Preserving our past and taking us to the future
Whether it is preserving the valuable traditional knowledge of Sri Lanka’s farmers through documentation; a forecast on crop-mapping at the touch of a keyboard; a system of dots to help the blind become computer savvy; or taking a close look at the pre-historic inhabitants of this land, there is a thick golden thread running through [...]
Making music, instruments and new friends
Over the past six years, the Music Project has worked to uplift the lives of children from the north and the south through the power of music. Inspired by El Sistema of Venezuela the children go from learning to play instruments like the recorder to the violin, cello, flute, trumpet, guitar and percussion through bi-weekly [...]
Letters to the Editor
It’s time to impose rule of compulsory attendance for our MPs The adjournment of Parliament on September 6, within minutes after it commenced sittings due to lack of quorum was not the first in recent times. The President at a recent meeting with the media institution heads expressed his concerns as did Speaker Karu Jayasuriya [...]
Appreciations
Remembering the shelter of the giant shade cast by my father K.L. Ariyananda Growing up in the shelter of a giant human being who harnessed nature to serve mankind, my sibling and I had the mighty Mahaweli and the best and most optimistic era of the post-independent development history of Sri Lanka as a backdrop [...]
A banking saga with a personal touch
Nayeni Fernando’s book is a fascinating documentation of two significant events in the country’s banking. It is an interesting personal narrative of the introduction of automated cheque clearing in Sri Lanka and the tragic bombing of the Central Bank building on January 31, 1996 and its restoration. Nayeni documents in detail the process of establishing [...]
Their stories need to be heard at least now
Voices of Peace, the first book by Sri Lankan researcher and author Sarah Kabir, was launched this week at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Colombo. The event was well-attended by a distinguished audience of academics and activists. The book has the aim of bringing the conversation of post-conflict reconciliation to the fore. It was born out [...]
Bringing colourful horses and happiness wherever they go
Al Ameen Central College in Pannala has been given a Slavic facelift. The classroom walls are alive with colourful horses. The two artists add finishing touches to the murals as students proffer eager help. They have managed to bring cheerfulness and something of the wild freedom of the Russian steppes into the once gloomy classrooms. [...]
Celebrating 20th anniversary of the Colombo Declaration
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, delegates from foreign media organisations, diplomats, journalists and friends of the media were present at the Cinnamon Grand for the formal inauguration of the International Symposium held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility. Pix by Amila Gamage [...]
Giving space to women on her canvas
We get absorbed in the lives of others and in a sense we lose our ‘I’,” says the multi-creative artiste Dillai Joseph Rodrigo. Co-founder of the advertising company, ‘The next big think’, Dillai wears many hats as a career woman, artist, musician, wife and mother of two. Her experiences led her to realize that as [...]
A concert for the little ones at Apeksha Hospital
One does not need to be given a diagnosis of cancer to know how terrible such news is. Quite apart from the hair loss, chemotherapy, constant doctors’ appointments and other activities which would inevitably follow the diagnosis; there is the high cost of treatment. What happens when you simply cannot afford the cost of medical [...]
Step into these restaurants for a gourmet treat
The third edition of Colombo Gourmet Week featuring cuisine from around the world will take place from October 3- 7 across four restaurants in Colombo celebrating: food, wine and produce. The event is organised by the Epicurean together with Wine World, in association with Galle Face Hotel, Uga Residencies, Elevate Restaurant & Bar and Shangri- [...]
Fusion of Bharatha Natyam and Carnatic music
“Flute n feet” a blending of two popular classical arts forms of India-Bharatha Natyam and Carnatic music will be presented by eminent Indian artistes Vivek Krishna and Aranya Narain accompanied by Mayavaram T. Vishwanathan on Mrudangam at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre at 6 p.m. on October 5. This innovative and harmonious fusion of music [...]
‘An impossible feat now coming together’
This production will be the ultimate binge-watch for every theatre nerd,” says director and actor Sean Amarasekera, talking of “The Greatest Shows” -a musical revue spanning 26 Broadway musical extracts that will take place from October 11 to 14 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. Produced by Jerome L. De Silva, the Workshop Players’ latest production [...]
Remember Bubble Baby? He’s eight years old now
He is a big boy now – he walks in, flanked by his parents but not holding their hands and sits before us, giving us a brilliant smile. “Praveen,” he says when I ask him what his name is. Seated before us with big bright eyes is Sanjana Praveen Shivanka, Sri Lanka’s Bubble Baby who [...]
A night for beauty
Nadia Gyi was crowned Facia Miss World Sri Lanka 2018 at the grand finale of the Facia Miss World Sri Lanka 2018 pageant held on September 25 at the Hilton ballroom, in another elegant and glamorous celebration of beauty, talent and ambition. Peshala Wijesundara was the first runner-up and Nilushi Pawanya was adjudged second runner-up. [...]
Female circumcision: A medical perspective
Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other forms of deliberate injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending on child births [...]
First major global digital health event
The Digital Health Week 2018 will be held in Colombo from October 7 to 12, bringing together healthcare professionals, government officials, intergovernmental agencies, international development partners, university academics, students and healthcare and IT industry professionals. This is the first major global digital health event following the adoption of the World Health Assembly Resolution on Digital [...]
Vaccine Forum’s 9th annual Symposium
The Vaccine Forum of Sri Lanka will hold its 9th annual Symposium on Vaccines on October 7 at the New Lecture Hall of the Colombo Medical Faculty on Kynsey Road. While the Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe will be the Chief Guest, the WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr. Razia Pendse will [...]