Emerging flair
Opening Colombo Fashion Week 2019 was the ‘Emerging Designer Showcase’ that provided a platform for Sri Lanka’s new generation. Taking place at the Hilton Colombo on February 27, eleven fashion designers mentored by KT Brown’s Kanchana Thalpawila, Creative Director of Buddhi Batiks Darshi Keerthisena and founder of U, Upeksha Hager, used the ramp to present [...]
Girl power vision of Lankan whiz kid
A ‘Child Genius’ with an IQ above both the famous physicists Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking! Who is this 12-year-old mathematics whiz kid called the “human calculator” who has stunned audiences not only in Britain but across the world? It is Nishi Amanda Uggalle of Sri Lankan heritage who is vying for the coveted title [...]
Letters to the Editor
More white elephants for whose benefit? A foundation stone laying ceremony to construct an International Conference Hall in Galle was reported in the papers last week. How many international conferences are held in Sri Lanka for a year? Hardly any. All these years we have been using the BMICH. What’s wrong with it now? We [...]
Appreciations
Dedicated doctor, true Royalist and sincere friend Dr. R Kulanayagam The death of Dr. Kulanayagam, affectionately called ‘Kule’ by his friends meant the hand of death had taken away another old Royalist from the 1947 batch which had many doctors, many of whom went abroad having been medical men in Sri Lanka for a short [...]
Rukshan’s back with a song for humanity, as always
Using music to give to humanity. This is the constant theme behind Rukshan Perera’s annual charity concert. Since starting the concert series back in 2011, Rukshan has raised millions of rupees for several charities, with Rs. 4.5 million raised last year alone. This year’s ‘Live In Concert 9’ on March 10, at the Bishop’s College [...]
Art to make a change
“Where your thoughts cannot flow to have concrete ideas, but you are stuck in the same state of thought like a merry go round,” is how artist Gayan Suranga introduces ‘Psychic Entrophy 2019’ his exhibition on March 9 and 10 from 9 a.m to 7.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery. Combining abstracts with [...]
When Green Path was once again adorned with art
A vibrant affair, Kala Pola 2019 drew in an appreciative crowd, eager to see and buy the works of talented local artists. From abstract drawings, detailed frescoes,landscapes, copper, steel and rock sculptures, Sri Lanka’s largest open art fair exhibited several styles of art in different media. Kala Pola held on Sunday February 24, has for [...]
The songs she writes and sings
When Dr. Manella Joseph saw a child working as a domestic helper, something stirred within her. Disturbed that a child who should be in school and enjoying life should be made to work, she went home and wrote ‘Child Rights’. Interpreting the world around her through her music, the singing doctor creates meaningful songs and [...]
Celebrating Anne the journalist and writer
Saturday, February 9 saw friends and family of the late Anne Abayasekara, gather to celebrate her life as a journalist and writer. The event organised by her seven children, held at Ferguson Hall, Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church, focused on Anne’s long and distinguished writing career from 1947-2014. It included reflections on the recently published book [...]
‘Crystalline’ wonder of 40,000 plastic bottles
Giant walls formed by magical Christmas frost patterns seem to rise magnificently around the City School of Architecture (CAS) stall at Architect 2019, the work and trade fair held at the BMICH from February 20 to 24. The walls fall just short of forming a canopy above the stall. At night this arctic creation glowed, [...]
On the road for Rosie May
A year after their daughter’s death, the Storries found themselves confronting a tsunami. Having gone on vacation to the Maldives, Graham and Mary and their sons were in a resort when the Sri Lankans working there began to get calls from home – the wave was on its way. “All the guests just barricaded themselves [...]
Tapping a sweet heritage
If Matara has a mascot, it would be the crocodile- the gentle, playful kimbula of old kavi who teased the ferrymen in the river but would never dream of harming anyone. When Chanchala Gunewardene wanted an icon for her new gourmet kithul treacle brand, it was the friendly reptile she chose. With the delicious, satisfying [...]
CFW returns to grand dame of hotels
Colombo Fashion Week now in its 16th year is looking to the next 15 years with ambitious visions of taking Lankan fashion to loftier heights. Day Two of Colombo Fashion Week saw seven designers showcase their collections in the Grand Ballroom at the Galle Face Hotel, where coincidentally CFW’s journey began back in 2003. Opening [...]
London socialite in town
On Wednesday the 27th special guests were invited for cocktails and conversation with Alice Farquhar at Baillie Street Merchants. Global Brand Education and Training Manager for Belvedere, Alice is a well-known socialite in London moving with the likes of Britain’s young Royals.