Soaring high on tradition
The Geoffrey Bawa Memorial lecture given annually to mark the legendary architect’s birthday – July 23 ( it would have been his 99th this year) has always been delivered by an architect of particular eminence. On Thursday, July 26 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute the architect who took the podium was one whose singular [...]
Letters to the Editor
Death penalty: Making a storm in a teacup without understanding issue Dear Don Manu. I read your ‘Sunday punch’ in the Sunday Times of July 15. I am writing this, to prove the comments by our Archbishop, Ranjith Malcolm as reasonable and correct on the death penalty issue. You seemed to have really got upset, [...]
Appreciations
A much loved brother who supported me in all my ventures Prof. Samantha Hettiarachchi The touching tributes and appreciations of Professor Hettiarachchi, both in the print media and social media since April 24 this year, bear testimony to the lives he impacted in many ways, as an academic, a teacher and a friend. Three months [...]
Revolutionary faculty, a stepping stone for Bhikkhunis
‘Herein our main goal is to revive our own system of education which has gone amiss’, proclaims a placard at the entrance to the Dekanduwala Bhikkhuni Training Centre and the Faculty of Buddhist Studies which is to be unveiled to the entire sasana of bhikkunis on August 4. “I never see what has been done; [...]
Jumbos and us; we are so much alike
As the afternoon nudged itself into evening and the shadows began to lengthen, he was tired but happy. That whole day conservation-activist Dilum Alagiyawanna had spent at the Minneriya National Park, photographing at very close range, with the blessings and permission of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), the extraordinary ‘Gathering’. The large herd of [...]
Nalandians shine at young scientists research tournament in Kuala Lumpur
A group of Nalandians brought pride to Sri Lanka by winning top awards at the Young Scientists Research tournament held in Kuala Lumpur recently. Competing with participants from 30 countries, the Sri Lankan representatives at the competition were Nalandians M. M. Tharindu Deepaloka Manasinghe, Maneesha Pramuditha Rajapaksha, Senith Nimenka Rajapaksha, Ayodya Panchala de Silva, Dinera [...]
GFS headquarters celebrates 95th year with thanksgiving service
A thanksgiving service was held on June 23 to mark the 95th anniversary of the opening of the Headquarters of the Girls’ Friendly Society at Green Path, Kollupitiya. The guests of honour were Damayanti Peiris, grand-daughter of Charles Peiris who gifted the building to the GFS, Sharya Scharenguivel and Mala Salgado, two great grand-daughters of [...]
BC Kandy hosts evening of readings by Gratiaen winner and shortlistees
As Michael Ondaatje was awarded the Golden Man Booker Prize in London, on the same weekend, thousands of miles away in Sri Lanka the prize set up by him continued to give recognition to Sri Lankan writers. A full house gathered at the British Council library in Kandy on July 7 to hear the winner [...]
V awards back with a bang after 2015
V Awards is back for 2018 after the highly successful editions in 2011, 2013 and 2015. The fellowship and the launch of awards took place at Hilton Colombo Residences. The event was attended by Minister of Social Welfare and Primary Industries, Daya Gamage, the Secretary to the ministry Bandula Wickramarachchi, the Resident Coordinator of the [...]
S. Thomas College, Bandarawela OBU felicitates oldest member
The Old Boys’ Union of S. Thomas College, Bandarawela recently felicitated their oldest member Buddhika Kurukularatne at the annual dinner dance organised by the OBU. It was held at the Golden Rose Banquet Hall, Boralesgamuwa. Advocate, politician and writer, Mr. Kurukularatne was presented with a plaque by Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasabey. Warden [...]
Lecture on ‘Sinhala Theravada Buddhism in China’
The Royal Asiatic Society lecture for July will be given by Dr. Hema Goonatilake on ‘Sinhala Theravada Buddhism in China’ tomorrow, July 30 at 5 p.m. at the Mahaweli Centre, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. Buddhism now known as Dai Buddhism arrived in around the 9th century in Xishuangbanna in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, bordering [...]
Housewives’ Association marks diamond jubilee
The Sri Lanka Housewives’ Association has organised an event to mark its Diamond Jubilee on August 3, at Balmoral Hall, Kingsbury Hotel, from 6.p.m. onwards. The event includes a sumptuous sit-down dinner and various competitions, including the jubilee queen and best dancing couples for Jive and baila. There will also be prizes and surprises galore. [...]
Learning to be a mammologist!
Parents looking for books on nature for their children in local bookstores and at sales like the recent Big Bad Wolf ( which drew booklovers in droves) are apt to sometimes pick ones emblazoned with attractive images and colourful presentation. Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala’s new book ‘Mammals for Children’ does not fall into that category despite [...]
Of guns and men of the Kandyan era
Mahanuwara Yugaye Aprakata Witti (Little-known Facts from the Kandyan Period) by Chamikara Pilapitiya, to be launched early August, is a two-volume publication that guides the reader through secret footpaths to a hidden kingdom; a forgotten kande-uda-rata that will beguile readers with light thrown on obscure, hardly-ever-explored, yet utterly fascinating recesses. It is the culmination of [...]
His most daring, yet
Provocative” may be the best way to describe any of Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke’s work. The actor/playwright has carved his own niche in the local English theatre scene with his passion for challenging, close to home themes which are explored, disproved and understood in the distinctive productions he has spearheaded. Those who have had the chance to [...]
Somalatha Subasinghe Play House brings back those classics
Presenting its annual theatre festival for children and youth – ‘Somalatha Subasinghe Theater Festival for Young Audiences’, the Somalatha Subasinghe Play House (SSPH) brings four well-known plays to the Lionel Wendt from August 9 – 12. The plays will be staged at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m. Celebrating its 36th anniversary, the late veteran playwright [...]
Guru Gedara Festival: Up close and personal with our cultural heritage
Deshamanya Chitrasena with his wife Vajira were artists who performed tremendous service in establishing a modern Sri Lankan tradition of dance, and popularising traditional Sri Lankan dance forms worldwide. The new generation of the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya continues the service, and their latest venture is the Guru Gedara Festival- the First Immersive Traditional Arts Experience. The [...]
Totally Pop in true Soul Sounds style
Sri Lanka’s acclaimed female choir Soul Sounds is set to come back on stage with a repertoire of favourite pop hits on August 8, at the Lionel Wendt theatre. With their last pop show, ‘Totally 90’s’ being a tremendous success, Soul Sounds embarked on the task of making novel choral arrangements for some of the [...]