“Arthur of Serendip”
Forty years ago to this very day, in 1977, I set out from Colombo with Swami Siva Kalki (Mike Wilson) on a journey to Kandy where we hoped to write a significant science fiction screenplay in the seclusion of Udawattakele. I was driving an antiquated, almost brakeless, Volkswagen Beetle, which had been loaned to us [...]
Letters to the Editor
Failure to use past lessons to minimise natural disasters This refers to the letter by Sunil G. Wijesinha titled, ‘Hit by Cyclone Ockhi: How did Met Dept miss vital weather information?’ that appeared in the Letters to the Editor column in Sunday Times on December 3. A low pressure area which intensified into a depression [...]
Appreciations
He steered the CTB around and made it efficient ANIL KUMAR MOONESINGHE My father, Anil Kumar Moonesinghe, who passed away 15 years ago, was born into a different Sri Lanka from today. Then called Ceylon, it lodged securely in the bosom of His British Majesty’s “Empire on which the Sun never set”. Europeans ruled the [...]
Crossing continents with a sketchbook
Undoubtedly, he is ‘one of the greats’ not just in Sri Lanka but across the globe as well. As he prepares to fly down to the land of his birth, childhood and youth, from Fallbrook in California, United States of America, and present to the people here his ‘Brushes with Nature’, just seeing the cover [...]
The rise and fall of a great civilisation captured poetically
Senani Ponnampe-ruma, has done it again—turning the fascinating history of the Anuradhapura Kingdom into an exquisitely crafted book for all to enjoy. “The Story of Anuradhapura” is scholastic, immensely readable, but most of all, beautiful in its poetic descriptions of this sophisticated ancient kingdom. The book is also filled with stunning photographs from the modern [...]
“I never really saw myself as a beauty queen and I still don’t”
Christina Peiris was all smiles as she gracefully glided down the stage to join the top 16 semifinalists at the 66th Miss Universe pageant held in Las Vegas (USA) on November 26. Crowned Miss Universe Sri Lanka earlier in October, Christina spoke to the Sunday Times on her way back from Las Vegas, elated by [...]
Brides and grooms have their day
The Designer Wedding Show 2017 held on November 28 at the Shangri – La hotel’s Grand Ballroom Colombo was an amazingly luxe event with the lavish collections on the ramp coupled with carefully chosen songs from popular duo Rohan and Ishan De Lanerolle. The event marked the 30th issue of the Bride and Groom Magazine. [...]
The Kings: The place to unwind with friends any day of the week
At the end of a busy day or week, nothing sounds better than unwinding with your friends over a glass of wine or cocktails listening to some good music. The Kingsbury’s Lounge bar, the Kings, is the place to go any day of the week. With a newly curated pub menu and an extensive beverage [...]
Cotton Collection: Decked with new designs
Cotton Collection heralded the festive season inviting guests to their Christmas launch to enjoy the ‘Sounds of Christmas’ at their flagship store at No.143 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. It was a joyous evening of fashion and music, the cuisine complementing the theme. Cotton Collection’s in-house brand ‘Coco’ had of course, a new collection out in [...]
A gift that will bring a smile to a Syrian child’s face
Customers will be able to help refugee children this Christmas by buying seasonal gifts from The Body Shop as part of its Play for Peace Campaign, in partnership with peace building NGO International Alert. Every gift from The Body Shop’s seasonal gift collections that a customer purchases throughout the Christmas season will help refugee children [...]
WOW’s awareness message amidst a festive air
Although the cyclonic weather provided much more than a dampener to those who were looking forward to a relatively longer weekend, the general gloom did little to darken the bubble of fun, wonder and curiosity of the Southbank Centre’s WOW (Women of the World) Festival, Colombo held in partnership with the British Council. Held for [...]
Bringing on the seasonal glow
The lights are twinkling and casting a festive glow across Colombo as the Christmas season gets into full swing across the city. Here are some of the scenes at the lighting of the Christmas trees at the Dutch Hospital, the Galle Face Hotel and the Park Street Mews. Galle face Hotel Park Street Mews Dutch [...]
