Imparting Dhamma since 1918 amidst the bustle of the city
The Siri Vajiraramaya Dhamma School, one of the country’s foremost centres imparting the teachings of Lord Buddha to students, marked 100 years yesterday, August 18. The Dhamma School came into being following the activism of leading revivalists such as Anagarika Dharmapala and Henry Steele Olcott who began to exert more influence in the country. Exasperated [...]
Letters to the Editor
Let’s work towards a mature democracy in Sri Lanka I am spurred by. D.Weeratunga’s letter in the Sunday Times focusing on the mandate given to politicians by the people. He has quite forthrightly highlighted several home truths about our existing political administration system. It implies that politicians are no more an ‘Honorary’ class by themselves [...]
Appreciations
She was not just an excellent teacher, but one who cared for her students too Prof. Chandra Jayasuriya The most unconventional, caring, simple and excellent teacher, Professor Chandra Jayasuriya, a former Dean and Head of a Department of the Faculty of Education, University of Colombo passed away three months ago. The news of Professor Jayasuriya’s [...]
Ritual and art woven in Gok
Leaving the busy Pamunuwa Road in Maharagama behind, we take a side road to the home of Chaminda Mahawattage and as we enter the sitting room what catches the eye is something different and unique. A beautifully and intricately carved Gok Gediya (a pot made of tender coconut fronds). On that rainy morn last Tuesday, [...]
Beloved Raja who swayed to the beat of the ‘gajaga vannama’
It’s been 30 years since the loss of our most magnificent Raja, the Maligawa Tusker. On July 18, 1988 the whole country mourned the death of Raja. Raja was loved by all citizens of this country and he was famous even internationally. He became the image of our heritage for he performed the noble duty [...]
From one ancient city to another, each with their own stories to tell
The group drove from Yazd to Shiraz via Pasargadae, a journey of six hours. We stopped at Abarkuh to see a Cypress tree over 4,000 years old and an Icehouse (created for refrigeration purposes).The earliest Icehouse (yakschals) dates back to 400 BC. Water was tapped from the mountains via the ancient qanat system into deep [...]
Le Grand Galle, Asia Leisure’s newest offering
With an enviable location just 300 metres from Galle International Cricket Stadium, Le Grand Galle, at Kaluwella – Asia Leisure’s newest offering had its official launch last month with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other senior ministers present. The sixth leisure project launched by Asia Leisure and with Belluna Co. Ltd, Japan, Le Grand has [...]
Classic dim sum at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo
Shangri-La Hotel Colombo’s signature Chinese restaurant, Shang Palace, is presenting a traditional Cantonese feast on weekdays with delicious steamed and fried dim sum, accompanied by fine loose leaf teas. Dim sum is a true art-form, and one that Chef Zhao has perfected. His devotion to age-old recipes using only the finest ingredients means guests can [...]
Kishani opens doors to all to step into a world of opera
The “Colombo Opera Festival” from October 30 to November 10 is the brainchild of Kishani Jayasinghe, the soprano who blazed a trail for Lankan singers in the world of opera, and who is now in the process of making opera more accessible to all, not just classical music aficionados. Kishani’s story is well known. Growing [...]
Passion for plants on canvas
Now on at the Barefoot Gallery in Colombo is an exhibition by Sri Lankan born artist Michael Harridge who makes his home in the UK. A horticulturist turned artist his love of plants is seen in his work. The exhibition continues until August 26.
Give ear to the different beats as the perahera passes by
The annual Esala Perahera or the Sri Dalada Perahera in Kandy commenced with the ‘Kap Situweema’ on August 12 at the Sri Maha Vishnu Devalaya. For five days, the deity’s ‘abarana’ (insignia) were taken around the Devalaya premises in a procession known as the athule (inside) perahera. This has only a flag bearer, three drummers [...]
Using social media for social awareness
‘It’s not only what we do But also what we do not do For which we are accountable’ Arrogance is used by the weak While kindness is used by the strong There is no right way To do a wrong thing Not every ounce of your life needs to be digitally documented Thus resonate the [...]
