Amidst the departed in the dead of night
Kanatte re-visited at midnight! Deadly silence is what greets us, even though several hours before many men, women and children have gathered at the graves of loved ones to shed a tear, whisper a prayer, place a few flowers and get back to their routines, as one necessarily must. It is midnight on All Souls’ [...]
Giving opportunities to bright young minds across the country
What do you want your legacy to be? These were the words that changed the life of Manjula Dissanayake, founder of Educate Lanka, a charity that helps underprivileged children. After a life-threatening car accident Manjula revaluated his life’s goals and ambitions. Lying on a bed in a government hospital surrounded by dying, limbless patients and [...]
The word of the Dhamma: From missionaries to electronic media
The teledrama “Sidu,” – the endearing story of a little samanera (novice) and his lay friends, continues to make waves. Set in a rustic Buddhist temple in verdant surroundings, the story though not on the traditional lines of a direct Buddhist story, demonstrates a gentle and effective way in which the powerful electronic medium can [...]
Forget the elephants, there’s a Black necked stork!
I was on a quick, and somewhat overdue visit to the Uda Walawe National Park (UWNP) last week with my friend and one-time colleague Ashoka Ranjeewa, now carrying out some research into male elephant behaviour in the park. We had booked the just refurbished Park Bungalow Thim-biriyamankada for an overnight stay. Since Ashoka has already [...]
Garbage segregation: Don’t let it become one big mess
From November 1, garbage segregation has been commenced nationwide. This effort is long overdue and laudable. However, like many efforts in Sri Lanka, it has not been completely thought through, and therefore, will be fraught with issues. The first of these is that no one is quite sure what constitutes biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. Kitchen [...]
Zoos: Best option to save vanishing wildlife
Reuben David, a great naturalist and champion of wildlife, who was believed to have the power to speak to animals, created the Ahmadabad zoo. People used to come from near and far to see this man who could go inside the cages of lions and tigers. During his time, Ahmadabad zoo became one of the [...]
Musical journey that will leave you with the true spirit of Christmas
This November, the choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour ushers in the season with “Journey of Promises”. The choir directed by Ishan de Lanerolle hope to share with their audiences their version of the celebration of Christmas with song and narrative. “It is a winding road that stretches from darkness to light [...]
Christmas concert that brings back childhood memories
Christmas is an important time of the year for Dmitri Gunatilake. In fact, she starts getting excited for the season with the first cold nip of the October/ November weather. “It’s the one time of the year where people are always happy,” she smiles. This year, Dmitri ushers in the festive season with a Christmas [...]
Exit Puss, enter Diary of Freddy
Pusswedilla was his audiences’ runaway favourite but Feroze Kamardeen is now on a new track. ‘Diary of Freddy’ his latest production will be nothing like Puss! Feroze who has written and directed the new play has a star cast : Dominic Kellar, Gehan Blok, Daminda Wijayaratne, Dino Corera, Sean Amarasekera and Mohammed Adamally. ‘Diary of [...]
A treat of Russian masterworks dedicated to our very own Maestro
The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka dedicated its “ Russian Masterworks” concert, held on November 5 to Pandit W.D. Amaradeva who passed away at the age of 88 two days prior to the concert. Chairperson of the SOSL, Sharmini Wettimuny opened the concert with a dedication to the revered musician saying, “The SOSL notes with [...]
Menaka Singers and soloists back for an evening of opera
Menaka Singers’ Opera Ensemble (MSOE) in collaboration with Barbara Segal Opera presents After All It’s Opera, at 7.30 p.m. on Monday, November 21. Following a sold-out performance in January this year and a successful dinner-theatre at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle in September, the MSOE present another evening of spectacular opera arias from Mozart, Donizetti, Gounod, [...]
What it is to be a daughter of India
Somini Sengupta has been running the numbers for a while now. “Every month for the next several years, 1 million Indians are turning 18,” the author told a journalist at The Guardian. Her book, ‘The End of Karma: Hope and Fury Among India’s Young’ would set out to take a look at this phenomenon. The [...]
The Dutch connection woven into our society
This attractive and sumptuously illustrated publication offers an evocative treatment of one of Sri Lanka’s most tumultuous historical periods. The book examines the events from April 1602 when the Dutch made their initial incursion into Sri Lanka’s territorial waters in the command of a fleet under Joris van Spilbergen. Although the country’s Maritime Provinces were [...]
Holidaying in style
The Mercedez Benz Fashion Runways of the Sri Lanka Design Festival saw three days of excitement as many interesting and unconventional designs took the runway at the SLECC. The shows aimed to highlight Sri Lanka as a travel fashion destination – where tourists can enjoy a tropical holiday and also shop for high-end clothes at [...]
