Back to life brick by brick
Nilan Cooray understands how cruel time is to beautiful buildings. He is no stranger to slow erosion by Sun, wind and rain; the shifting earth and the tunnelling roots that prise apart brick and mortar. But as one of Sri Lanka’s foremost conservation experts, Cooray is trained to look past leaks and crumbling plaster to [...]
Print is still king
Every year, as September arrives, bookworms wait in anticipation of the Colombo International Book Fair. This time is no different. If you missed the book fair the last few days, today’s your last chance to grab some bargains as the fair closes at the BMICH tonight at 9 p.m. The books of course are the [...]
Kyoto: Japan’s ancient heart and soul
If you get the opportunity of travelling to Japan, by all means visit the modern cities like Tokyo or Osaka if you want to experience 21st century touristy stuff – huge flashing neon signs and impressive skyscrapers, sleek new cars and bullet trains, scores of busy people scurrying about their activities like an army of [...]
Gaze at the Lion Rock from the lap of rustic luxury
Nestled within the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, spread amidst a lush expanse of nature with a great view of the Sigiriya rock, Water Garden Sigiriya offers a luxurious break from everyday life. Water Garden Sigiriya is the latest addition to the country’s boutique hotel landscape. With 30 luxury villas dotted over 35 acres, Water [...]
Evening of dance for all at BDFI Int’l Festival
Excitement is building up as the fifth edition of BDFI International Dance Festival powered by the Sports Ministry is billed to sweep the dance floor on October 14 and 15 at the BMICH. The 14th evening will see workshops in Hip-Hop, Belly and Freestyle dancing and action- packed workshops in Salsa, Kizomba, Latin, Bachata will [...]
Educating the girl child
There is a well known African saying, attributed to the Ghanaian scholar Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir-Aggrey (1875-1927), one of this century’s greatest educators: “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a family nation.” It is felt that it was derived by him in order to [...]
Chris Greet and ‘A lone Rolling Stone in Ceylon’
I am glad to inform readers saddened by my reference to the demise of Chris Greet in ‘A lone Rolling Stone in Ceylon’ (The Sunday Times, Plus, Page 5, September 18), that in fact Chris is most certainly alive in England (though in an aged care facility) and I wish to apologise profusely for such [...]
Festal Choral Evensong in celebration of St. Michael’s Day
On the Eve of St. Michael’s Day, Wednesday, September 28, there will be a Festal Choral Evensong at St Michael and All Angels, Polwatte, Colombo 3 at 6 p.m. The Choir will sing an Introit by Herbert Sumsion, an Anthem by Vaughan Williams and the Canticles in B flat by George Garrett. The concluding Anthem [...]
An evening that showcased a range of talent
‘Ablaze with compassion’ a concert presented by the students of St. Bridget’s Convent and directed by Priyanthi SeneviratneVandort was an evening of music, song and dance filled with colour and passion. The audience was delightfully entertained on September 17 and 18 by the junior and senior choirs. Starting off the concert with a prayer and [...]
Art as a Place – From here on
Artists in Colombo often talk of how different the post-war cultural and civic landscape was, just a few short years ago; how they navigated and intervened in this precarious space in a range of ways, from activist pursuits to selective self-censorship. It was against this political backdrop that the interdisciplinary arts festival Colomboscope was first [...]
Improvised plays by Sashi’s students
From adaptations of kids’ favourites, to thought provoking creations, the Sashi Mendis Studio of Drama and Speech highlights originality and creativity in their production Plays Parade. A collection of 8 plays written and directed by Sashi, based on improvisations by her students, the plays will be performed by the students of the studio aged between [...]
Children’s Day through children’s art
Children’s Day -Saturday October 1 will be celebrated by the Cora Abraham Art School with an exhibition titled, ‘The Artist in Every Child’ at the J. D. A. Perera Gallery, 46, Horton Place, Colombo 7. The exhibition true to the vision of Cora Abraham will feature the creative work of the school’s young students as [...]
Keep a date with Day Date 40
The Rolex Group’s most prestigious model, all of 60 years old, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40, is on display in Sri Lanka at Chatham Luxury, Galle Face Court until September 28. The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The granddaddy of Rolex watches, it is popularly known as the “President’s watch” , [...]
True Mexican flair
A reception was held on September 14 at the Kingsbury on the occasion of Mexico’s National Day – the 206th anniversary of national independence. Present was the Ambassador for Mexico Ms. Melba Pria and the Hon. Consul for Mexico in Sri Lanka Mohan Pandithage. Waiters dressed in sombreros provided a colourful touch.
