Village ‘mystery box’ for MasterChef
George Calombaris watches a woman roughly grind mint leaves into a bright green paste. Crushed between the stone surfaces of her mortar and pestle, their sharp fragrance drifts through the small clearing around a village home. His hosts, Cinnamon Life, flew Calombaris down from Colombo to Dambulla only this morning, and it took a car, [...]
Letters To The Editor
Mr. President, show this country that you are in control Mr. President, please take full control of this country, the ministers and parliamentary affairs. We citizens elected you as an executive president, you promised the dismantling of the ‘’ executive ‘’ presidency which still remains elusive. Mr. President, you said you are a farmer, from [...]
A sacred ground in the shadow of the Kelaniya temple
On the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkhika, Lord Buddha in the eighth year after his Enlightenment, visited Kelaniya with his followers on a Vesak poya day, chronicle the Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa. It is common knowledge to Lankan Buddhists that the king built Kelaniya Raja MahaViharaya enshrining thejewelled throne on which Lord Buddha is said [...]
How do we cope with Sansara?
In this Poson month, which marks the lunar month when the Buddha Dharma was first introduced to this island of Sri Lanka around 230 years BCE, I feel it is apt to consider where one stands in relation to one’s own existence in sansara. The word ‘sansara’ is used to mean the stream of existences [...]
Emperor Asoka’s role in making Buddhism a world religion
Poson Poya in Sri Lanka is the celebration of the arrival of Arahant Mahinda and the introduction of Buddhist Teachings. The event was the outcome of the dissemination programme of the Buddhist Doctrine of the Indian Emperor Asoka. According to a resolution adopted at the Third Buddhist Council or the DharmaSangayanaya convened by the Emperor [...]
Pizza’s the winner at this hub of good food
When asked what he wants people to know about Alexandra and Ward fashion café and cafe Nihonbashi (at the Odel promenade), restaurateur Chef Dharshan Munidasa replies, “Try the pizza. You cannot get anything this good within 2600km (Singapore is 2600km away). I have friends from New York who tell me that even in New York, [...]
Jie Jie Beach, Jetwing’s newest hotel in Panadura
Jie Jie Beach, Jetwing’s newest hotel in Panadura was opened on June 4 with Tourism Minister John Amaratunga and Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board, Paddy Withana present. Owned by Jie Zhong Jie Lanka Development Construction & Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, Jie Jie Beach is managed by Jetwing Hotels. Located [...]
Enjoyable, carefree stay at a modern beach hotel
For months I watched as a gigantic edifice took shape by the side of the Galle Road at Ahungala and I wondered how anything so huge could be a welcoming hotel. It grew to five floors tall with a massive central area and two wings spreading beside the beach. Then suddenly the 501-room Hotel Riu [...]
Financial hub that people can feel at home in
For Chartered Architect, Shayan Kumaradas and his entiregeneration, dubbed the ‘third generation of Sri Lankan architects’, legendary Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa was the ‘Dronacharya’ of the great epic Mahabharata. “I should say my entire generation personified Ekalaivan who had no direct access toDronacharya, but followed his disciples to quench his thirst for learning from the [...]
‘I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree’
Our political leaders seem to admire and take Singapore as a model. Yet, consider how much planning, resources and energy have gone into branding Singapore as the garden city. They would have started from scratch and amidst all that concrete and high rise construction in a limited space, Singapore’s leaders have done admirably to create [...]
Tracking those darting beauties across Montane forests
The emerald beauty is his favourite and he is quick to show off on his smart phone these “power machines” with their gossamer wings and long body shapes, on which helicopters have been modelled, to anyone who indicates even the slightest interest. While many are fascinated by the fragile wonder of butterflies, few follow or [...]
French Spring Festival gets young and breezy this year
Popular, free, young, modern and innovative,” is how Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka Jean-Marin Schuh, explains the theme for French Spring Festival 2017 presented by the French Embassy in collaboration with the Alliance Française de Kotte in Colombo. The French Spring Festival, an event held by many French embassies worldwide, aims to provide a [...]
The Old Joes Choir: Celebrating 20 years
Twenty years ago the Old Joes Choir registered as a choir that would love to do what they do best – Sing. Now its artistic heirs are making their celebration of 20 years though the combination of voices has possibly changed dramatically; times have changed, as the current 40-50 man roster can attest. I believe, [...]
Chamber Music Society to perform ‘The Dawn of Kandula’ and world premiere of ‘River of Shadows’
The orchestra of the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC) will present the world premiere of “River of Shadows”, Sri Lankan resident American composer Stephen Allen’s new work for the Chamber Music Society of Colombo at the Lionel Wendt on Thursday, June 15 at 7.30 p.m. A rhapsody for bassoon and string orchestra ‘The River [...]
Combining two passions, motherhood and music for ‘Symphony for a Child’
Living in London as a banker’s wife, concert pianist and music teacher, Sirima Jayasekera with four children of her own found the call of her ‘motherhood’ to reach the children of the wide world. The call bloomed a decade ago when she saw children in the Cancer Hospital’s children ward in Sri Lanka. She combined [...]
Appreciations
Walter Ediriweera My father, my hero, my teacher Three months have gone, since the day my beloved Thathi (father) passed away, leaving our family with a profound sense of sadness and deep shock. Thathi passed away unexpectedly on March 6 while he was being treated for his illness at a private hospital, in Colombo. Though [...]
Hoteliers donate for flood relief
Hoteliers countrywide came together to support the flood relief programme launched by the Government supported by the National Disaster Relief Centre. Tourist Hotels Association SL (THASL) president Sanath Ukwatte speaking at the handing over ceremony said, “As hoteliers we are deeply conscious of our responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to alleviate the suffering of [...]
WNPS lecture on Wilpattu
Kithsiri Gunawardena will deliver the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society’s monthly lecture on ‘Wilpattu: Place of Legend, History & Wildlife’ on June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Cinema Hall, BMICH, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. The lecture is open to all members and non-members, admission free Since the end of the war, Kithsiri Gunawardena, despite [...]
UK cardiologists to cycle across Sri Lanka for ‘Little Hearts’
Dr. Divaka Perera (Interventional Cardiologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital), Prof. Michael Marber (Professor of Cardiology at King’s College London) and Dr Peter O’Kane (Interventional Cardiologist at Royal Bournemouth Hospital) are part of a five-man team who will cycle across the length of Sri Lanka beginning today to raise funds for Little Hearts (a [...]
Sitar and Bharatha natyam recitals
A sitar recital by eminent sitarist Dr. Nirmala Kumari Rodrigo and disciples will be held on Monday, June 12 at 6 p.m. at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) auditorium at 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 07. Dr. Nirmala Kumari Rodrigo, one of the most eminent sitarists of Sri Lanka, learnt sitar for 11 years from 1973 [...]
Two emerging artists hold second exhibition
Teran Indika and Harshan Gamage, two emerging artists, will hold their second exhibition -“Repetition” on June 16, 17 and 18 at the Sapumal Foundation. Their first exhibition titled “Entrance” was held in January 2016 at the J.D.A. Perera Gallery. In their 2016 exhibition, Harshana explored the limitations and adverse effects of materialism and consumerism while [...]