Powered by their iron will
There’s hardly a day when the Galle Face Green isn’t peppered with families, power walkers and the smell of isso wade. But if you stopped by the Green over these last two months on a lazy Sunday morning, you would see energetic crowds lining the shoreline, ready to embrace the bracing 6 a.m. sea and [...]
Letters to the Editor
A fish market more respectable than this motley crowd Much has been said and written about the shameful behaviour of our politicians in the Parliament. It was shocking that even the usually well behaved gentleman Prime Minister too stooped to shouting slogans in the highest echelon of our nation. This has been going on for [...]
Appreciations
He was truly a living saint SURIYAKUMARAN WILLIAMS We live in a society that encourages and advocates hedonism; in an age that glorifies self interest, ambition and narcissism and amidst an ethic that values ambition, possessions and prestige. It therefore comes as no surprise that rarely are we privileged to encounter an individual whose values [...]
Happier memories out of darkness
Trapped are these innocents for no fault of their own. From the time of their birth to the tender age of five, the most formative years of their lives, they have known no other environment but that within the four walls of the Welikada Prison. There are about 20 little ones whose mothers have been [...]
‘Propping up’ The Sound of Music
The much awaited production of The Sound of Music hits the Nelum Pokuna stage this week, from February 14 – 18 with five daily shows and two matinee performances. The much loved musical has been brought to Colombo by CinnamonLife in collaboration with David Ian Productions Ltd, Company Onstage Ltd and the Broadway Asia Company [...]
Love cake is in the air
Valentine’s Day has always been associated with chocolates and roses. But what if there was another way to profess your love, a love at first bite kind of moment. After all, few can say ‘no’ to cake, especially love cake. This week, in a collaborative effort, multiple hotel, retail, restaurant and bakery operators around the [...]
‘I’m here as a global citizen, not as an American’- Ashley Judd
Dressed in a striking batik saree, Hollywood actress, author, and The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Goodwill Ambassador Ashley Judd addressed the media at Jetwing Colombo on February 7, speaking passionately about her mission’s goals. Joining her at the head table was UNFPA Representative in Sri Lanka Ritsu Nacken. During her short stay in the [...]
Speaking the endearing language of flowers
Throughout history and across civilizations flowers have always had a symbolic meaning, usually that of love and lovers. So much so that one cannot think of Valentine’s Day without red roses and flowers in general. Amanjanee Nilaweera is the enthusiastic owner of Urban Stems in Ratmalana and she shared her thoughts on the significance of [...]
“Val Ballo” or “Val Minissu”? -Stop insulting animals
“Balla”, “balli”,“gona”, “haraka”, “mee-haraka”, “booruwa”, “garandiya”, “korawakka”, or in general, “thirisannnu” – these are terms we often hear – uttered by politicians to insult opponents or gangsters to display their false bravado or some others in various contexts. Even some parents and teachers call children“booruwa”scorning some learning difficulty, without realizing how this meaningless reference can [...]
A portable mine of info for bird lovers
Finally, a much-needed requirement has been fulfilled. Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne has had the courage, patience and endurance to meet this need. I personally was longing for a complete photographic guide to our birds and was delighted when the author told me he had started on this project. A work of this nature involves many [...]
Letting you in on a little secret about our small cats!
Growing up, we were all exposed to the glorious world of the big cats. From the formidable tiger, to the almost mythical snow leopard, we as children – and even as adults – look wide-eyed at these beautiful beasts, as they prowl our TV screens. But, shall I let you in on a secret? A [...]
Seeing something to paint all the way
Robert Sedgley has seen more of Sri Lanka than most Sri Lankans, tramped through forests, trekked to countless religious and historical sites and walked the dusty city streets and alleys, his keen artist eye noting the everyday scenes that we, seldom stop to observe. The British artist is familiar to art lovers in this country; [...]
“I’m going to do my daughter’s hair”
“Where Are You Really From?” It is a question Carlos Andrés Gómez, being a fair-skinned Latino man, gets asked quite a lot. He unpacks the same question in a poem of his. Though he constantly replies with “I’m from New York”, this reaction is usually met with “But your name is Carlos…where are you really [...]
Colombo Wind Orchestra to hold 7th concert
February 17, is a day to look out for, as the Colombo Wind Orchestra (CWO) takes centre-stage to present their 7th annual concert where you can listen to a variety of wind instruments, from clarinets and flutes to trumpets and trombones all on one stage creating a fascinating palette of tone, colours and expression. The [...]
Head to the East for a feast of archaeological sites
The lifelong ambition of our grandfathers and grandmothers was to do the Buddhist circuit, popularly known as the Watavandanawa.It is said that before they left on pilgrimage they gave over all their movable and immovables to their next of kin. At a time when there were no proper roads and no means of transport it [...]
On sacred ground at Japan’s centre of Shingon Buddhism
Off the tourist circuit in Japan, a short train ride from the big city of Osaka, is one of the country’s most magical destinations – Koya-san or Koya Mountain. The cedar-forested summit of this 850 metre high sacred mountain in Wakayama prefecture is home to over a hundred temples and monasteries. Established in 819 by [...]
The meetings I had with this erudite monk will always reverberate in my mind
The departure of an erudite monk creates a huge vacuum. Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayaka Thera who passed away one week ago, had so many great qualities apart from being a well-educated, knowledgeable, cultured personality. He was simple and approachable; a keen listener; a good teacher; a proficient writer; a fearless speaker; a skilled administrator [...]
Celebrating diversity: Modified Rs. 1000 note for Independence
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued a modified One Thousand Rupee currency note dated 2018-02-04 to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Independence with the theme “Celebrating Diversity”. The image of Ramboda Tunnel at the centre of the current Rs. 1000 note has been replaced by a montage of an artist’s impression of a [...]
Vaccine Forum honours Dr. Jayasuriya
The Vaccine Forum of Sri Lanka felicitated its Founder Dr. Lucian Jayasuriya at a ceremony held recently at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo. Explaining why the Vaccine Forum had decided to honour Dr. Jayasuriya, the President of the Vaccine Forum, Dr. Omala Wimalaratne pointed out that back in 2009, the formation of an association [...]
Kala Pola @ 25: A special first day cover issued
The Silver Jubilee Edition of Sri Lanka’s renowned open-air art fair – Kala Pola – will be held on February 25 on the sidewalks of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha in Colombo 7 (former Green Path) from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. A ‘High Tea Talk Show’ was held on February 7at Cinnamon Lakeside to announce the [...]
Positive Living with PD meets on Feb. 14
Positive Living with PD – a support group meeting will be held on February 14 at 6 p.m. at the Methodist Church, Mount-Lavinia (opposite St. Thomas’ College on Hotel Road). Positive Living with PD is a secular, non-profit support group, that hopes to break through the stigma that surrounds Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and uplift the [...]