Lassana Flora blooms anew
Lassana Flora, well known for their floral artistry celebrated the opening of their new showroom at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 with a reception for friends and clients.
Tour de Lanka for contestants of Miss Intercontinental
Come October, Sri Lanka is set to host the Miss Intercontinental Pageant, the largest pageant to be held in the country. This is the first time in 20 years that a global pageant will be held in South Asia, and also the first time a major international pageant will be held in Sri Lanka. Over [...]
Rich Malay pickings from the ‘salad bowl’ that is Sri Lanka
The Malay community of Sri Lanka is a picturesquely pleasing reminder of the island’s geography in the Indian Ocean. It is equidistant from the Straits of Malacca and the Straits of Hormuz. The Malays are originally from the Indonesian archipelago and are mostly Muslims. Their ubiquitous presence that dots the ethno-social fabric of the island [...]
Can a religion be protected by violating its own precepts?
It is a compendium of essays which provides evidence of the continuous search for the underlining factors for the ethnic conflict while sending a warning that if these remain unsolved, it could lead to a repetition of events of the past. And in the discussions which are on a delicate subject, the well-balanced and frank [...]
Restoring a much-maligned King to the greatness he deserves
Archaeologist and scholar Raja de Silva (who never flaunts his many qualifications) once again takes up his pen and spade to fight a worthwhile battle to restore the reputation of King Nissamka Malla of Polonnaruwa – sadly denigrated by many prejudiced scholars over the last century. With the same masterly skill he brought to prove, [...]
Another entertaining and educational children’s book
‘Punchi Sithuge Sarungal Sawaariya,’ a children’s story by Pankaja Erandi Ranadheera was launched recently at the auditorium of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development in Battaramulla. Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka was the chief guest at the ceremony. Currently a Development Officer at the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, [...]
Tapping individual talent, the goal at Daya Mina activity centre
As Sister Anastasia gives us a tour of the Daya Mina activity centre, she has a kind word for everyone. She pauses her explanation of the different facilities available from time to time to interact with the students and tells us about them. For instance, we learn about the preferences of the students – art, [...]
Ghedora-Connects: The voice of the voiceless
Last Saturday, the Good Market at Colombo Race Course saw some like-minded people joining hands — all for four-year-old Lisath Chathmin Nanayakkaara. Lisath was diagnosed with a genetic condition called Thalassemia Major, when he was two months old and has been undergoing blood transfusions every fortnight since then. The only permanent solution to this condition [...]
Anandians at Odyssey International English literary festival in India
Ananda College participated in the 7th Odyssey International English literary festival organised by the City Montessori School in Lucknow, India. The festival encompasses drama, poetry, singing and dancing. A team from Ananda College was taking part for the 4th consecutive year.
The National Trust lecture: All about the 43 Group
The National Trust of Sri Lanka’s 88th lecture in its monthly lecture series will be on “The 43 Group – the first Modern Art movement in Ceylon” by Rohan De Soysa. It will be on Thursday, September 29 at the HNB auditorium, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. The lecture [...]
RASSL lecture: Lankan identity on the sitar
The Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) monthly lecture for September will be on “Sri Lankan identity on the sitar” on Monday, September 26 at 5 p.m. at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium, No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. The lecture will be delivered by Pradeep Ratnayake, Senior Lecturer and Head, Department of Languages, Cultural [...]
Letters
The sound of nuisance: Act now and save us from becoming deaf Appropos letters in the Sunday Times “Making a noise: Vendors are comparatively innocent” by Irritated Citizen and “ Let the sound of peace and solace prevail” by Concerned Buddhist, Rajagiriya, I am a real victim of blaring sounds through loud speakers from a [...]
Appreciations
MANGALA MOONESINGHE An old friend is no more Lawyer, parliamentarian and diplomat, Mangala Moonesinghe as he was popularly known, passed away recently at the ripe age of 85 years. My good friend Nihal Seneviratne, former Secretary General of Parliament, paid a handsome tribute to him a few days ago and I thought I should also [...]
Awarded prestigious decoration from Govt. of Japan
The prestigious decoration “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays” conferred by the Emperor and the Government of Japan, was awarded to Bertie G. Kulatilake, Vice Patron of the Japan Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural Association (Jasteca) by the Ambassador for Japan in Sri Lanka Kenichi Suganuma at a ceremony held recently [...]