India-Sri Lanka relations for a shared and secure future
Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu says it is heartening to note that India and Sri Lanka have strong cooperation in the fields of defence and security. “We have been sharing our equipment and expertise with Sri Lanka; we are also ready to do more. We have conducted joint missions in the recent past to [...]
A leader is only as good as his team
One of the better known quotes attributed to the famous American General Douglas MacArthur is one that our new president, a military man himself, would do well to remember as he begins his term of office as the leader of our nation: “A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops [...]
Can nationalism be a ruling creed for long?
Those knowledgeable about everything have said it and those knowledgeable about nothing on everything and others who know everything about nothing too have voiced their opinion on why the 2019 presidential election was won or lost. All these thinkers will continue to contribute their mite for a long time. That’s democracy. In this column, we [...]
A delight to the eye and a challenge to the conscience
The opening of the exhibition at the Camden Image Gallery in London was a lively event, the gallery was over flowing with guests. It was a cold November night but in the gallery the warmth was tangible – not just the heat from crowds of visitors but also from the excitement aroused by this [...]
Seniors cast on for festive cheer
Thirty pairs of seasoned hands have woven the shawls, shrugs and other clothing and household items that will go on sale at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on December7 and 8. The year-end sale is the acme of activities of Knit&Chat, a seniors knitting group that have met through the year to create these lovely lace [...]
A chat with children about the mammals of Sri Lanka’ by Dr Miththapala
On Saturday, December 7, Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala will be at the Barefoot Bookshop in Colombo 3 to chat with children about the mammals of our country, their diversity, behaviour and the threats many of them face. The first session from 10.30 – 11.15 a.m. will be for children aged 5-7, and the second session [...]
Mahen Kariyawasan appointed president of the Association of Consuls
Mahen Kariyawasan speaking at the event Mahen Kariyawasan was appointed the 7th president of the Association of Consuls in Sri Lanka at the 22nd AGM held at the hotel Galadari. The association consists of Honorary Consuls representing 60 countries. The following office bearers were also elected: Vice president/Treasurer- Dudley Thambinayagam; Secretary: Cally Alles; committee [...]
Ceylon Motor Sports Club’s 85th anniversary
The Ceylon Motor Sports Club’s 85th anniversary celebration was held on November 2 at the Liberty Ballroom of the Ramada Hotel in Colombo. The Chief Guest was Federation International de l’ Automobile Deputy President for Sport Graham Stoker seen in the picture with Rajah Sinnathuray, Hon. Life Member and former secretary of the Ceylon Motor [...]
‘Joyful Hope’ from Contempo this Christmas season
For this Christmas season, Contempo, the past pupils’ choir of St. Bridget’s Convent, will be staging an evening of choral Christmas music at their concert ‘Joyful Hope’ on December 9, at the Russian Cultural Centre, Colombo 7. The concert will feature many Christmas classics in a multitude of genres ranging from gospel, jazz and pop. [...]
‘A Celebration’ by L.G. Singers
The L.G. Singers carol service ‘A Celebration’ will be held at the Bethel Chapel of the Seventh Day Adventists , 7, Alfred House Gardens, Kollupitiya, on December 6 at 6.45 p.m. The service will include 12 carols by the singers and a congregational sing-along.
World Vision holds Christmas market to give a helping hand
Children who have one or both parents in prison face many difficulties, one of which is continuing their education. As a new school year approaches, World Vision plans to support 26 of these children from Mundalama area to continue their schooling. World Vision has organised a pop-up Christmas market on December 7 from 10 a.m. [...]
Exhibition to mark the International Day of Disabled Persons
“Piyawarak Perata” (One Step Forward)- an exhibition to mark the International Day of Disabled Persons will be held on December 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Senehasa Education Resource Research & Information Centre, Matha Road, Manning Town. The exhibition will be organised by the Senehasa Centre- an institution managed by the Defence [...]
Revive Palestinian peace process: Solidarity Committee
The Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine, in a message to mark the International Day for Solidarity with Palestine, has called on international community to revive the peace process to bring about a speedy end to the suffering of the Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation for more than seven decades. As United Nations [...]
The new presidency: The civilisational challenge
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s swearing-in at Ruwanveliseya marked a civilisational direction. Ruwanveliseya is the symbolic centre of Theravada (original) Buddhism, and the city is celebrated in South East Asia. Original Buddhism, in the words of both the Buddha and Emperor Asoka who gave it to us, allowed for dissent and coexistence with other beliefs. Ruwanveliseya was [...]
What if the Earth was flat?
The Earth is a sphere. This is a simple fact that humans have known for thousands of years; it was incontrovertibly confirmed as soon as the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957 and it went … you know … around the globe. Nevertheless, a small but vocal group of people who insist [...]
Hong Kong says no to the China dream
LONDON – At the beginning of his satirical novel China Dream, which has a cover designed by the dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, Ma Jian expresses his gratitude to George Orwell, author of 1984 and Animal Farm. Orwell, he says, “foretold it all.” Ma, whose work is banned in China and who lives in exile [...]