Lionel Wendt: Recovery and dispersal
By Manel Fonseka When I first wrote about Lionel Wendt in 1994, the person and the artist seemed to be almost forgotten. Few visitors to the popular theatre and art gallery that bear his name had any idea who he was or were even curious about him. He had become like a personality behind a [...]
Colombo Swim Week aims at making a green splash
Eco friendliness must come from the heart, says founder Ajai Vir Singh By Kaveesha Fernando Did you know that the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world? The only other industrial polluter which has a worse impact is oil. It is also believed that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% [...]
On a wave of luxury
Kumudini Hettiarachchi boards the ‘super-luxury’ M.V. Majestic Princess that stopped over in Colombo Port on her 49-day maiden voyage from Rome to Shanghai Cosseted in the lap of luxury, leisure and pleasure are not in a five-star or even a seven-star hotel overlooking sun-kissed beaches — but on the high seas. Luxury and comfort in [...]
Anything she can do I can do better
Good, strong female friends can be the most extraordinary source of strength. They can understand us women in a way men never can…in all sincerity, a female friend can empathise, feel, give advice, support and cheer on another sister, in a way that few male friends ever could and their contribution to our lives is…immeasurable. [...]
French Spring Festival is here
“Mystic” an exhibition by photographer Marie- Caroline Senlis opened on Thursday heralding the start of the French Spring Festival 2017. Organised by the Embassy of France and the Alliance Francaise de Kotte, the photo exhibition is one of many exciting cultural events extending from photography, art, music, literature and fashion that will make up this [...]
A pilgrim’s rest
In our series on the Geoffrey Bawa Award for Excellence in Architecture short list, Kaveesha Fernando talks to Yudish Ganesen and Michael Bolier “More than what you see from within the building, somebody standing outside it from the other mountain shouldn’t see anything ugly I suppose,” says architect Yudish Ganesen. Clearly this motto has served [...]
Long white house on the beach
Michael Bolier is clearly a Geoffrey Bawa enthusiast. “When I was in Sri Lanka I visited almost all the houses designed by Geoffrey Bawa. We contacted the current occupants and asked if we could look around and everybody was very welcoming so they let us take a tour around, and I developed a good sense [...]
Young designer’s recipe for a good night’s sleep
Trying out her designs on her young children, Sharmila Srikumar’s trendy, comfy nightwear aims also at bonding between mothers and daughters By Tarini Pilapitiya A warm mug of milk, a heartwarming story and Mackly Pajamas – it’s her perfect recipe for a snug night’s rest. Launching a brand new collection of ladies’ nightwear today [...]
I’m there to make people eat something and go ‘Yum!’
By Kaveesha Fernando George Calombaris, shared his views on food, culture and philosophy of life at a news conference and interview. Excerpts: Favourite South Asian spice? Cinnamon. Why he fell in love with food? There’s no question about it – you’re a product of your youth and you’re a product of how you’ve been brought [...]
Mangosteen delight; icing on the cake in George’s Greek Feast
Geoge Calombaris had promised a Greek Feast and the Cinnamon Grand’s atrium was suitably adorned with Greek pillars, long tables dressed with snowy white tablecloths, a single strip of greenery running across to set the scene of subtle elegance. This, mind you, was a pricey affair and expectations were high among the select clientele who [...]
She came, she conquered both stage and screen
Trail blazing actress Irangani Serasinghe turns 90 on June 21. Here D.C. Ranatunga looks back on her amazing career that included the Sinhala and English art scenes Chirang Jayatu! Greetings to the Kumarihamy of Sri Lanka’s stage and screen who turns 90 on June 21. Hers is a unique ‘dramatic career’. True to her pet [...]
Another night of favourites with Menaka Singers Opera Ensemble
By Namali Premawardhane Monday evening, 6 p.m., the gusty sounds of the sextet “Chi mi frena in talmomento” from Lucia Di Lammermoor by Donizetti pours out of Menaka de Fonseka-Sahabandu’s house, on a small by-lane off Ward Place. Fifteen young people are crammed in the living room, crowded around a baby grand piano, where Menaka [...]