Christmas cake off from your favourite bakers
Capturing the Christmas vibe in an exquisite collection of designer cakes, the first ever “Anchor X’mas Cake Off”, a bakers’ competition of Christmas-inspired cakes, hosted by Fonterra, was held on December 6 at the Anchor Food Professionals, Solution Kitchen, Colombo. The competition featured eight cakes created by talented bakers from specialty bakeries and cafes including [...]
Wally’s Bailas bring back good old musical memories
Some musical shows in Colombo make a difference because they are done differently or follow an unconventional path. This was the case in the ‘Celebrating Wally Bastiansz’ show at the Bishop’s College, Colombo recently which drew an appreciative crowd of lovers of Baila music and song. When the curtain was drawn as the show opened, [...]
Louis de Bernières: Fascinated by the two world wars
Louis de Bernières’ writing life revolves around a shed – it’s one of two places he sits down to work. The shed is next to a vegetable patch, but writing in The Guardian, de Bernières admitted that he can get “uptight about the pigeons and squirrels.” He added:“I tend to write things in there that [...]
After two decades the first part of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ to be sung
The first part of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ will be performed in Sri Lanka for the first time after a hiatus of two decades. Although parts of the work have been performed by various choirs, the last time the entire work was performed was a few decades ago by the Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Sri Lanka, [...]
The music of Christmas: Carol services and concerts
Continuing our round-up of carol services this Christmas, here’s what you can catch from December 12 -23 St. Bridget’s Convent (Colombo 7) Date: December 10 (Sunday) Time: 5.30 p.m. Venue: St. Bridget’s Convent Auditorium Priyanthi Seneviratne Vandort is putting faith into her theme for the St. Bridget’s carol service this year – “Emmanuel has come”. [...]
Tanjavur style of Bharata natyam dance recital
Sahana Balasubramanya, a young talented Bharata natyam exponent from India will present a dance recital at 6 p.m. on December 15 at the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo. Sahana has been trained at Ganesa Natyalaya, Delhi, under renowned Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan for 12 years in the Tanjavur style of Bharata natyam. She is a senior dance [...]
Kitted in kilts they played their bagpipes
Dressed in traditional kilts of red and green, the Dollar Academy Pipe Band performed at the British High Commission last month in honour of St. Andrew’s Day which is celebrated on November 30. St. Andrew’s Day is the national day of Scotland, celebrated by British embassies globally. The band is part of Dollar Academy, the [...]
YOU TEEN forum: Abused child victims lack legal rights
Cyber bullying also brought to the fore Did you know that 40% of all children in Sri Lanka are subjected to some form of physical or sexual violence? This alarming statistic was revealed by lawyer Aritha Wickramanayake at the YOU TEEN forum held by the Zonta Club II of Colombo last month at the OPA. [...]
Women for change
Women candidates from Hewaheta are seen here participating in ‘Women for Change’ a project jointly organised by the Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry and Women’s Affairs Ministry to promote women’s participation in politics.
The Lake House Adiwasi get-together
The Lake House Adiwasi get-togther will be held on Saturday, December 16 from 10 a.m. at the Green Garden reception hall, No. 38/3, Robert Gunawardene Mawatha, Kirulapone. All former employees are invited to attend. Please contact the following for more details: P.B. Ilangasinghe- 0777689762 M.D. Dharmasiri-0718789865 Ariyasena Handuwala- 0714746423 Tilakarathna Kuruwita Bandara -0716906603.
Cathedral’s Christmas, New Year services
The Christmas services at the Anglican Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour will be as follows: Christmas Eve Service English: 11.15 p.m. Christmas Day Services Sinhala: 7 a.m. English : 8.15 a.m. Tamil: 11.15 a.m. New Year’s Eve Service English: 11.15 p.m. New Year’s Day Service Sinhala: 7 a.m. English: 8.15 a.m. Tamil: 11.15 a.m.
Crochet Shop’s Christmas sale
The Crochet Shop’s Christmas sale will be on December 16 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Girls Friendly Society, 58, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 3 and not on December 6 as stated in the article published last Sunday.
CB Governor to talk on Advancing Vision 2025
The Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Indrajit Cumaraswamy, will deliver a lecture on ‘Advancing Vision 2025’ on December 13 at 6 p.m. at the OPA Auditorium, 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha (off Bauddhaloka Mawatha), Colombo 7. The lecture is sponsored by the British Scholars’ Association of Sri Lanka.