When Lanka was Kerala
Tourists loved the look of Greg McConnell’s Beach Bar. Strolling along Unawatuna beach, they would do a double take. “When was happy hour? Did they serve beer? When did this place open?” What they didn’t realise was they were in the middle of a film set. “There wasn’t a single ounce of alcohol in the [...]
Shilpa strengthens Indian-Lankan historic handicraft ties
Twenty five Indian artistes and 14 Sri Lankan craftsmen will exhibit their work at a grand show of Indian and Sri Lankan crafts next weekend. ‘Shilpa 2017’ to be held from May 25-28 at Mihilaka Medura, BMICH is organised by the Indian High Commission together with ‘Hands of Sri Lanka Arts and Crafts Foundation and [...]
A search for truth in muddied waters
Professor Ravindra Fernando has carved a niche for himself as the foremost medico-legal writer on sensational murder cases in Sri Lanka. His writings on the Wijedasa Liyanarachchi killing, the unsolved Sathasivam Case and the sensational Murders at the Vicarage have enthralled the reader with their fascinating mix of social history, character studies, forensic expertise and [...]
SCWEC gets new chairperson
Prominent women in business and other industries were present at the Cinnamon Grand as the SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneur Council (SCWEC) headed by President Rifa Musthapha held a dinner at the Oak Room to celebrate Ms. Musthapha’s investiture as new chairperson.
‘Lichens: the coolest thing you never heard of’
‘Lichens: the coolest thing you never heard of’, a lecture presided by eminent Sri Lankan lichenologist, Dr. Gothamie Weerakoon, and world renowned lichen specialist Dr Pat Wolseley, scientific advisor to the Natural History Museum London, will concentrate on a scientific dissemination of their insights on the subject. The duo will be joined by National Geographic [...]
Enter King Arthur
Film buffs gathered at the premiere of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, screened at the Liberty last week before its release in the US. The Liberty is the first of a chain of the state-of the art cinemas that Scope Cinemas will open around the country. The film was distributed through Skyline Entertainment & [...]
Celebrating Europe Day
Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Tung-Lai Margue hosted a reception at the Union Ballroom of the Hilton Colombo residences to celebrate Europe Day on May 16. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Serta comfort here
Comfort World International, a leading name in mattress manufacture and retail in Sri Lanka, Maldives and Seychelles, introduced Serta Mattresses to the local market last week. Established by Naushad Mohideen 14 years ago, Comfort World’s entire range of a wide variety of sleep related products is manufactured in their state of the art factory in [...]
Bear necessities, the palu fruits
For the black bear, there is no greater feast than palu fruits straight from the tree. This gastronomic delight makes the nocturnal creature forego its night time pursuits and get intoxicated by palu even during the day! “They are oblivious to the world outside and can be spotted in various positions under the palu trees, [...]
Liberation and not racism motivated Dutugamunu the warrior
Dutugamunu Prince of Destiny (161-137BCE,) the latest literary work of Rukmani Jayasinghe Samaranayake, twice winner of the State Literary Awards, is not merely a historical narration of a warrior prince regaining the kingdom of Rajarata. But it is to right a historical injustice that Dutugamunu set out to defeat the usurper king Elara not due [...]
Exploring the fractured human psyche
At the recent launching of the book, God’s Secret Agent at the beautiful Mirissa Hills boutique hotel, Dr. A.G.N. de Silva, an eminent obstetrician and classmate of the author at S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia, delivered the key-note address. He described his old friend, referring to the many diverse facets of his personality, as being “Extraordinaire”. [...]
Simple solutions for a complex problem
Seventy percent of the Earth is covered with water, which is why it is called the Blue Planet. Yet, 96.5% of this water is held in oceans, as salt water. Freshwater — the water that humans need for daily living — is confined to 2.5% of all the water on Earth. More than 68% of [...]
Why they do what they do — write
The Sunday Times caught up with the authors shortlisted for this year’s Gratiaen Prize to discuss books, reading and writing ahead of the final announcement of the winner on May 27. The Prize was founded by Michael Ondaatje in 1992 and recognizes and rewards creative writing in English by a Sri Lankan citizen resident in [...]
