The house that Bawa built, that Bawa Trust rebuilt
When the Ena de Silva House was to be sold to a developer in 2009, there was a huge uproar among members of the architectural community and the general public. One of legendary architect Geoffrey Bawa’s most prominent works couldn’t be disposed of so easily, they protested, quite rightly. Ena, who needed to sell the [...]
Ocean of opportunities for this young woman of the sea
Asha de Vos knew what to expect before the big announcement. “The hardest part was keeping it secret for the ensuing months,” she tells the Sunday Times. The only Sri Lankan so far to have a Ph.D. in marine-mammal related research, de Vos was named an Emerging Explorer by the National Geographic Society in May [...]
Around the Buddhist world
The first-ever International Museum of World Buddhism was opened at the premises of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy on May 11, 2011 and since then has become a learning centre for University students and students following higher studies in Buddhism. The different galleries provide useful information on the history of Buddhism in different countries, both [...]
Why do so many women strive to be ‘skinny bananas’?
For as long as I can remember I have been on a diet. It’s a horrifying thought that at every point in my life, at every milestone, I have been watching what I eat and what it does to my body. Some may say that’s a healthy thing and if truth be told, for me, [...]
You’ll be dancing in the aisle to those Beatles’ hits
In the early 1960s, four fresh-faced lads from Liverpool – John, Paul, George and Ringo embarked on one of pop music’s most amazing journeys. The frenzy that was Beatlemania became an obsession that spread from England to the USA, and then to the universe. Fifty years on, this fascination still persists – and on Tuesday, [...]
Around the World with Royal College thespians
Thushara Hettihamu has become an integral if not always recognisable face behind many a Royal College theatre production. Directing plays for his alma mater since 1999, “Hetti” as he is affectionately known, is gearing for a play of massive theatrical and geographical proportions with the Royal College production of Around the World in 80 Days. [...]
Artists reflect their shades of war
‘C/A/M/P’, or ‘Contemporary Artists’ Meeting Point, is an arts programme organised by the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts and the Neelan Thiruchelvam Trust. It connects artists with the aim of facilitating the healing process as they talk about and share their experiences during the war. Programme coordinator Shyama Jayawardhene feels that artists visiting other artists [...]
Threading the many strands of her life at 85
It is the age-old theme of boy meets girl, nay elderly man meets woman, they find love and marry, to live in contentment thereafter. So what is special about this novel titled, ‘Spring came late’. While many have commended the book which although in English has some dialogues in Sinhala, the more interesting tale is [...]
Finding inner peace amidst a time of persecution
“I am a happy woman and I sing praises to this life, yes, you read correctly, in the year of grace 1942, the umpteenth year of war.” In 1980, almost 40 years after her death in the concentration camp at Auschwitz, Etty Hillesum’s diaries and letters were revealed, edited and published in Holland – and [...]
Here today gone tomorrow
My professional life ended in April 2007 with my retirement. I wanted some peace and quiet and time to travel the world before old age caught up with me. I achieved my objectives to reach where I am today. Society encourages us to extend our youth until at some stage our body and mind tell [...]
Unforgettable March evening in the evening of our lives
There are a few more delicious little Swiss Alprose chocolates left in the fridge even after we had relished them two at a time over the last eight weeks. The cakes of Dove beauty cream bars will be there for a long, long time in the bathroom. The expensive bottles of Davidoff perfumes and colognes [...]
For him from Tiesh
Leading jewellery store Tiesh this week launched into the men’s market with a new range, ‘For Him’. The men’s range is part of Tiesh’s 2016 collection which celebrates the timeless elegance of sterling silver and gold jewellery, and the beauty of natural gemstones. “With an increasing number of men wearing jewellery and buying jewellery for [...]
A touch of French Spring
Franch Ambassador Jean- Michael Schuh hosted a reception at the Galle Face Hotel’s distinctive Chequerboard to celebrate the French Spring Festival.
Making a statement with Space
The latest addition to Colombo’s décor offerings, the avant-garde furniture store ‘Space’ opened last week. ‘Space’ is the brainchild of Lalin Jinasena, hotelier and designer, best known for his Casa hotels in Colombo and Mirissa. Located at Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7 in the heart of the commercial district of Colombo, ‘Space’ has stylish, yet affordable [...]