That unforgettable Maname moment
When I entered the hallowed precincts of the almost brand new Peradeniya Campus of the University of Ceylon in 1955 it was like a dream come true. The breathtakingly beautiful landscape of the campus and its pleasing revivalist architecture nestling in the idyllic surroundings of the misty green Hantane Valley was indeed haunting. We spent [...]
Away from the city amidst serenity, style and comfort
It is Sunday morning and I am at the Diklande Estate Bungalow close to Negombo, in the middle of a 50-acre coconut plantation. I came here for the weekend, escaping the stress and noise of Colombo. It is so easy to get caught up in the grid of the city, too easy. So I try [...]
Taking Lanka’s healing through music message to Ireland
Paul Loughran’s and Joseph O’ Connor’s arrival in Sri Lanka saw them immediately travel from Katunayake to Mullaitivu to Kurunegala. When we met them in Colombo a few days later, it was impossible to see any streak of fatigue save their freshly sunburnt faces. Here on a project centred around the use of music in [...]
The importance of being…a female role model
This morning I read a post shared by my husband, Kaveenga Wijayasekara, on a social media website. He has always been a very vocal supporter of women – one would say he has to be, to be married to yours truly – but this particular post touched something very deep in my heart and I [...]
A chance for budding Lankan photographers to go global
Expanding the fast growing field of photography, the Canon Photomarathon is an exciting on-the-spot photo contest in Sri Lanka. Originally initiated in Singapore in 2013, the Canon Photomarathon is a contest spanning ten countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Brunei and Sri Lanka. Saturday, November 19 will mark a [...]
Lecture on changing trends in Bharata Natyam
‘Narthana Aaradhana’, a lecture demonstration on changing trends in Bharata Natyam will be presented by Subashini Pathmanathan on November 18 at the Indian Cultural Centre auditorium, 16/2 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. Subashini Pathmanathan, graduated from the Government College for Women in Chandigarh, India and received her master’s degree from the Punjab University. She studied Bharata [...]
Pera Uni Colombo alumni get-together
The Colombo Chapter of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya will hold its annual family get- together on Sunday, November 20 at the Eco Friendly Bird Park at No. 166, Buthgamuwa Road, Kalapaluwawa (two km from Rajagiriya junction) at 9.30 a.m. Chairman, Nature’s Creations Ltd Samantha Kumarasinghe will be the chief guest.
Prithipura all set for annual sale
These days the Prithipura Home, in Hendala , Wattala is a hive of activity with the residents and staff busy preparing for the annual sale on November 16 at the Lionel Wendt Arts Centre from 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Greeting cards, cloth hand bags, pillow cases and dusters made by the residents will be [...]
Appeal to help patient in need of bone marrow transplantation
Sasika Chamil Rajapakse of Meegammana, Wattegama, 20 is being treated at the Maharagama Cancer Institute for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and requires bone marrow transplantation urgently. The cost of the procedure and associated treatment is estimated at Rs. 5 – 8 million. The family is appealing for help from generous donors to save him. Please send [...]
Talk by birder cum bird artist
The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society’s monthly lecture on November 17 at 6 p.m. at the Cinema Lounge, BMICH, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 by Lester Perera will be on ‘The importance of bird illustrations in ornithology’. Lester Perera, a fanatical birder and naturalist is a reputed bird artist who has held many exhibitions locally and [...]
Lots in store for bird watchers
BirdLife International – the global partnership of bird conservation organisations meets in Sri Lanka this month. To mark the event, BirdLife’s local partner – the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) will hold a Partnership Bird Fair at the Thalawathugoda Biodiversity Study Park on Sunday, November 20 from 7 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. with [...]
Grand sale at Alzheimer’s Foundation
The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation will end the year on a festive note with a grand sale of export quality garments at bargain prices. A fun day is promised with a variety of goods on sale from costume jewellery, all types of clothing to freshly made snacks and juices which will be on sale too. The [...]
Appreciations
Dr. Samad Ismail He was the personification of a gentleman It was last May that on a visit to Kandy, I was chatting with Dr. Samad Ismail, who passed away this week. Seated by his rose garden in Kandy, the excitement and romanticism of his past was palpable as he recounted his early exploits: “I [...]
Letters
Impractical ban on garbage bags “The so-called Yahapaalanaya rulers have now moved onto legislating the disposal of garbage. Whether that is an apt job description for this government or not is something I will leave to public opinion. Once again, however, the meat in the sandwich turns out to be us, the hassled voters- the [...]