Living in a ghost town
The following constitute the (brutally-abbreviated) highlights of those proceedings. AS: Why a book about ghosts? SK: During the last ten years of touring with Chinaman, an old lady in Seattle wanted to know if I think Murali chucks, and Sourav Ganguly asked me publicly if I thought Sanga and Mahela were jealous of each other. [...]
A winning feast by Lankans at IKA Culinary Olympics
26 Gold Medals, 22 Silver Medals and 8 Bronze Medals! That was the grand total that team Sri Lanka brought home from the IKA Culinary Olympics held in Stuttgart, Germany last month, one of the gastronomic highlights of the 2020 world culinary calendar. All this from the 28 local chefs, including four female chefs plus [...]
A big thank you to our readers
The full measure of the generosity of Sri Lankans came to the fore soon after the article headlined, ‘Only hopelessness stares in her face’ was published on the PLUS cover of the Sunday Times on February 23. The article was about mother of three, Kanthi Gunatunge of Pelahela, close to Dekatana, Kirindiwela, struggling to survive [...]
Letters to the Editor
We need to end culture of politicians having a free ride The appalling news that a national list MP, a trade union leader cum civil society activist who supported the ‘Good-Governance’ in 2015, and was appointed to fill a vacancy at the tail-end of the last Parliament ended his six-day career by pocketing a car [...]
Appreciations
We are left with a void that can never be filled Suhendran Thalayasingam On February 22, Suhendran Thalayasingam, Chairman, Mithuruwela passed away, felled by a stroke. We at Mithuruwela are dismayed and stricken that someone so active, so full of life was taken away from us so unexpectedly. Suhendran Thalaysingam or Thalay as he was [...]
Come, be a part of ‘Sangeet’, say Soundarie and Sanjeev
“Sangeet – uniting through music” sees well known choral directors Soundarie David Rodrigo, founder of the Soul Sounds Academy and Sanjeev Jayaratnam, leader of The Revelations Academy of Performing Arts come together to create a group of mixed voices. Both needing no introduction for their musical prowess, Soundarie and Sanjeev thought it would be a [...]
In love with Scotland and drawing for children
Jill Calder hails me over a cappuccino, seated happily at Cinnamon Red with a bird’s eye view of Colombo which she tells me she loves. It seems quirky- meeting this warm Scotswoman with a brush that brought alive medieval Scotland with Robert the Bruce and indeed all corners of the world with her famous Picture [...]
Bandula Nanayakkarawasam opens up a new vista
Tissa Abeysekara once called Bandula Nanayakkarawasam “the brightest spark in the fifth generation of contemporary Sinhala songwriters”. He didn’t name the five generations, but he did observe that their ancestry began with Ananda Samarakoon. With this we can try to chart, and periodise, the evolution of 20th century Sinhala songwriters in terms of the singers [...]
British Council gives momentum to girls and women’s rights through the arts
Today is International Women’s Day – a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women of all races, backgrounds and cultures throughout history and all across the globe. The British Council, always a strong advocate for arts, culture, education and women’s rights. has adopted the United Nations (UN) Women’s campaign ‘Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights [...]
A day out at the farmers’ market at Tamarind Gardens, Digana
On Saturday, March 14, Tamarind Gardens will hold a farmers’ market at their premises in Digana, Kandy, in collaboration with the Good Market vendors from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Launched in 2012, Tamarind Gardens run by husband and wife duo, Nalin and Ayesha Perera focuses on sustainability and being as green as possible. They [...]
Everybody loves an Italian leather bag!
HMGO, a luxury Italian leather bag and accessories brand is now in Sri Lanka. “We design and build style. Go your own way with courage, independence, passion and style. HMGO is an embodiment of all these qualities and has been so from the very beginning of its existence in 2012,” said HMGO founder, Hema Gunawardana, [...]
When paradise bloomed
Japanese ambassador Akira Sugiyama was a most interested chief guest at the Shi-En Ikebana and Floral Art Society of Sri Lanka’s annual exhibition “Paradise in bloom” at the Marino Beach Hotel recently. It was a striking show of flowers presented both in Japanese and western style arrangements by the society’s members, unleashing their creativity in [...]
The doc whose passion for music only grows stronger
A Consultant Pathologist by profession, musician by passion – Dr. Manella Joseph returns to showcase her musical talents at her upcoming concert on March 22 at 7 p.m. at the Sri Lanka Federation of University Women premises at 96/25 Kithulwatta Road, Colombo 8. Starting out in the 1970s with The Winslow Six, the musical group [...]
Come November, Sri Lanka to host Mrs World 2021
Sri Lanka will be hosting the Mrs World 2021 pageant from November 2 – 21, this year, at the Kingsbury Hotel. Springboarding Sri Lanka to an international audience, the Pageant will hopefully be the first of many international pageants happening in Sri Lanka. With Sri Lanka currently having two Mrs World Pageant winners –Mrs World [...]
Fashion has to be more responsible: CFW’s motto for 17th edition
HSBC Colombo Fashion Week has always strived to make an impact in multiple ways, from within the fashion industry to aspects like tourism and global image. In its 17th year, CFW is taking a stand against the harmful practices of fast fashion and aims to steer the industry in Sri Lanka towards being more responsible, [...]
A night for the ladies
The Ladies VIP Night celebrating International Women’s Week on March 3 at the Shangri-La Ballroom started off with 17-year-old Secretary General of the Colombo Model United Nations Rika Goonetilleke talking of the focus of this Women’s Day ‘Each for Equal’. “I think that is a really important concept because contrary to popular belief equality should [...]
For chocoholics, Hilton is the place for you
It’s that time of the year once again where Hilton Colombo goes choco-crazy. Throughout the months of March and April, the hotel’s restaurants are chocolate inspired. A 3-course menu at Graze Kitchen restaurant starts from a cognac flavoured chicken parfait on crispy chocolate mille-feuille with berry compote and cacoa dusted almonds as an appetizer to [...]