French National Day celebrated at GFH
The horrifying news of the Nice attack came later, but on the evening of July 14 it was a happy celebration of French National Day at the Galle Face Hotel.
A global taste
Reef’s Edge Resort presented “Around the Edge of the World” – an International Food Festival on July 10 at the Hamilton Deck, Reef’s Edge Resort, Uswetakeiyawa. The stalls of ten countries – Scotland, USA, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Japan, Italy, UK and Sri Lanka, were laid out across the lawn of Hamilton Deck. Visitors were [...]
Words flow from the flavour of food for this foodie
I am in constant conversation with my ingredients,” Jayani C. Senanayake says. A foodie to the core, the blogger says she asks her ingredients the most intimate questions: “What makes you break out into song? What makes you puff out your plumes and dance?” Each discussion is its own reward, inspiring her culinary creations. Jayani [...]
MA’s celebrating 30th anniversary
It was a suitably colourful evening as leading spice company MA’s celebrated their 30th anniversary last week with a reception at Ape Gama, Battaramulla.
New look Mathura
Mathura, in Indian mythology is the birthplace of God Krishna and is one of the seven sacred cities of India. It is also famed as a bastion of vegetarian cuisine. In Colombo, Mathura, the well known vegetarian restaurant specialising in South and North Indian cuisine, a joint venture with the Woodlands Hotel chain of India [...]
Island food narratives
Lanka Decorative Arts in collaboration with the Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya will hold an international conference titled “Kitchen: Culinary Ethnology in Sri Lanka” from August 4 – 7. The four-day international conference is sponsored by the American Centre and will include study tours, academic presentations, discussions, performances and culinary [...]
‘Strokes at the Mews’ shows rich diversity of local artists
Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI), the local office of the global advertising network Leo Burnett Worldwide, will launch the seventh season of Leo Art titled ‘Strokes at the Mews’ on August 5 at the Park Street Mews. The exhibition will continue on Saturday, August 6 and Sunday 7 from 10 a.m. onwards. The launch of [...]
Chalani needs help
Nine-year-old Chalani Soysa of No.58, Fonseka Road in Panadura has been suffering from an acute heart ailment that requires Intracardiac Repair – Open Heart Surgery that would be performed in two stages. Facilities for this risky operation are not available in any national or private hospital in Sri Lanka. However, the first surgery was performed [...]
Jetwing Culinary Challenge awards for the best of best
The Jetwing Culinary Challenge was held on June 30 at Jetwing Blue, Negombo rewarding the best of the best chefs across the Jetwing family. The Jetwing Culinary Challenge was focused on developing young chefs, helping them master skills and achieve the mindset required to successfully innovate, and prepare a variety of dishes with a blend [...]
A window’s peep into a myriad of lives
A platform stands alone in the library of the British Council with several plain wooden boxes stacked behind- the backdrop for Mind Adventures newest project “Better Than Ever Before”. The show’s two member cast- Arun Welendawe-Prematilleke and Alice Malseed dressed in jeans, cotton shirts and boots idly roam about the limited stage, warming up for [...]
Much-loved hymns to be performed at ‘Sacred Song & Story’
The Choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour presents ‘Sacred Song & Story’, today, Sunday, July 31 at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral located on Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. Entrance is free for this meaningful programme, which was an idea of the Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasabey. Almost all of the [...]
An unforgettable evening
Two veteran artistes appearing on stage together supported by a young talented six-person orchestra led by an upcoming music director turned out to be a rare treat for Sri Lankans in distant Perth, the West Australian (WA) capital. I can’t remember a single occasion back in Sri Lanka when Nanda Malini and Victor Ratnayake appeared [...]
Letters
It’s party time for mossies and goodbye eradication That the anti-mosquito campaign is a failure is a foregone conclusion, proved not only by the ever- increasing number of cases of dengue in spite of millions being spent by the government but also by the way government officials go about taking action in fits and starts. [...]
Appreciations
Tissa Dias He lived in the present Our meeting was a sheer coincidence. Seeing our good friend Bandula Tissa Dias that day was most unexpected. Mind you a month or so prior to his untimely death. I was heading to Nuwara Eliya with a group of foreigners. He told me that he was returning home [...]