Young and unafraid
A month ago two young Sri Lankans were in London to receive the Queen’s Young Leaders Award. Established in 2014, the programme is aimed at discovering, supporting and encouraging exceptional young people between the ages of 18-29 across the Comonwealth for their contribution to their communities. This year, 21-year-old Rakitha Malewana and 26-year-old Senel Wanniarachchi [...]
Think plastic, think creative
Where others see waste they see potential. At the unassuming property that is No. 102/1 West Kaluwarippuwa Road, Katana, you will find a plastic recycling and upcycling plant that is serving the community of Katana. Co-owned by Jayantha Kumarasiri and Akvan Gajanayake, the operation is run by Jayantha who decides how best to use the [...]
Singing some of their favourite songs
The Senior, Intermediate and Junior choirs of Subashini Talwatte all brimming with talent are looking forward to performing the well-loved melodies of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music at the “Sound of Music”, a musical extravaganza and sing along concert presented by Symphony (Pvt.) Ltd on Saturday, July 29 at the BMICH [...]
Stories from Parliament for the younger generation
From assassination attempts to failed impeachments to the collapse of governments, Nihal Seneviratne has witnessed them all. A former Secretary General of Parliament, Seneviratne’s position gave him unparalleled access and a unique perspective on the inner workings of Parliament for over three decades. Now in retirement, he has penned his memories in the book “A [...]
Events from the past with lessons for the future
The old Parliament situated on the seafront in Colombo Fort was totally different from the new modern parliamentary complex in Kotte. There was a great feel for, and sense of history inside the old Parliament. It had witnessed proceedings from the days of the old Legislative Council, the State Council, and then the Parliament of [...]
Ceylon College of Physicians: The realisation of a dream 50 years ago
A quick chat, most probably over cups of tea, a half-century ago before they hurried back to their wards at the General Hospital in Colombo, to engage in their revered vocation of healing…………in the wake of which follows the birth of the ‘oldest’ professional body of doctors, the Ceylon College of Physicians (CCP). The beginnings [...]
The little known Green Hospital of Sri Lanka
Taking up the mantle of the CCP in the year of its golden anniversary with his fitting theme, ‘Celebrating our Past, Igniting our Future’ is Consultant Physician Dr. S.D. Jayaratne. “Since its inception in 1967, the CCP has acted in the capacity of an academic body which advocates the improvement of standards in postgraduate education [...]
MuzikAAAle promises an evening of talent and creativity
“MuzikAAAle – An evening of fun classics” will be presented by the past and present students of well known piano teacher Ruvini Hapugalle Gunasekera who is celebrating 25 years of dedicated teaching. The concert will be held on Friday July 28 at 7 p.m. at the Bishop’s College Auditorium. MuzikAAAle will not only showcase high [...]
Get ready for a toe-tapping show by LC old girls
The curtains will rise on the first ever evening of singing, dancing and orchestral music starring the old girls of Ladies’ College, on July 29 at the school hall at 7.30 p.m. The concert will showcase a multitude of talents, as the old girls themselves take the stage to deliver some fantastic performances. The programme [...]
A touch of French flair
Ambassador for France in Sri Lanka Jean-Marin Schuh hosted a reception at the Galle Face Hotel to mark France’s Republic Day on July 14 with guests from the diplomatic circle and cultural and political sphere enjoying a typically French celebration.
A blast from the past
‘For a blast from the past- reconnect and celebrate’ read the invitation from Felicia Kate Dean, former Managing Director of Zenith Advertising as she hosted ex-Zenith staff, friends and colleagues at the Zenith Reunion held recently at Shalika Hall, Colombo 5.
Remembering Mandela
The South African High Commission in Sri Lanka marked Nelson Mandela Day on July 18 with an exhibition celebrating the iconic freedom fighter’s life and a concert in association with the Guitar Association of Sri Lanka at the Russian Cultural Centre.
‘I just write how I feel and I bend the rules’
Suresh de Silva claims he has always been a writer. He has held creative writing positions at multiple advertising agencies and – probably more importantly – been the lyricist of Sri Lanka’s best known and loved heavy metal band, Stigmata, for 18 years.“I started writing at 11 (years old), and now at 34 I’m finally [...]
200 voices and more in harmony at the Cathedral
On July 29, the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour will be filled with music and the voices of 200 singers as the De Lanerolle Brothers, with the guidance of the Bishop of Colombo present, “The Church’s One Foundation”. Music lovers may recall the last time the Cathedral’s stone walls vibrated with such volume and [...]
Appreciations
An unassuming, experienced role model of a surgeon Dr S.J.Stephen Along our trek in life we meet many, we get to know them, but as the scene changes they fade into the passing years. Yet some touch a chord somewhere inside us and their memory never fades. In the late 70s, when a young surgeon, [...]
Letters to the Editor
Is the sky the limit for these buildings springing up in residential areas? I refer to your front page news item in the Sunday Times July 16 that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) has “ hit the brakes on a proposed US $250Mn project to construct two towers of 75 storeys each on [...]
Women scientists conveniently ‘lost’ in history
Science as we know it today, is the Science of the Western World, which began with the philosophers of Ancient Greece, who tried to describe, define and where possible explain the Universe that constitutes it and the physical laws that govern it. The Greek philosophers who primarily contributed to thoughts and ideas which shaped the [...]
‘The Galle School in Fort’ that showed the way
With the British subjugating the entire country in 1815, the native monarchy ended. The first missionaries from England were Baptists and from the Church of Ireland and with the presence of the Anglican Chaplains they all began to actively propagate their brands of Christianity. In 1813, six of the missionaries of the Wesleyan Methodist Church [...]
SIBA campus English Dept. presents Sanda Kindura Jataka story
The English Department of the Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA) campus held a preview of their performance of the Sanda Kinduru Jataka story on July 14 at the SIBA auditorium followed by a question and answer session for the invitees. The play will be staged on July 28 at the Hindu Cultural Centre, Kandy. [...]
A story of courage for young ones
Young writer, 14-year-old Menura de Silva launched his first book “A Life Story’ at the Gateway College auditorium on July 5. A packed audience heard how he came to write this book when he was 12 – the story of a girl named Helen who has to confront some daunting hardships yet faces them with [...]
A new book by Praneeth Dhanushka
“Birbal Ge Nuwana” (The wisdom of Birbal)-Praneeth Dhanushka’s new book was released recently. The book is a translation of traditional Indian folk tales which show the unique wisdom of Birbal, a courtier in King Akbar’s court in India. According to the stories in the book, Birbal wins every challenge successfully by using his spiritual wisdom. [...]
Another Edirimanne Corea Family sing-along session
The Edirimanne Corea Family Union (ECFU) that has been known to draw full houses for the “Sing – Along” sessions organised in the past, have put-together another scintillating session on Saturday, July 29 at 7 p.m at the Orient Club, No. 01, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 07. Music at this “Sing – Along” will be provided [...]
DBU mid-year sale
The DBU Mid-year Sale will be held on Sunday, July 30 from 9 a.m. onwards. There will be many items on sale, including linen, gents and ladies garments, footwear, pottery, ceramic ware, books, magazines, semi-precious and costume jewellery, and plenty of yummy food, including the famous Burgher delicacies such as Boroa, Fougetti, Bolo fiado, lamprais, [...]