Together they studied, together they want to rebuild
Many believe that Jaffna has always been home only to Sri Lankan Tamils. Of course, Sri Lankan Tamils make up most of the population but until the flare-up of the ethnic conflict in the early 1980s, Jaffna was also home to different ethnic groups: Sinhalese, Burghers, Moors, Malays and Bohras. It was only after the [...]
Letters to the Editor
Sri Lanka in dire need of those elusive leaders An inspiring letter in the Sunday Times of August 5 by Nandanee Gunawardana, a PhD Engineer titled, “Why do doctors think they are special creations” got me thinking and reflecting. This seems to be a malady in today’s society from the rampaging students on the streets,to [...]
Animal cruelty laws need immediate reform
Animal cruelty, hardly grabs a headline, however horrendous. But there have been some exceptions – the most recent being the brutal slaying of a leopard by a mob in Kilinochchi. Leopards being a protected species under Sri Lanka’s Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance,the country’s law enforcement was quick to act, arresting the suspects and producing [...]
Into the deep unknown with Blue Planet II
Dropped down into the deepest darkest depths of the ocean seeing not only the wonders but also the monsters replete there, with a ‘tiny’ glimpse of Sri Lanka’s seas with the unique super-pods of sperm whales also thrown in! We are not in a submarine diving to the ocean-bed but transported to new and exciting [...]
Iran – Inside an ancient and still mysterious civilization
The Islamic Republic of Iran (formerly Persia), an ancient civilisation has remained a ‘dark secret’ due to adverse publicity and sanctions. With a population of 81 million, Iran is the 18th most populous country in the world. The majority of Iranians are Shia Muslims. However, the fervent religious zeal of the past decades has diminished [...]
Indulge in a chocolate adventure this month at Hilton
The Greek name for cocoa—Theobroma—literally means, “food of the gods” and the Hilton Chocolate High Tea certainly hit the mark with a delicious array of chocolate inspired dishes. Their initiative #EatDrinkHilton focuses on a seasonal produce all month long. “So every month we focus on one ingredient and this month of August it’s cocoa and [...]
Now, flavourful afternoon cuppa and more at Bayleaf
The Bayleaf’s Wine and Tea Room introduced an exclusively-crafted afternoon tea experience, combining an indulgent selection of treats with carefully curated tea blends in an exciting new partnership with Zesta Teas on Wednesday, August 8. The new menu celebrates the tradition of afternoon tea complemented by a selection of teas from the Zesta Conoisseur Collection. [...]
Falling in love with a special space
Ifirst encountered the space in my early 20’s. I had returned to Sri Lanka with my degree in Fine Art, with a little extra sensitivity to the elements of design. A friend of mine asked me to meet her at a little café shop on Ward Place in Colombo 7. This serendipitous rendezvous made an [...]
Mel Medura opens its doors to digital and other behavioural addictions
Addiction occurs in many forms. When it was realized that over 30% of suicides are linked to alcohol and drug addiction, the Sumithrayo Drug Demand Reduction Program (Mel Medura) was set up in 1984. Since then Mel Medura has been rehabilitating those with difficulties arising from the misuse and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. [...]
A scribe who made a mark on the Sinhala arts scene
Today marks the 90th birth commemoration of Saman Tilakasiri, poet, journalist and award-winning author. He was a senior editor of Lankadeepa during the Times of Ceylon days, and then went on to become Chief Editor of the Rasavahini magazine. He also published research work on Sinhala literature and books on grammar, apart from a treasure [...]
Saying it in pictures: Artists join hands for wildlife
With over 270 elephants dying annually and the Purple-faced langur threatened with extinction, animal causes cry out for attention. A novel art exhibition has been organised by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) to raise funds for conservation efforts. Endangered species such as the elephant, leopard, Purple-faced langur, blue whales and dolphins are the [...]
Australia’s ‘Earth Choice’ now in Sri Lanka
On a request from their customer Arpico Supercenters, Organicoguru.com, the earth-friendly firm have through their offices in Australia, introduced a 100% plant ingredient based, synthetic chemical-free detergent range from Australia’s leading environment-conscious brand “Earth Choice” by Nature’s Organics Australia at Arpico supercentres. Nature’s Organics Australia is a company with a longstanding commitment to creating environmentally [...]
WNPS lecture on leopard conservation
This month’s Wildlife & Nature Protection Society Public Lecture titled, ‘Sheltering under the leopard’s umbrella’ will be held on August 16 at the Jasmine Hall, BMICH at 6 p.m. In a time of increasing human-animal conflict, mainly due to unplanned development, we are now faced with the unthinkable, the possible extermination of species that have [...]
Viola, Piano and Voice-a sumptuous recital indeed
If “recital” was chosen in describing the feast of music and performance, then, it was sumptuous. There has been such paucity in concerts or recitals where this somewhat of ‘bystander’ in the string section is brought forward to communicate its compelling tonality and nuance; therefore, Ashan Pillai with his attendant trio made a huge contribution [...]
From Udarata Menike to Rocky Mountaineer; on the rails with a train enthusiast
What is it about Sri Lankan Railways that inspires non-railwaymen to write books about the railways here? There have been several books published in the past 30 years looking at various aspects of the railways. Hemasiri Fernando, the rail enthusiast behind the introduction of The Viceroy Special, has written three. The National Trust of Sri [...]
Pride and celebration
A good cross section of genteel Kandyan society had gathered at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, for the special occasion of the launch of a magisterial oeuvre dedicated to the last kingdom of Sri Lanka. From dowager “kumarihamys” to young scions of forgotten noble houses, the gathering resonated with a deeply palpable pride. A sincere [...]
Appreciations
Remembering a giant of a man Lakshman Kadirgamar The thirteenth death anniversary of Laksh-man Kadirgamar, former Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka falls today, August 12. We publish here extracts from tributes paid to him at the ceremony in his memory on June 21, at the unveiling of the painting ‘Guttila the Veena Player’ at the [...]