My favourite musical right here in Colombo
I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest fan of musicals. Sure, I like a bit of Les Mis now and then. And Phantom’s not too bad either. But, let’s get one thing straight. I LOVE The Sound of Music. It’s curious that the release of the 1961 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway production, the musical following the [...]
Letters to the Editor
Train rides spoilt by unruly behaviour and lack of facilities Being a regular traveller by train from Colombo to Badulla I would like to address several disadvantages faced by tourists travelling by train. Firstly, getting train tickets especially on the AFC (Airconditioned First Class) carriage is almost impossible because although the bookings open a month [...]
Appreciations
Man of deep learning, absolute honesty, and loyalty to country K. N. Choksy Kairshasp Nariman Choksy, PC, MP (February 7, 1933 – February 5, 2015) the former Minister of Constitutional and State Affairs, former Minister of Finance, and distinguished constitutional lawyer passed on to heavenly courts just two days short of his 82nd birthday. K. [...]
Indigenous athlete takes on Ironman with a splash
It’s not too difficult to distinguish Thalawarige Punchibanda amongst the throngs of swimmers thrashing the waves at Galle Face as they prepare for the Ironman 70.3 Colombo to be held next week. The internationally acclaimed triathlon has attracted an array of competitors each with their own unique story behind the grit and resilience needed to [...]
Giving life to a depleted rainforest
It may be a ‘drop’ in the ocean of forest denudation and degradation but it is a unique step in the right direction in battling climate change and its disastrous consequences. It is also a first in Sri Lanka with the private sector joining hands for the national good in a “landmark” collaboration with a [...]
Vanishing wetlands
It’s a shrinking habitat! Research has shown that the wetland area around Colombo has reduced to an estimated 20 percent, primarily owing to the major city development. Dr. Priyanie Amerasinghe, a senior researcher; human and environmental health at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) points out that this is the maximum loss which we can [...]
When a queen of opera became a queen of hearts
In celebration of Sri Lanka’s 70 years of independence, internationally acclaimed opera star Danielle de Niese took to the stage together with the Krasna Ensemble to pay homage to the country of her family’s roots. The concert presented by the Colombo Cultural Hub on February 10 at the BMICH saw Danielle’s dedicated fan base of [...]
Ajai heads to London with his own brand of sustainable fashion
When Ajai Vir Singh flew back to Sri Lanka after giving a talk on responsible fashion at the Rajasthan Heritage Week he got home to a bag stamped “Royal Mail”. The curious parcel will take the fashion visionary and President of Colombo Fashion Week to Buckingham Palace this week for a Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Reception [...]
Giving voice to her dream
‘Peace is my dream’ a concert presented by former Indian Foreign Secretary and one-time High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Nirupama Menon Rao was enthusiastically received by a select group of invitees at the Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo 7 earlier this month. Ms. Rao was accompanied by well-known musicians Soundarie David Rodrigo and Neranjan de [...]
Emily’s favourite local dishes with a twist
Emily Dobbs of Weligama-London fame will present her signature hoppers at a pop-up restaurant on February 23 at 7.30 p.m. at Flamingo House courtesy of the Colombo Supper Club. Emily was the first British chef to popularise Sri Lankan hoppers in London through her cool and quirky pop up stall at the Druid Street market. [...]
Keep a date with Scrabble Bash
The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation will hold its Scrabble Bash on Saturday, February 24 from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Foundation’s air conditioned auditorium at 100, Ketawalamulla Lane, Maradana (near Ananda College). Those interested could register their names by Monday, February 19 by calling the office on 2667080. Player are requested to bring their [...]
A feline love that took him far and wide
A cat does have nine lives! This is not just an old wife’s tale but comes from the “foremost” global authority on Small Cats, Dr. Jim Sanderson. A more startling revelation follows……….cats have nine lives because whether it is a fall from a tall tree, a high building or anywhere else and they fracture any [...]