Bringing back those lost moments
Meeting Samira Rathod, elegant in an understated manner in blue and black, you see that within her a woman’s imagination blends in a firm head for the technical and the nitty gritty: the perfect recipe for the architect. Her voice is rich with a passion for her work, and to hear her, even in those [...]
Bringing out the best in a building
A merger between a feted Italian racing bicycle and architecture sounds somewhat bizarre! Yet the ‘lines’, ‘sustainability’, ‘user-friendly’ and ‘human- health’ all championed by the sought-after Cinelli bicycle could aptly translate into a ‘good’, ‘true’ and ‘beautiful’ building, said celebrated architect, Sunand Prasad, Past President of Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Sunand, founder of [...]
Commonwealth award for Prashan
Queen Elizabeth II recognized Prashan De Visser as the 2nd Commonwealth Point of Light in Sri Lanka and the 65th Global Commonwealth Point of Light on August 13. The ceremony was held at Westminster House, the official residence of the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. Founder of Sri Lanka Unites Prashan was recognized for [...]
Usha wows audience with Hindi, English and even Sinhala hits
As India celebrated its 71st anniversary of independence on August 15, the BMICH Colombo was engulfed in a mesmerizing musical extravaganza. ‘Symphony of Freedom,’ a collaborative venture of the High Commission of India and the Ministry of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Sri Lanka, was a celebration of India’s Independence Day and the centuries-old friendship [...]
A tad older, but so familiar, Boyzone took us back to the 90s
Making an emotional connection with their fans, Irish band Boyzone now on their farewell 25th anniversary tour performed at the CR&FC grounds on Thursday, August 16. The one and a half-hour concert saw the group – down to four from their original five – Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Ronan Keating (following the [...]
A memorable weekend in Colombo
For 22 children from the Badulla Girls’ Home the last weekend in July was a rare treat for they made a visit to the capital, taking in many attractions such as Galle Face, the Museum and the Air Force Museum in Ratmalana. The visit arranged in conjunction with Rev Lalitha Guneratne, Minister in charge of [...]
UL Club gives a helping hand to ‘Little Hearts’
The UL Club, formed in 2007 by a band of retired AirLanka and SriLankan Airlines staff, celebrated its 10th anniversary on March 24, 2018 with a gala dinner dance at the Golden Rose. The event was also a social service project of the UL Club aimed at generating funds for the ‘Little Hearts’ project of [...]
Welcome to a world of birds
Many birds in flight and in different landscapes will be presented by Skanda de Saram under the title, ‘A collection of bird and animal photographs’ at the monthly meeting of the Sri Lanka Natural History Society tomorrow (August 20) at 5.30 p.m. at the Maths Department Auditorium of the Colombo University Main Building (upstairs). Skanda’s [...]
July-Aug issue of Sunrise out
The July-August issue of the Sunrise magazine for senior citizens is now available. Published by the non-profit Sunrise Senior Foundation, the latest issue contains interesting articles for senior citizens and is available at Vijitha Yapa Bookshop and Sarasavi Bookshop outlets or from the Sunrise office – tel 0766694399.
A chance for J’pura Medical Sciences Faculty students to go down memory lane
The Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) of the Sri Jayewardenepura University has organized a ‘Back to Faculty 2018’ on Wednesday (August 22), Saturday (25th) and Sunday (26th) at the university premises. This is part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Faculty of Medical Sciences and the Organizing Committee wishes to invite all past students [...]
A blend of retro music for a good cause
‘Winds of Change’, a musical show on Friday, September 7 at 7 p.m. at the Nelum Pokuna will see popular entertainers Annesley Malewana, Keerthi Pasquael and bands Mirage and Cosmic Rays offering up a fine blend of Sinhala and English Retro music in aid of the Peter Weerasekera Children’s Home in Yakkala. Situated in salubrious [...]