Helping prisoners turn a new leaf
Worn with use, the book in the prisoner’s hands is being read for the eighth time. Once a shabby corner with just a few books on a small shelf, the Welikada Prison Library renovated last July, now has cupboards, tables and chairs with more than 5000 books of different genres. However, there is a long [...]
On a rail trail with a cause
The main railway line going through the upcountry hills on its way to Badulla is not only one of breathtaking mist-wrapped mountain scenery, it is also an environmentally highly sensitive area, where the slightest impingement can undo what has taken ages to evolve. Yet the travellers show little respect for the beauty around them, discarding [...]
Letters to the Editor
Constitution should be changed to restrict a PM’s term also to two The powers of the President under the presidential form of government introduced by the late J. R. Jayewardene were all powerful and the Prime Minister was reduced to the status of a peon, as admitted by late Mr. Premadasa. Presently with the inclusion [...]
Appreciations
A man of wisdom and lovable personality Theophilus Kirupakaran Augustine I was grieved to learn the unexpected sad death of Mr. Theophilus Kirupakaran Augustine on December 16, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. He was born on July 23 1938 at Pandiyanthalvu, Jaffna to orthodox Catholic parents, father Augustine and mother Mariama with three brothers and three [...]
Guess who’s back? It’s Pusswedilla
Feroze Kamardeen is a man who runs on intuition. Time and time again, his “gut” has served him well- from picking out non-performers who have become stand-up comedians, to making casting choices which morphed young actors into memorable roles and turning witty scripts into politically charged satires foreshadowing many of Sri Lanka’s political ups and [...]
Tomorrow, a performance by an Odissi dance exponent
Meghna Das, an Odissi exponent from India will perform on Monday, February 18 at 6 p.m. at the Swami Vivekananda auditorium, 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. Meghna was introduced early into the Indian classical dance Odissi and gave her first public performance at the tender age of three. She started formal training at 5 under [...]
A thanksgiving by the De Lanerolle Brothers
The De Lanerolle Brothers will give thanks to God on Sunday, February 24 from 7 to 8 p.m. with ‘How Great Thou Art’ at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Colombo 7 to celebrate 10 years of the launch of their brand. Rohan and Ishan De Lanerolle will be joined by the Cathedral choir [...]
Juggling many worlds
Literary lunches held in swanky boutique hotels are a common part of the Fairway Galle Literary Festival programme, often featuring one or two notable authors. They’re akin to those dinner parties where you sit around a table and make polite small talk with the person next to you (someone you barely know), the only thing [...]
The walawwa, where spirituality meets architecture
The walawwa may seem to be a symbol of a feudal past- conjuring images of a musty if grand manor-house, home to a haughty nobility who flourished on the labour of peasants. Yet this image leaves out much of the story. The walawwa- whether Kandyan or colonial- is really an invaluable part of our inheritance, [...]
Genuine desire to find the truth about what ails our country
There couldn’t have been a more opportune time for me to read and review this book written by Daya de Silva as when Sri Lankan parliamentarians were vying for power, pushing and shoving, throwing chairs, chili powder and even attempting to stab their opponents. We humans have a deep association with our motherland even when [...]
Taking forward a uniquely local fashion fusion
When Ajai Vir Singh first came to Sri Lanka in the mid-90s, he was impressed with the “creative sensibility” of the country in industries like architecture and interior design. But when it came to fashion, he noticed there was no formal industry. “There was no infrastructure for it, because our retail functioned on surplus stock [...]
Cinnamon City Weddings: When venues turned into dream weddings
Getting married is that special moment that all couples dream of. The journey to the aisle however can become quite nerve-wracking with issues of venue, decor, attire and so much to sort out. Cinnamon City Weddings, the first grand-scale wedding showcase by Cinnamon in collaboration with over 25 vendors — leading stylists, decorators, wedding planners [...]
Linen the star of ‘Everyday Beautiful’at CC
“Earthy yet luxurious. Casual yet formal,” is how Indian designer Kaveri defines her linen collection Spring ’19 unveiled at the Cotton Collection (CC) flagship store in Colombo on February 9. Spring ’19 comprises versatile dresses, pants and tops which reflect blushed shades of pastels and powdered hues of soft pink, beige and off-white paired with [...]