origin are widely disputed by historians. The first city to begin producing lace is commonly believed to be Venice, but it wasn’t at least until the 18th century that French lace began to dominate the [...]
Secrets of Siem Reap, Cambodia
My friend and I arrived at Siem Reap, the gateway to the famous citadel of Angkor in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The airport is built in the Khmer style of architecture and the standard of cleanliness was astounding even at the historical sites. Cambodia formerly the Khmer Empire is situated in the southern portion of [...]
Galle Face Hotel launches SeaSpray restaurant
It was a gusty evening as the Galle Face Hotel launched their SeaSpray restaurant last Wednesday with Chairman Sanjeev Gardiner inviting guests to sample some of the delights it will offer.
Revel in those 80s and 90s Richard Marx hits tonight
Few entrants in the ruthlessly competitive American music industry can boast of a personal summons by the great Lionel Ritchie himself – which is how Richard Marx got into the music industry. The story goes that some of Marx’s demo tapes had found their way into Ritchie’s hands. Ritchie liked them so much he suggested [...]
What we need to teach our sons, so that they can protect our daughters
In a day and age where the words ‘Empowering Women’ is more than just a catch phrase or empty slogan, we often leave their male counterparts out of the equation. The more we get caught up with working with our daughters and taking effective steps to teach them to be strong and independent individuals, the [...]
Loads of fun for toddlers to teens at Words on the Mount
Mount Lavinia Hotel’s celebration of 210 years of history and colonial heritage will be made even livelier with the children’s workshops on July 10 at the literary event “Words on the Mount”. The day will commence with the film screening of ‘Paddington’, an adaptation of Michael Bond’s beloved books read and enjoyed by many. Children’s [...]
A sea of yoga at the Park
The term ‘yoga’ means ‘to yoke, join, or concentrate’. A practice which is said to date as far back as 6th century BCE, this ancient art form is based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit. A common sight in Hollywood movies is the trim, fit woman in her 30’s [...]
Out, out flies!
Not so long ago, a delicious lunch at an upmarket restaurant in a grand arcade was marred by a few unwelcome feeders. All it took was a few flies to downgrade the place in the eyes of our group. The waiter who came along with an electric fly swatter failed to whet our appetite. But [...]
Kandy fetes its Gratiaen winner
The Young Women’s Christian Association (Kandy) will felicitate Thiyagaraja Arasanayagam, the winner of the Gratiaen Prize 2015, on Thursday, June 30 at 4.30 p.m. at the YWCA Hall, 650/70 Piachaud Gardens, Kandy. His wife, Jean Arasanyagam, the well known poet, is a distinguished Board Member of the YWCA (Kandy). They are both long time residents [...]
Vietnam Ambassador touches hearts with songs for flood victims
Raising funds for flood relief, Ambassador for Vietnam in Sri Lanka Phan Kieu took the lead at a concert held at the Russian Cultural Centre. She touched the hearts of her audience singing in Sinhala — a skill she has mastered with great enthusiasm. Ambassador Phan can sing not just in Sinhala, but in eight [...]
Spreading vibrant Sri Lankan art
Kala Pola is known as one of the few places where the common man is able to buy and view art on a grand scale. Many artists feel that there should be other platforms for them to display their art and also for people to go and experience art in Sri Lanka. To this end [...]
Royal Turf Club unfolds plans for upcoming race season
The Royal Turf Club (RTC) unveiled its plans for the forthcoming race season that will start on August 6 which will be a Charity Race Day with a Hollywood star expected to add glamour to the launch. All the proceeds will go to the Sri Lanka Cancer Society . Present at the press conference were [...]
Fête de la Musique at Alliance Francaise de Colombo
The Alliance Francaise de Colombo once again presents Fête de la Musique - International Music Day 2016 on Saturday, July 2 at their auditorium at 11, Barnes Place (near Town Hall) , Colombo 7. All are welcome and entrance is free. Many musicians, both professionals and others will be there to entertain you from 10 [...]
Palynological research at Abhayagiri Vihara
The Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka will present a lecture by Prof. Anoma Perera and Ms. Kasunika Ovitimullage of the Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, on the ‘Use of palynological investigations in archaeological research: Experience related to a palynological research conducted at Abhayagiri Vihara’ on Monday, June 27 at 5 p.m. at the Gamini [...]
National Trust lecture: Avalokiteshwara
The National Trust lecture for June as part of its monthly lecture series will be on Thursday, June 30 at HNB Towers, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. Dr. Nandana Chutiswara will speak on ‘Avalokiteshwara as venerated by the Theravada and Mahayana Communities’.
Charity car-boot sale
The St. Vincent De Paul Society (SVP) of St. Theresa’s Church Thimbirigasyaya has organised a Car-Boot sale, to be held on Sunday July 3, 2016 at the church premises. The sale will be open from 7.30 a.m. till 12.30 p.m. A wide variety of items including food items, fruits, garments, shoes, fashion accessories and potted [...]
Appreciations
D.W. ‘Bacon’ Abayakoon Lawyer, visionary and grandfather Winston Churchill once said, “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” In the recent history of Sri Lanka’s legal system, I believe that there has been no man who has done these words greater justice than my late grandfather, D.W. [...]
Letters
The International Community chooses to see only one side of the coin The armed forces and the terrorists were fighting a war in the North of this country. The International Community has pointed out many atrocities they accuse the armed forces of. I recently watched a movie which showed just one side of this horrible [...]