Chest doc’s breathtaking canvas of life
It is rarely that when an oration in the name of an eminent personality is delivered that he would be seated right in front in the darkened hall. This was just such a unique happening when ‘Respire 9’ was inaugurated a few months ago, with the prestigious C.G. Uragoda Oration on ‘The air we breathe: [...]
All set to ‘sing together and bring nations together’
Choral music has become a great tool in bringing people together,” Colombo Cultural Hub Trust Director of Programmes, Soundarie David Rodrigo declared at the second media briefing of the 4th Asia Pacific Choir Games and Grand Prix of Nations, held at the Hilton Colombo Residencies last week. Taking place from October 21 to October 28 [...]
From handmade recycled paper to beautiful crafts
The women stand by a small cement water tank. They work together, transferring thin layers of the watery pulp onto mesh squares. Occasionally, small, white kohomba flowers from tree branches above fall into the tank and become part of the blend. Nobody minds. The wet sheets of pulp—now studded with tiny blooms—are carefully peeled off [...]
Golden memories of the Master’s music on the silver screen
“Like Gandhi, Khemadasa believes that one must keep the doors and windows of one’s house open so that the winds from the four corners of the earth will blow through it- yet never allow oneself to be taken off one’s feet which should remain firmly planted on your own soil. He has therefore boldly used [...]
The 43 Group and others; all under one roof
On October 21 and 22, Colombo art lovers would have the opportunity of viewing as well as purchasing, some of the work of the 43 Group, as well as other artists, some of whom exhibited with the 43 Group. The 43 Group was led by photographer Lionel Wendt and its members included Harold Pieris, Aubrey [...]
Tharanga stars in SOSL’s Celebrating 60 concert
Critically acclaimed soprano Tharanga Goonetilleke whose performances have been praised by the Washington Times as ‘magical’, will be the Guest Soloist at the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka’s concert ‘Celebrating 60 Years: Tribute to Dr. Earle de Fonseka’, on October 19 at the Ladies’ College Hall. Tharanga will perform a selection of arias encompassing all [...]
Chariots of Fire producer, Booker Prize winner among exciting line-up for FGLF
The Fairway Galle Literary Festival will be held from January 24-28, 2018 at the Galle Fort and its much-awaited first author reveal was held this week. This is the first of two author reveals which will be held to announce the full list of participants numbering around 70. The line-up for 2018 revealed so far [...]
Iromie’s paintings at Dubai exhibition
Award winning artist Iromie Wijewardena’s work was exhibited at the ‘Kolor Palette’ exhibition in Dubai earlier this month. Organised by Indian art gallery Aart Souqk 6, the event featured many Indian artists and Iromie was the only Sri Lankan artist selected to exhibit her work. This is the latest achievement in a long line of [...]
Hindustani violin recital by renowned violinist and his pupils
The Indian Cultural Centre will present a Hindustani violin recital by renowned violinist Dr. Somasiri Illesinghe and his pupils, on October 20 at 6 p.m. at the Indian Cultural Centre Auditorium, 16/2 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. Dr Illesinghe obtained his Visharada degree from the Bhatkhande University, Lucknow, India and trained under guru Prof.G.N.Goswamy. Mr. Illesinghe [...]
Letters to the Editor
Alms bowls and cash donations don’t go hand in hand A letter by Dr. Chandima Weeraratne “The disappearing begging bowl and its abuse” in the Sunday Times of October 8, speaks a lot about the abuse of alms bowls by certain monks. I quote below from the Internet on the origin of the begging bowl: [...]
Appreciations
I keep her alive in the hope that one day I may become a fraction of what she was Dr.Neelika Karunaratne On a fateful April in 2003, I, a medical officer at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH), a few days into my new job, made a silly mistake. I had informed two specialist anaesthetists [...]
Discussing the novel: EWC workshop on Oct 21
Following up on two successful workshops on the Short Story and Poetry this year, the English Writers Cooperative of Sri Lanka (EWC) will hold a discussion on the Novel on Saturday, October 21 at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES() No. 2 Kynsey Road, Colombo 8, from 9.30 to 1 pm. Jill McDonald, a [...]
Clippety-clop, clippety-clop through a Polish stud farm
POZNAN, Warsaw – The palace is stately, warm and inviting. But it also has large paintings, drawings and antiquated surroundings, conjuring up images of ghosts and sounds of fugitive footsteps in the corridor after everyone goes to asleep. Laughingly, I tell the host “There must be ghosts here.” Instantly he walks up and regales the [...]
In awe of the Matterhorn and nature’s pristine beauty
It’s the dawn of a new day in June. We had gathered in the balcony of our Airbnb to watch the rising light of the sun on the Matterhorn. Against the brilliant blue sky, the sun-lit crest of Switzerland’s highest mountain shimmers like a gem. When the sun aligns perfectly with the summit, this rare [...]
