Sands of change
The youngster who growing up, used the Odisha beach as his canvas as he couldn’t afford art supplies is now the Guinness World Record holder in sand sculpture. This Vesak, Indian sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik flew to Colombo to create a 40-ft long reclining sand Buddha statue at the Diyawanna Vesak Zone as Sri Lanka hosted [...]
1899- The Casket comes to Lanka
“The Burmese High Priest Wajirarama, and Pilgrims about 1200 in number, arrived at Colombo by the S.S. “Derbyshire” of the Bibby Line on 10th of January, 1899 bringing with them the Gold Jewelled Casket and the Silver Jewelled Canopy, as offerings to the Dalada Maligawa at the Mountain Capital for the enshrinement of the Tooth [...]
Saga of the Sacred Relic since 4th century AC
Celebrations in connection with the United Nations Vesak Day held in Sri Lanka for the first time from May 11 end today. The closing ceremony will be held today, at the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises – the Maha Maluwa, which will be attended by the President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari as the chief guest. [...]
This old-school secretary has much to impart
When the Rector at St. Peter’s College suggested to young Mervyn Dirckze’s father, Errol Dirckze that his son take up carpentry, he was aghast! “My father looked at me in horror,” reminisces Mervyn with a chuckle, candidly admitting that he had no interest in the academic side at school. With his musical genes inherited from [...]
Lankan author’s insight into Kafka’s famed work
Any reader of Franz Kafka’s writings will know how unsettling his books leave one feeling. Hence it is no surprise that the word Kafkaesque is now widely used to describe situations that are nightmarish, bizarre or even illogical. But as dark as his novels maybe, Kafka who died in 1924 remains one of the most [...]
Gratiaen short-listed to read their work
The five authors shortlisted for this year’s Gratiaen Award -Jean Arasanayagam, Rizvina Morseth de Alwis, Shehan Karunatilaka, Charulatha Abeysekara Thewarathanthri and Vivimarie VanderPoorten will read from their works at the Orion City British Council Library in Colombo 9 on Tuesday, May 16 at 4.30 p.m. The Gratiaen prize which was instituted by Michael Ondaatje in [...]
The giant lantern comes alive to “oohs” and “aahhs”
On a balmy Saturday evening on May 6 we inched our way into the packed hall of the Sooriya Village where Sulochana Dissanayake was into an enchanting evening of picturesque storytelling using a Giant Vesak Lantern. What set apart the white papered structure that was similar to the lanterns we see annually this season was [...]
Seeing the Blue Mountains for the first time
A few months ago I had the privilege of taking part in the 2017 AusCamino Festival in the town of Blackheath in Australia’s Blue Mountains. It was to be Australia’s first ever national gathering of those who had walked – or had an interest in – the ancient Spanish pilgrim trail called The Camino of [...]
He’ll be here! Everybody’s much-loved MasterChef
Much beloved of all of MasterChef Australia’s legions of fans, celebrity George Calombaris will be in Sri Lanka from June 8 to 11, giving a lucky few an exclusive opportunity to dine, learn and interact with him. His visit is courtesy of Cinnamon Life, Colombo’s premier lifestyle mixed development , one of the most ambitious [...]
Around Sri Lanka on wheels
To the McEvans cycling is a way of life, a break from the mundane and a pastime which can be shared with loved ones. A tight knit family of four residing in Australia cycling is their ultimate getaway. As parents, Jack and Karen McEvan made it a point to introduce their son and daughter to [...]
Farewell Colombo
Pakistani High Commissioner Major General ( Retd) Syed Shakeel Hussain held a farewell reception at the Hilton to bid goodbye to his many friends in Colombo last week.
Reaching out through laughter
Laughing Waters, an association formed in 2000 in Kandy with the aim of keeping healthy, happy and stress free through laughter celebrated the anniversary of their Colombo branch at the Royal Colombo Golf Club on April 6 with guest speaker Dian Abeywardene addressing the members. Laughing Waters now counts 85 members in Kandy and Colombo [...]
Indonesian floral expert at ‘Floral Magic’
The Shi-En Ikebana Floral Art Society will wind up its 25th anniversary year with a floral exhibition titled ‘Floral Magic’ at the Winchester, Kingsbury Hotel on May 20 from 9.30 a.m to 7.30 p.m. Internationally known Indonesian floral expert Harijanto Setiawan, who is now based in Singapore, will also hold a demonstration at 4 p.m. [...]
A cuppa of fortune
The practice of reading fortunes from tea leaves comes from the days before tea bags took the fun out of tea time and real tea made with leaves was served without a strainer, and without milk. The leaves remaining in the cup after the liquid had been drunk were supposed to reveal the future. The [...]
En Route to take you once again to those halcyon times of the 50s & 60s
Fans of American popular music of the early and mid 20th century have a date to keep. Colombo’s popular jazz band “En Route” led by saxophonist cum vocalist Gananath Dasanayaka will present “The Great American Song Book – Vol 2” on May 27, at the British School Auditorium at 8 p.m. This is the band’s [...]
Upasampada rites: A continuing ritual
This year marks 265 years since Upasampada or Higher ordination was brought back to Sri Lanka from Thailand or Siam. It was Sangharaja Weliwita Asarana Sarana Saranankara Thera who spearheaded a movement to bring back the rites from Thailand during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe. On Vesak Day (May 10 ), two Samaneras [...]
Another successful Unity Mission camp helps build bridges
Nearly 400 Youth Leaders from across Sri Lanka came together in the cool climes of Gurutalawa for the Unity Mission Trust’s ninth Unity Camp 9. This was the Trust’s 59th successful programme, since May 2009 when they were launched in the immediate aftermath of the war with the aim of building new bridges of friendship [...]
A book on Buddhism for both children and adults
As Sri Lanka hosts the United Nations Day of Vesak Festival & Conference in Colombo and Kandy from May 12 to 14, well-known Sinhala scholar Prof. J.B. Disanayaka has put forth the book, ‘Siddhartha – The Seeker’. This colourful book, focusing on the first 35 years of the Buddha, beautifully illustrated by Sybil Wettasinghe though [...]
Veteran artiste needs assistance for surgery
Film producer and Art Director Padmasiri Gamage has suffered a dislocated spine and is at Ward 79 in the National Hospital, Colombo since May last year. He is due to undergo further surgery and is in need of financial support .He has been involved in teledramas and written music for stage dramas since 1969. He [...]
“Perk Up” from Commons
Celebrating their 12th anniversary, the Commons Coffee House launched the “Perk Up” Rewards programme from May 4. Registration for the programme is simple – just fill in a “Perk Up” Rewards card or it will be added when settling the bill. Guests earn 10 points for every Rs 100 spent with every transaction for dine [...]
Well known photographer to deliver WNPS lecture
Well known photographer L.J. Mendis Wickremesinghe will deliver this month’s Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) Monthly Lecture on ‘Capturing Wildlife – with the Eye and the Heart! L. J. Mendis Wickramasinghe is the founder and the President of the Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka. Inspired by his unusual childhood passion for snakes, and the [...]
Letters
The Govt. must take a stand and not follow dictates of trade unions Who is running this country? Is it the Government or the trade unions? When will the Government appointed by the people make its own decisions and not follow the dictates of trade unions? The doctors of the country are educated with the [...]
Appreciations
LALITHA HERATH DISSANAYAKE Her love and loyalty to friends was amazing The news of the sudden demise of Aunty Lalitha just a week after her father’s funeral came as a shock to all her near and dear ones.That aunty who was sprightly and energetic as always when she met me, my husband and sons in [...]