Tracing the murky depths of the ‘well-murder’
For whom did the bell toll? A long time ago, nearly 53 years ago, the bell tolled for an 11-year-old boy who innocently trusted his father’s friend. It was on an early Tuesday morn (February 8, 1966), that the sacristan (helper) of St. Rita’s Church, Ratmalana, set in a 1½-acre block of land, with the [...]
Letters to the Editor
Holding the country to ransom through ‘cross-over’ mockery The present distressing situation in the country could have been surely prevented, if the ‘cross-over ban’ was passed with the 19th Amendment. It was removed on the floor of the Parliament after the Opposition protested at the time when the 19th Amendment was debated. Now, politicians are [...]
Appreciations
Celebrating the towering family man that he was Felix Dias Bandaranaike June 26 is a dark and dismal day in the calendar of my Aunt Lakshmi and her daughter Christine who lost their beloved husband and loving father quite prematurely. Felix Dias Bandaranaike was 53 years of age. This year, it has been 33 years [...]
Sir David Hare: One of Britain’s most celebrated satirical playwrights
It’s wonderful fortune for a writer to be born somewhere boring,” Sir David Hare once mused. He was paying tribute to the mid-afternoon sleepiness that pervaded the suburb of Bexhill, Sussex, where he grew up, that prompted him to dig deeper and deeper into the crevices and recesses of his imagination- for excitement and companionship. [...]
From darkness to light: The significance of Deepavali
Deepam (lamp) + Oli or vali (rows of lights) means Deepavali – the most auspicious day in which the rows of living lights were created. Human beings today are not aware of who they are really, to whom they belong, from where they have come and where they have to go back. In the history [...]
Story of storing: Finding space to state-of-the-art
Journalists and the public alike rejoiced at the enactment of the 2016 Right to Information Act in Sri Lanka – legislation which seemingly heralded a new age of government transparency in the island. However, government departments were less enthusiastic. It is not the access the general public has to government records that has them in [...]
New look Freddy had its spirited moments
The row behind us at the crowded Lionel Wendt Theatre burst into laughter. In fact the energy that Thursday (Oct. 18) evening was so palpable that you’d feel your chair being pushed or the floor thumping every minute. An evening of stand-up comedy ‘Freddy 3 – A new hope’, looked to delight audiences with its [...]
Pearls for the festive season
Pearls possess an allure steeped in history. In readiness for the forthcoming festive season Tiesh last week launched its ‘Collection de Perles’ – a tribute to the ‘Queen of Gems’ which has enticed countless women over the centuries. In line with Tiesh’s contemporary designs, the collection consists of rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets, all [...]
Shopping to their hearts’ content
Colombo VIP Night held another successful one-day shopping blast- Shop Til’ You Drop 2018 at the Taj Samudra Hotel last month offering a range of premier local brands under a giant marquee. With all day dining stalls and demonstrations, the many who flocked to the event enjoyed browsing and shopping to their hearts’ content.
Fashion and culture at ‘Innovation Island’
By Ruqyyaha Deane The theme ‘Innovation Island’ was taken up by an interesting mix of local and international designers at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week which hit the ramp last weekend at the DIMO 800 Merceses Benz Centre in Colombo. From exquisite batik, to delicate beeralu lace and fine handloom intertwined in their collections, it [...]
SAFA Counselling Centre: Raising awareness on mental health and battling the stigma
Mental health is still a taboo topic in Lankan society. Yet, according to the World Health Organisation one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. This means it can be someone in your family or one of your friends suffering in silence. [...]
Project Leopard hits a milestone with 100th pen donated to farmers
The wilderness, spread out on either side of the road, and the dry branches of scrub jungle kept beating against the shutters as our jeep made its way through the outskirts of the Yala National Park to reach a clearing adjoining the ‘Yodha Ela.’ A group of nomadic farmers rear their cattle here and aside [...]
Arangetram of Sai Krisha Kumarakurumoorthy
The Bharatha natya arangetram of Sai Krisha Kumarakurumoorthy will take place on Saturday, November 10, at 5 p.m, at the Saraswathy Hall, Bambalapitya. Miss Kumarakurumoorthy is a student of Dr. Subashini Pathmanathan. An electronics and telecommunications engineer, she is currently attached to the University of Vocational Technology, Ratmalana, also pursuing her postgraduate studies at the [...]
Ministry of Crab goes to Shanghai, China
Continuing its culinary journey with the legendary Sri Lankan crab, Ministry of Crab opened its first overseas outlet in Shanghai, China earlier this week. Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Chef Dharshan Munidasa opened the doors of Ministry of Crab, Shanghai at Barbarossa Restaurant in People’s park by hosting a media luncheon and grand opening event.
Biennial meeting of the SLAMAC
At the Biennial meeting of the Sri Lanka Malay Confederation (SLAMAC) held on Sunday, October 14 at the Padang Auditorium, Colombo 2, office bearers representing affiliated member associations were elected for 2018 to 2020. SLAMAC is a umbrella body comprising all the Malay Associations in Sri Lanka established to preserve their heritage, culture and their [...]
Pera Uni, Colombo chapter annual get-together
The annual get-together of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, Colombo Chapter will take place on Sunday, November 25 at 10 a.m. at Ape Gama, Pelawatte, Battaramulla. An array of activities including competitions with attractive prizes and music by renowned artistes has been arranged. Tickets are available with the Association’s Committee members and [...]