The unknown de Alwises’ brush with Asian flora
Singapore is the most unlikely place to look for paintings of botanical and natural history artists of Sri Lanka. But a chance meeting with Assistant Curator at the Herbarium of the Singapore Botanical Gardens Dr. Ruth Kew in 1998 led to a fruitful introduction to examine a series of wonderful drawings by the artists James [...]
Appreciations
A. D. H. Samaranayaka Thaththi you filled our lives with love and guidance Our beloved Thaththi passed away peacefully during his afternoon nap on March 30 1996, aged 74, 21 years ago.Thaththi had a vibrant personality and he was an integral part of our lives and his sudden death created a tremendous void in our [...]
Letters to the Editor
Speak out! Don’t allow MPs to behave  like unruly children in Parliament The conduct of our MPs in the Parliament is appalling. Parliament is considered as the august assembly, where the government policies and other matters affecting the country and the people are meant to be discussed and debated peacefully, cordially and logically. It is [...]
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ– the historical facts
Christianity rests on certain events that took place in history. It stakes its claim to truthfulness on historical events open to critical investigation. This is especially true where the Resurrection is concerned. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central event of history and the very cornerstone of the Christian faith. Jesus was killed by [...]
Stories behind the Easter symbols
The story of Easter in all its glory has been told and re-told  countless times during the past 2000 years,  starting with the chronicles of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. From time to time, down through the ages, symbols have come into sharp focus, and in this day and age, serve to pinpoint  the significance of [...]
Tewatte’s Easter miracle
Heads bowed and palms together in devotion, the ‘Amens’ rise to a crescendo and fade away amidst the gentle shade cast by a thick canopy of rubber and mahogany trees, bird-calls and the tolling of a bell. The devotees have gathered in their numbers, quite early for a Sunday morning, and the gok-kola blessing has [...]
Introspective poetry that strums on the strings of our emotions
Sri Lankan poetry is generally of a high standard, but in my opinion relies too much on external stimuli. This could be due to the abundance of nature’s bounty, the fascinating mosaic of our colonial heritage and the complexity of inter-racial relationships. Taarun Joel Sinniah is an exciting, dare I say, brilliant young expatriate poet [...]
Mosaic of morals for children
I never realised that my Peradeniya campus mate, retired civil servant, Dr. P.G. Punchihewa had been a prolific writer in his own quiet way. I knew he loved to write and I have read a number of his books. Only now I realise that he has written over 30 books, including seven in English. He [...]
The demons are out of the bottle
It’s June 2016, and once again, I wearily opened my ‘Pandora’s box’ to see a bogus invitation to book massively discounted flights; yet another incomprehensible electric bill; a claim for an accident I never had; an incredible win in an unheard of competition; an ad assuming I want to turbocharge my manhood; a notification that [...]
In pictures: Australia, SL mark 70 years
It was an animated crowd that attended the opening of the photographic exhibition organised by the Australian High Commission to mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Lionel Wendt Gallery on April 5. The Chief Guest for the event was Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, [...]
Barefoot crosses borders with its designer sarongs
Barefoot throughout its history has identified the sarong as a versatile, unisex, timeless garment which can be worn for multiple occasions by all shapes and sizes and in all climates. Barefoot’s revitalisation of the sarong led to it becoming a must buy in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Many a style conscious Sri Lankan [...]
Another fashionable CFW chapter closes
HSBC Colombo Fashion Week concluded its summer season as the biggest, under the theme ‘Celebrate Colombo’ in association with Sri Lanka Tourism. Hosted at Hilton Colombo, CFW, in its 14th year since inception showcased the progress it has made with the fashion design industry of Sri Lanka. In over a decade, with every season, CFW [...]
Blink International: Keeping time in style
Blink International recently announced the launch of a dedicated multi-brand watch Experience and Service Centre at the Iceland Building in Colombo 3. The Blink experience centre showcases a variety of timepieces from internationally renowned brands such as Casio, Puma, Esprit, Elle, Cross,and Sevenfriday. “Sri Lanka is developing at an increasingly rapid pace, and with this [...]
Workshop on the Short Story
The English Writers Cooperative of Sri Lanka will hold a half-day workshop on the Short Story by an experienced academic on Saturday, May 6, from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the auditorium of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), No. 02, Kynsey Terrace. Colombo 08. Those interested in participating should email names, addresses [...]
Three brothers; all DIGs
In 2005, the Sri Lanka Police Department promoted Harischandra Wickramasinghe, Jayantha Wickremasinghe and Wasantha Wickramasinghe to the rank of (SSP) Senior Superintendent of Police, creating a record for Sri Lanka as all three are brothers. The Wickramasinghe brothers received their schooling in Colombo, the eldest Harichchandra and Wasantha, at Royal College, Colombo whilst the second [...]
No Easter Carols at St. Michael’s and All Angels
There will be the usual Easter Sunday family Eucharist at 7.30 a.m. today, Easter Sunday at St. Michael’s and All Angels, Polwatte and no Easter Carol Service as stated in the notice published last Sunday.
Zonta reaches out on Women’s Day
The Zonta Club 1 of Colombo last month carried out programmes with different groups of women to mark International Women’s Day. The picture shows members making a donation to street sweepers in the city while another programme was with the women in the halfway house at Mulleriyawa.
Scrabble League holds Southern zonal championship in Galle
Kalpana Seneviratne won the under 13 category and Sethumi Ransari the under 20 category when the Sri Lanka Scrabble League held the Southern Zonal championship in Galle recently. The inaugural domestic zonal tournament was conducted at the Co-operative Training Centre in Galle and was organised in collaboration with the Southern Province Scrabble League, with the [...]
Dishing out Fawlty Towers comedy and chaos amidst the food
When the Fawlty gang took over the Maitland State Room of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, guests and patrons sat eagerly awaiting both the three course dinner/lunch and the main course of the meal- chaos, comedy and mayhem. Performed by the Interactive Theatre International, the globetrotting immersive theatre experience saw the three iconic, hilarious hoteliers- Basil [...]
The Aluth Avurudu/New Year’s resolution to talk
The lighting of the hearth facing East, decked in the appropriate colour for new year and allowing the milk to boil over freely is only the start of the festivities that encompass a multitude of time-honoured traditions that follow. It is a time for family, tradition, celebration, fellowship, delicious and unique traditional kavili (Sri Lankan [...]