A brush with Mokshini
It’s her models that immediately catch your eye. Lanky, boyish figures with comic, groovy sunglasses and spunky, untamed hair, much like their elfin creator herself. Lines and dark under-eyes are the only make up besides the quirky, sometimes thoughtful smiles. “My work is very much about character,” explains the vivacious illustrator. She keeps a journal, [...]
She wanted the truth and she needed closure
Her story was as compelling as the legendary thorn bird’s song, and as painful. All who heard it, listened in horror and disbelief. Sandya Ekneligoda, one of the 13 awardees of the recently concluded US State Department-sponsored International Women of Courage Award 2017 in Washington DC, told her story over and over, during the two-week [...]
Walk in, unburden yourself and walk out relieved
The entrance is innocuous though located in the very heart of posh Cinnamon Gardens, down Horton Place, Colombo 7. Four rooms accessed through this humble entry-point are airy but small with three comfortable chairs – a cozy little space for a chat. Worried, stressed and unable to cope……..just anyone can walk-in, talk, open up their [...]
John Hurt’s reel life in Lanka
The death of Sir John Vincent Hurt, CBE, on January 25, caused an outpouring of grief and commendation for this British actor who was nominated twice for Academy Awards but unjustly never won. However, he was justifiably remembered in the In Memoriam section of the 2017 Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles. From “Earthman” to “Elephant [...]
Contemplating a ‘coupling’
I almost missed the Lionel Wendt nude at the 2017 Art Basel Hong Kong show in March. That’s understandable, after a week drunk on art – two mega art fairs in town; two art fairs in hotels; and add to that hundreds of parallel events at galleries, museums, auction houses and cultural institutions across the [...]
Breathing classical and modern into woodwork
The Woodstock showroom in Havelock Road is the newest addition to Colombo’s array of furniture stores. What sets Woodstock furniture apart is their strict use of hardwood, their uncompromising adherence to quality and their attention to detail. The use of Medium density fibreboard (MDF) and plywood in the products is strictly avoided, as it is [...]
Head turners in the hills
The Royal Turf Club had laid on a full complement of events for the season in Nuwara Eliya and Times photographer Indika Handuwala was at the races on Sunday April 16 to capture some of the action off the track. The hats were a head turner all the way!
Master at conveying human conflict
He was junior to me at Peradeniya campus. But we were colleagues at Lake House in the 1960s. Both of us were on the Dinamina editorial staff. We had parted company by the end of the ‘60s – he moved over to film-making, I joined the corporate sector. But we were in touch right through [...]
On listening to Beethoven’s triple concerto
The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) marked its 60th season with a concert titled “Virtuosi in Concert” on March 15, at the Ladies’ College auditorium. As the most memorable part of the evening for me was the performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, I consider it a privilege to share some thoughts on this beautiful [...]
Share your stories for Divorce katha
Whenever Identities Inc. takes the stage, their performances are guaranteed to tackle difficult subjects that lurk about our day to day lives. This year, the performing and visual arts movement reaches beyond the stage, to their audiences with “Divorce katha”. A forum for people to share their experiences with divorce, Identities is looking for stories [...]
A collage beyond definition
The recurrent debate about the purpose and role of art has been addressed in a multiplicity of ways. And rather than refute opposing views, it is more fruitful to embrace diversity as was done at an exhibition of drawings and paintings by five artists who refreshingly displayed a variety of styles and perspectives at the [...]
On the picturesque road to Adelaide
It is one of Australia’s great tourist attractions. The Great Ocean Road starts about one and a half hour’s drive from the centre of Melbourne at the coastal city of Torquay and heads westwards for about 400 kilometres along the wild and windswept southern coast of the state of Victoria to the town of Nelson [...]
Taking a flavoursome journey of the north
If you want to learn more about a region’s culture- dig into its cuisine. Like any other culinary expedition, a 360o sampling of authentic Jaffna cooking is a reflection of the north’s history and society, of over 200 different recipes contributed by the different regions and castes. For a harmonious compromise between authentic and contemporary [...]
Something to toast about at Kingsbury
It was a fun-filled gathering when the Kingsbury Hotel launched its poolside Honey Beach Club adding one more venue to their many attractions.
Bullied at your workplace? Here’s a handy book on what to do
Far too often, we associate bullying as only a plight endured by children and teenagers. But, though rarely acknowledged, let alone addressed, bullying is very much a problem among adults as well, especially in the workplace. So much so that violence and harassment is considered one of the main issues the worldwide workforce faces according [...]
Then a diffident schoolgirl, now a winner at the World Training Development Congress
Poised and confident, as she stood on the podium during the World Training Development Congress in Mumbai recently amidst 1,600 delegates, Loretta Kuruppu Gunewardene, was a far cry from what she was as a little girl. That girl was very shy and vulnerable to bullying and would prefer to be unseen and unheard. Over the [...]
Inner Wheel Club stalwart receives international recognition for her work
Inner Wheel Club stalwart Mala Weerasekere was recognized for her outstanding contribution to society when she was awarded the prestigious Margaret Golding Award recently by International Inner Wheel President, Oluyemisi Alatise who flew down to Sri Lanka especially for the occasion. “Having been in Inner Wheel for over 50 years, it has given me strength [...]
Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky to take centrestage
On May 2, the Lionel Wendt Theatre will be immersed in the spectacular music of two of Russia’s most famous composers, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky when Russian pianist Maxim Puryzhinskiy and Sri Lankan violinist Ananda Dabare and cellist Dushyanthi Perera take on the Russian masterpieces. Music lovers are promised an exhilarating evening that places the spotlight [...]
Looking back at the story of Colombo Fort
‘The Fort of Colombo- from a stockade to a city’ will be the subject of the next National Trust lecture at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27. The lecture will be delivered by Chryshane Mendis and Archt. Ismeth Raheem. The port [...]
Letters
Let’s forget the tittle-tattle and get the IDPs housed Enough is enough. To my personal knowledge and direct visual experience the so-called debate regarding housing for the Internally Displaced People (IDP) of the Northern Province has gone on for the last 18 months. The only sure outcome has been the fact that these IDPs have [...]
Appreciations
Chitral Raja Kuruppu He was my friend, guide and philosopher The passing earlier this month of Chitral Raja Kuruppu has left a deep void in my heart for the reason that I have associated with him very closely for over 70 years. Apart from the fact that there were family connections, our bonding strengthened by [...]