History goes hi-tech
Polonnaruwa’s skyline has a new Goliath. Once, the medieval capital which was a city since the Greek times was dominated by stupas, but today, a colossal geometric steel and glass cube building looms large. The Ancient Technology Museum, opened barely six months ago, is a wonder to discover. Not only is it beautifully curated, but [...]
Letters to the Editor
Let’s make BIA passenger-friendly I have been using the Katunayake Airport (BIA) at least three times a year for the past 29 years or so. I thought of penning a few suggestions for the authorities since I have noticed stagnation of certain services without much improvement. Since Sri Lanka is going to depend on tourism [...]
Appreciations
An inspirational free spirit, she touched my life in many ways Jeanne Thwaites I was short-listed for the Gratiaen Prize in 1998 but Jeanne Thwaites won it. Jeanne had recently returned to Sri Lanka from the U.S. where she had earned her living mainly as a photographer for 40 years. I learnt later that she [...]
Memories of a bright but brief life live on
Brightly but briefly, like a candle in the wind, Devshan Weerasekera gently walked this earth, his life fading away before he celebrated his 16th birthday. As we walk into his home in Pamunuwa, Maharagama, what greets us is a photograph of Devshan, one of very few, for he being passionate about photography captured everyone else, [...]
Making of a good play
A good script needs to draw audiences into a play from the word go, and language isn’t its only element,” said British actress Fiona Shaw conducting a masterclass for leading local theatre professionals on December 23. An award-winning Irish actress, theatre and opera director, Shaw is most popularly known for her role as Petunia Dursley [...]
Oliver! The Musical: A rare theatrical feast
Lionel Bart’s Oliver! The Musical that went on the boards at the Overseas School of Colombo last month had the audience enraptured with its numerous theatrical innovations and brilliant performances. Directors/choreographers, Trae Hicks and Rachel Jackson had taken a calculated, clever risk with the script. Using “modern” street wear for costumes made a powerful statement [...]
Triumphant Christmas gala by SOSL
This was a very special concert (on Thursday December 15), a climax to the Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas concerts over the past few years. All the ingredients were there–the evening was led by the fine cellist, Dushy Perera; she has now for several years been the Orchestra’s resident conductor. Every year the programme has been more [...]
A merry launch of My Elephant Secret and other stories
In a glittering Royal Colombo Golf Club decked with boughs of holly and robust seasonal cheer, Prof. Neluka Silva unwrapped an early Christmas gift to stuff the stockings with. It was the merry launch of My Elephant Secret and other Stories- Neluka’s first collection of short stories for children. The delightful anthology is, as Shermal [...]
A coming of age memoir
‘Stay, Daughter’ by Yasmin Azad is a coming of age memoir that gives an intimate glimpse of a world set in the Galle Fort. It follows the history of a community that in the late 19th century breaks with tradition of the time to give girls a secular education and permission to go out of [...]
A rocking start to a New Year, a new decade
2020 dawned with much celebration with Sri Lankans united in a wish for a brighter, happier year than the one that had just passed. Celebrations were in full swing across Colombo and our photographers captured the festivities at the Hilton, Cinnamon Grand and Cinnamon Lakeside, the Galadari, the Taj Samudra, the Mount Lavinia Hotel, The [...]