Step out this season in trendy linen sarongs
The traditional sarong has received a new lease of life as popular menswear brand Hameedia’s launched its range of linen sarongs in time for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Fouzul Hameed, Managing Director at Hameedia (Pvt) Ltd says, “These are unique sarongs since the entire fabric is woven into a sarong which means there [...]
Take a dip in mix and match swimwear
Trendy swimwear brand ‘Rum Punch’ known for its bright tropical colours and contemporary designs unveiled ‘Fuze’ – its custom designed online portal with a fashion show at the Jaguar Land Rover showroom on Tuesday. The website www.fuze.rumpunchresortwear.com allows customers the opportunity to mix and match the swim tops and bottoms and even prints and colours [...]
Ethnic flair at Pakistan Day
Elegant ethnic wear sported by the guests caught the eye at the National Day of Pakistan celebrated at the Kingsbury Hotel on March 23.
Crystal-clear about her aims
When Krystle Reid entered for the Commonwealth Youth Awards, she little thought it would amount to anything. With 52 other countries on the list “what are the chances” she thought to herself, but did so anyway hoping that it would give publicity to Enable Lanka Foundation- a non-profit organization she co-founded which is geared to [...]
A century on, a new world of Guiding
In 1917, the first Girl Guide Company was formed at Girls’ High School Kandy, a mere seven years after the movement had been initiated in the UK by Lord Baden-Powell. Since then Guiding has spread throughout the island and made a lasting impact on society. On March 25, over 6000 girls and young women from [...]
Surgery through prose from Spittel
It was lost awhile but has now been resurrected, with additions that make the timeless and valuable, the invaluable. Many a stressed medical student who burns the midnight oil or the postgraduate doctor aspiring to be a surgeon struggling beneath a heavy load of ward-work and study will heave a sigh of relief. For, now [...]
A treasured gift from uncle to niece
Tattered with the sewn-together-leaves coming apart between blue covers, the handwriting in a blue-ink pen is still legible – “To Premini, with compliments from Uncle Dick”, dated 11.7.54 in Colombo. This was the copy of ‘Essentials of Surgery’ lying on a shelf for more than 60 years in the home of respected Consultant Radiologist a [...]
The poems still flow
Though somewhat out of the public eye, award-winning author Punyante Wijenaike has not given up on her writing. The keen writer’s eye observes with astute acuity, the events unfolding in society. Here is a selection of her recent poems which she shared with the Sunday Times. AN APOLOGY TO A FALLEN TREE Once you stood [...]
Riveting performance by ‘Virtuosi in Concert’
On March 15, classical music aficionados in Colombo had the privilege of seeing three world-class musicians, namely Shani Diluka (piano), Valentin Erben (cello), and Gabriel Le Magadure (violin), performing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) at the Ladies College Hall. The concert was sponsored by the People’s [...]
A film that works for its humanity not merely its accurate psychiatry
Brothers Kalpana and Vindana Ariyawansa, who jointly created and directed this extraordinary film, have called it “Premaya Nam…” which means, “Love is…”. Thus the name of the film promises a definitive insight into the nature of this thing called love. Truth to tell, the film finally gropes towards that goal and therefore delivers what it [...]
Dining in Hong Kong
While Hong Kong’s palate is strongly influenced by Cantonese cuisine, owing to its colonial past and its evolution into an international business hub, the flavours are many and varied. From upscale restaurants, to traditional bakeries, Hong Kong provides a limitless array of food available in every class. It’s no wonder the territory has earned the [...]
A taste of Bollywood and veg at Mathura
17 years ago the Mathura Restaurant first opened its doors to the public and over the years has become synonymous with authentic Indian Vegetarian food for diners in Colombo. Originally located in Havelock Town, the restaurant has since shifted to Melbourne Avenue in Colombo 04. The menu features cuisines from North and South India, expertly [...]
When Irish eyes are smiling…
He’s been hailed as a national treasure back home in Ireland, and one of the country’s main cultural exports. Daniel O’Donnell, the Irish singer known for his country and Irish folk music together with Mary Duff was on a second visit to another emerald isle this week performing for a packed audience at the BMICH [...]
CMF’s song for the children
He did not strive to be a star – Matheesha was the star of the show, holding the hearts of each and everyone in his little palm as he shot along the aisle between the audience, up the ramp and onto the stage. Grabbing the ukelele lying on the floor, expertly donning the strap over [...]
They drive but how good is their vision?
How many of us inquire into the condition of a driver’s eyesight before we employ them? We ask if they carry a valid licence, about the experience they possess, the salary they expect but rarely ever about their vision. Perhaps we take it for granted as we assume that in order to have a valid [...]
Horse racing: Consider what lies behind the glamour
A desire to create hubs in Sri Lanka is nothing new, as we observe from recent political manifestos and political verbiage – naval hubs, civil aviation hubs, commercial hubs, energy hubs, knowledge hubs and so on. And now we hear of a horse racing hub – the Nuwara Eliya Royal Turf Club wants to “restore [...]
Appreciations
Dr. Rajah Cooke He did more than his part towards humanity as a caring doctor Dr. Rajah Cooke died on February 14, this year at the age of 89 in Colombo. Principled, dedicated, and at times controversial, Dr. Cooke was a pioneering cancer specialist at the National Cancer Hospital in Maharagama and past-president of the [...]
Letters
Is development for the people or for the vainglory of planners and politicians? The Urban Development Authority being a Planning Authority for the entire nation with properly framed planning and building regulations from its inception, now appears to have derailed from the basic principle of planning; which ensures the use of land and its development [...]
‘Pulse of the Heartians’ on April 22
Through the support of The Vatican, the Past Pupils Association of Sacred Heart Convent, Galle branch, Sisters of Charity in Jawatte and other friends and well-wishers, part of the renovation work at Sacred Heart Chapel in Galle has been paid for. In order to raise the remaining funds, the Past Pupils Association of Sacred Heart [...]
Past pupils rally for their school chapel
The first chapel for the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary in Sri Lanka stands in Galle town, nearly a century old. It is flanked on the east by the Convent of the Sisters of Charity, and on the west by the Sacred Heart Convent College for Girls. The school building and the surrounding [...]
Rajitha’s new play ‘Nethuwa Beri Minihek’ at Wendt
Rajitha Dissanayake’s latest play ‘Nethuwa Beri Minihek’ (A Man Much Needed) will be staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre today, Sunday, April 2 at 7 p.m. Nethuwa Beri Minihek won seven awards at the State Drama Festival 2017 including the award for Best play, Best director, Best script, Best actor, Best supporting actor, Best supporting [...]
Lanka through French eyes
After two years living in Sri Lanka, the French Photographer Marie-Caroline Senlis exhibits a collection of photographs selected from the work she did here. She presents a poetic vision of the country, nature, culture, people, colours, from her travels and everyday life. The exhibition will open on Friday April 7 at 7 p.m. and continue [...]
Don’t miss ‘The Way to Amarillo’
If you have a love for the performing arts, then The Way to Amarillo - a musical extravaganza is an event to mark on your calendar. Produced by the Amarillo School of Music, the show features the school’s own students; ranging in age from as young as five to well, as young as 60! The Amarillo School [...]
Gratiaen shortlist on Monday
The shortlist for the Gratiaen Prize 2016 will be announced on Monday, April 3 at 6 p.m. at the British Council Library, Colombo. All are invited to attend the announcement and listen to the reading of excerpts from the shortlisted entries. The Gratiaen Prize was founded in 1993 by the Sri Lankan-born writer Michael Ondaatje [...]