Country-hopping on a Durian trail
How do you start a durian tasting “flight”? Lindsay Gasik’s advice is simple: begin with a fruit that is mild and sweet. From there, work your way up to the more challenging flavours, the fruits whose flesh is pungent, alcoholic or even bitter, laced with the hints of chocolate or coffee. A kind of durian [...]
Dip into The Cauldron for homely fusion fare
Something is boiling over and it’s got us hungry! Opening their doors on September 11, Colombo’s latest cafe venture “The Cauldron” has claimed a cosy quarter of its own down Stratford Avenue, Colombo 6. Operating from 7 a.m. to midnight on all week days, The Cauldron is run by husband-wife duo Tharanga Perera and Dushanthi [...]
Prestige Automobiles launched the all new MINI Countryman SE plug-in hybrid to the Lankan market at the blue lawn, Hilton Colombo earlier this month.
Keep a date with exclusive retail therapy event
On Saturday, October 21, Colombo VIP Night presents its second Shop Til U Drop 2017, a one-day shopping extravaganza at the Taj Samudra Hotel under a Grand Marquee amidst the landscaped gardens – a perfect venue for this exclusive retail therapy event. More than 40 of Sri Lanka’s premier vendors will be there under the [...]
Colourful little heralder of the migratory season
The sudden appearance of the Blue tailed Bee-eater in Colombo signals the arrival of the migrant season. Although not by far the earliest winter visitor, it is by far one of the most colourful and graceful of the more common birds to visit our shores. Among the urban population particularly for keen bird watchers, it [...]
The rare, bizarre or beautiful of our wilds
With the computer screen rapidly replacing the printed page as the medium from which we derive our information and entertainment, one would have thought the days of the tea-table book (I regret I am no longer permitted to mention the alternate beverage) were over. But one would be mistaken. Books have carved for themselves a [...]
Jumbo boost for tourism
Srilal Miththapala will deliver this month’s Wildlife and Nature Protection Society lecture on ‘The Wild Elephant: An Icon of Tourism in Sri Lanka?” Sri Lanka is one of the few places where a large number of elephants can still be seen in the wild. There are some who estimate this number at being in the [...]
A platform for differently abled children and adults to excel on stage
Following the first ever and successful Dirijaya Prathibha variety show in 2013, ‘Dirijaya Prathibha 2017 – The Journey Continues…’ will take place on Saturday, October 21 at the Nelum Pokuna Colombo. The event is organised by the Enable the Disabled Foundation, the CSR arm of The Management Club, a body of professional managers. Dirijaya Prathibha [...]
Don’t throw your waste; it can be turned into art
Realizing the ‘value’ of waste was behind the “Waste To Art” exhibit organised by the Colombo Hippie Market and three collaborating universities at the Public Library recently. The exhibition held for the first time on October 6 and 7 drew an interested crowd. The exhibition was a collaboration between the Colombo Hippie Market(CHM ) and [...]
Girl Guides strive for a more inclusive society
In opening its doors to the differently abled, the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA) recently conducted a National Centenary Camp, which turned out to be a promising effort towards building a more inclusive society. The SLGGA has been around since 1917 and the Association’s Branch for Differently Abled Guides was founded in 1924, just [...]
A pictorial narrative of an ancient martial art
Not many know much about “Angampora,” Sri Lanka’s ancient martial art. It has been a term languishing in obscurity for the last couple of centuries, often misunderstood as an urban legend; a thing of the past. Oceans and Continents Sri Lanka, a collective of creative professionals based in Colombo, together with one of the last [...]
Annual Research Conference of RASSL
Prof. V. R. Rao of Osmania University and the Genome Foundation, Hyderabad, delivered the keynote address on ‘Human Gene Flows into and within India’ at the recently held annual Research Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences organised by the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL). The conference was held under the patronage of Speaker [...]
Professor H.A. de S. Gunasekera Memorial Oration 2017
The Professor H.A. de S. Gunasekera Memorial Oration 2017 will be held on Tuesday, October 24, at 3 p.m. at the Senate Room, University of Peradeniya. The Oration will be delivered by Prof.Sirimevan Colombage, Professor Emeritus, Open University of Sri Lanka, and a former Director of the Central Bank, on the topic, “The Political Economy [...]
Eloquent Memories by Meghavarna Kumarasinghe
“Megha’s Eloquent Memories” by Meghavarna Kumarasinghe will be launched on October 21 at 5.30 p.m. at Ananda College. The author, Meghawarna, a sports enthusiast has featured many sports personalities. Minister of Regional Development, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, will be the Chief Guest whilst Principal of Ananda College S.M. Keerthirathna, will be the Guest of Honour [...]
Wesley College hosts inaugural Shelton Wirasinha Oration
Wesley College Colombo will host the inaugural ‘Shelton Wirasinha Oration’ on Thursday, October 19, at 5 p.m. at the College Hall. The oration will be delivered by Kumar de Silva and is open to the public. As Principal of Wesley College from 1962-1983, Arthur Shelton Wirasinha was the second longest serving Principal of the College [...]