Samhara returns to local stage
After their initial collaboration in 2012, Bangalore based the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble and the Chitrasena Dance Company come together for a performance of Odissi and Kandyan dance A dialogue between two classical dance traditions, Odissi from India and Kandyan dance from Sri Lanka, will take place on June 5 and 6 at the Lionel Wendt [...]
From Chopin to Carmen and more
The Women’s International Club will present an evening of light classical music , covering composers from the historic capitals of Austria, Poland, France and Germany on May 30 at 6 p.m. The versatile musicians featured will be Ramya Perera, Meneka Sahabandu, Sureka Amerasinghe and Tiyanie Sahabandu. The programme includes piano pieces by Chopin, violin compositions [...]
Rohan de Silva back to perform with the De Lanerolle Brothers
Rohan de Silva, is one of the world’s best known pianists, and it is no wonder than he is constantly globe-hopping for performances. But he continues to make time to perform in Sri Lanka. His next local appearance will be with the De Lanerolle Brothers on June 4 at the Colombo Hilton of classical, semi [...]
Galaxy of local talent at Metho’s Musical Mosaic
Methodist College Colombo marked its 150th anniversary in 2016, an occasion that brought past students from across the world together in grateful celebration for their happy years in school. One such group came together in 2015 as they celebrated 50 years since they left school, and moved to go beyond the camaraderie and fun, decided [...]
Visakhians all set with “The Songs We Love”
In celebration of their alma mater’s 100th anniversary this year, the students of Visakha Vidyalaya present “The Songs We Love”, a choral performance by the school’s Senior and Junior choirs. On June 2, the Jeramias Dias Hall at Visakha Vidyalaya will resonate with the mellifluous sounds of music – a celebration of songs, paying tribute [...]
Soul’s original sounds from Soundarie and friends
“If music be the food of love, play on” says Duke Orsino in one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, Twelfth Night. The Bard of Avon quite justly identified music as a satisfier of the human appetite in his plays, and Soundarie David Rodrigo is bringing back this timeless theme on June 7 at the Lionel [...]
Inspired by the people they work with to continue their journey with Sunshine
It is a typical Tuesday afternoon for Vijayalakshmi who works as a cook and cleaner at a Hindu Temple in the remote village of Periyakulam in the Trincomalee District. Her five-year-old twins have just returned from the Sunshine Day Care Centre, a 20-minute ride from Periyakulam. Jerusa and Jerusali have been at the Sunshine Day [...]
The Yoga Road Show
The Indian Cultural Centre, High Commission of India, Colombo is currently holding The Yoga Road Show from May 20 – 25 islandwide in Sri Lanka in association with Astanga Yoga Mandir and Institute of Human Excellence as a curtainraiser to the 3rd International Day of Yoga. The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a resolution [...]
Tangalle resort joins IUCN to protect marine turtles in surrounding coastline
Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort has joined forces with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to implement methods to protect and conserve the globally threatened marine turtles. The project was officially launched on Saturday, May 6. The project will enhance conservation of the various species of marine turtles that visit the beach at [...]
Pioneering youth festival in June
Pioneers’ Expo, a youth festival, organised by the United Nations Clubs of Visakha Vidyalaya and D.S. Senanayake College, will be held at Ape Gama, Colombo on June 3-4. The central theme of the Expo will be the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event, for the first time in the island, will provide a platform [...]
Eid delicacies and more at Lanka-Pakistan Association Ramazan bazaar
The Sri Lanka-Pakistan Friendship, Trade and Investment Association will hold its 4th Ramazan Bazaar today, Sunday, May 21 at the Dutch Burgher Union, No. 114, Reid Avenue, Colombo 04. Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Dr. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra will be the chief guest on the occasion. Following the success of its [...]
Letters
Preventive methods our only hope of beating dengue Sri Lanka has been fighting dengue with ad hoc measures now for more than 50 years. Enough is enough. We need a structural approach like what we had with the Malaria Control Programme which in the end eradicated Malaria from Sri Lanka. We have failed in our [...]
Appreciations
Jayanthi Karunarathne She was sincere, generous and compassionate One year has gone since Jayanthi Karunarathne passed away, leaving us in sorrow. She hailed from the well-known Ranathunga family in Pasyala, had her education at Musaeus College Colombo and completed her higher education at the University of Colombo. As a student, she played netball, badminton and [...]