Hidden tragedy that lurks in our ‘paradise’ isle
43 years ago on June 14, Sri Lanka Sumithrayo was born By Lakshmi Ratnayeke Sri Lanka often referred to since time immemorial as the pearl of the Indian Ocean has till recently been more in the limelight for suicide, ethnic disharmony, and violent crimes. Despite this, visitors to our paradise isle see us as a [...]
A marriage contract between two men
By Ameena Hussein When I was young, a wedding in the family was a time of excitement, fun, splendour and ceremony. My sister and I, being the youngest in the extended family for the longest time, were co-opted to be flower girls not only for weddings of my young aunts and older cousins, but also [...]
On your 100th b’day let us thank you for sharing your life with us
Arunthathy Thiruchittampalam God willing, Amma, for that is the term, that I affectionately used to address my wife’s mother since I became an integral part of the Thiruchittampalam family, was 100 not out, to use the language of a cricketer, on Saturday, June 17. Amma belonged to a Colombo based, Jaffna Tamil family – the [...]
British pianist Anthony Adkins, Ananda Dabare and his Krasna Ensemble at Grieg concert
The Colombo Cultural Hub’s very first effort at fostering cultural integration, both local and international, is the showcasing of the exquisite, soulful and tantalizing music of Norwegian maestro Edward Grieg on Wednesday, June 21 at 7.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt. Mano Chanmugam, its Chairman, has invited the brilliant British pianist Anthony Adkins, and integrated [...]
Have fun on Father’s Day
The Galle Face Hotel The Galle Face Hotel is celebrating Father’s Day with a special offer for dads. Bring your father to The Verandah this Sunday, June 18 between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to treat him – and yourself – to a mouth-watering brunch and he can enjoy his meal for free. The brunch [...]
Dr. Ramya de Silva honoured by UK’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Senior Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Ramya de Silva has been elected for an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health of the United Kingdom in recognition of her outstanding contribution to children. The Honorary Fellowship was presented to Dr. de Silva at the 21st anniversary celebrations of the Royal College of Paediatrics [...]
The Red Lotus Organisation for Humanitarian Assistance steps in again
The Red Lotus Organisation for Humanitarian Assistance formed immediately after the tsunami in December 2004 became active again last week in Kalutara. Red Lotus donated aid to the people who were affected by the floods in the Kithulawa, Nagoda, Kularton areas, in Kalutara. Immediate needs such as food and clothes were distributed among 100 families. [...]
Pradyotha Cabraal’s arangetram
The bharatha natya arangetram of Pradyotha Cabraal will take place on June 24 at 6 p.m. at Buddhist Cultural Centre auditorium, Colombo 5. Dr. Anjali Misra, head of the Department of Indian and Asian dances, University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo 7 will be the Chief Guest and Dilmi Ratnayake, Directress, Lyceum International School [...]
UK fellowship for speech and drama teacher
The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama (STSD), United Kingdom (UK), awarded a prestigious Fellowship to the Founder Principal of the Varuni Jayasekara Academy of Speech, Drama and Communication, Varuni Jayasekara on June 8 at a ceremony held at the Janaki Hotel in Colombo 5. The Fellowship was presented by STSD Council Member Penny [...]
Letters to the Editor
We the unfortunate victims of developing Battaramulla “Nestling close to the Diyawanna Oya which meanders leisurely through the ancient Kingdom of Sri Jayawardanapura and almost on the Western outskirts of the Urban Council area of Kotte lies the peaceful and serene hamlet of Battaramulla. The rattle of wooden planks that once lay across the narrow [...]
Appreciations
Love was the enduring gift My mother gave to me Bali Arulpragasam My mother Bali, was born between the two world wars, when people instinctively knew that life was more about giving than receiving. She was a giver of her time, her kindness, her help and her hospitality. In time she came to possess everything [...]