Universal creative; it’s a whole new world of designing
The most striking thing about James Balmond is his business card; a parallelogram. It shows the essence of what James Balmond spoke about, that universal creatives think differently when he addressed a packed room of Academy of Design students and designers earlier this month. The topic was “The death of discipline. The rise of the [...]
Re-visiting a rock temple best known for two sculptures
Isurumuniya temple in Anuradhapura is best known for two pieces of rock cut sculpture – one is the ‘Isurumuniya Lovers’ and the other is ‘Man and the Horse’. The temple is situated on a picturesque setting – high up on a rock close to Tisa weva. As we approach the temple is a pond with [...]
Ancestral voices from the Kandyan hills
Multi-culturalism is a politically charged word. However, there is no country in the world with one culture only, and Sri Lanka is no exception. There are many, many cultures in Sri Lanka and among the Sinhalese, there are regional, religious and caste cultures. Learning and understanding these cultures is fascinating and most important for social [...]
Living their lives in the backdrop of war
A recently released book which is dedicated to the doctors and nurses of the Burn Unit of the National Hospital in Colombo, is written by Sri Lankan-born Roderic Grigson who now lives in Australia. It’s a well-crafted and well-written story of three very different people, their lives winding around each other like strands of barbed [...]
For you creative writers out there!
The English Writers Cooperative of Sri Lanka invites entries for the 2018 creative writing competition. Short stories and plays of up to 1500 words and poems of 30 lines or less should be sent by e-mail to premini.amerasinghe@gmail.com. Each entry should also be accompanied by a typed copy sent by registered post to Dr. Premini [...]
The “Guru” to many pre- and post- Independence leaders of our country
Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka was born on February 13, 1868 in Waragoda, a village in Kelaniya, the eldest son of Don Daniel and Elisa Jayatilaka (nee Weerasinghe). His father Daniel Jayatilaka was from Paththalagedara in Veyangoda and was a contractor in the construction of roads and a founder member of the Vidyalankara Pirivena in Kelaniya. [...]
Stones of memory: Prof. Seneviratne to deliver the 103rd National Trust lecture
“Stones of memory: Social archaeology of the Megalithic monuments” will be the title of the lecture by Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30p.m. on Thursday, February 22. This is the 103rd in the monthly lecture Series of the National Trust – Sri [...]
MSL celebrates “Sri Lankanness”
The Mother Sri Lanka movement (MSL) celebrated Independence Day inviting all Sri Lankans to join and celebrate what it means to be a Sri Lankan, or their “Sri Lankan ness” . It was an opportunity to put aside all differences and appreciate and celebrate the good things about our motherland, the positive values of Sri [...]
Kandy Sumithrayo marks 40 years of reaching out to those in need
The Sri Lanka Sumithrayo (SLS) Kandy Branch will celebrate 40 years of community service at an event to be held at the Agriculture Department’s Plant Genetic Research Centre auditorium in Gannoruwa on February 22 from 8.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Chief Guest at the function will be National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) [...]
Christ Church Galkissa: Thanksgiving service to mark 175th anniversary
Christ Church Galkissa celebrated the 175th anniversary of its consecration on February 16, and a thanksgiving service will be held today, February 18 at 8 a.m. at the church with Bishop Dhiloraj Canagasabey as the Chief Celebrant and Preacher along with the Archdeacon of Galle, Ven. Sunil Ferdinando, vicar of Christ Church Galkissa, Rev. Nihal [...]
Today, Deegeka Avith, Kandoskiriya at Namel Malini Punchi Theatre
“Deegeka Avith” and “Kandoskiriya” are two hilarious one-act plays directed by Namel Weeramuni. They go on the boards today, February 18 at 3.30 and 6.30 p.m. at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre, Borella. “Deegeka Avith” is an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The “Proposal” by Namel Weeramuni, and “Kandoskiriyawa” an original scripted by Somapala Gunadheera based [...]