Stay home and say hello to the birds and butterflies in your garden
“Any suggestions for locations for birding this weekend given the current situation,” was a question posted on birdwatching society the Field Ornithology Group’s Facebook platform last week. “Right now, the best place is your own backyard,” was the quick reply given by Dr. Nishanthi Perera, the secretary of the society. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread [...]
Bored at home? Click onto Google Digital Garage to learn something new
If like me, you have been aimlessly scrolling through Google, you may come across Google Digital Garage. Amazingly the content is all free, and it’s user- friendly too. With the recent curfew due to the corona virus pandemic, a lot of us are at home with nothing much to do. Instead of spending countless hours [...]
Woman of our times
A few months ago, Miuru Jayaweera donned fiery red to step into the role of Hindu deity Durga in a choreographed sequence of yogic asanas, her graduation assignment for an advanced yoga teacher training (YTT) course. “I have always had a connection with Durga, the goddess; I believe every woman has a Durga within – [...]
What the coronavirus pandemic tells us about our relationship with the natural world
COVID-19 is fundamentally a story of humanity’s ever-encroaching relationship with all other living things on this planet writes Emma Gilchrist There are moments in life that are etched into our collective consciousness forever. When the planes struck the World Trade Center. When Princess Diana was killed in a car crash. When the world ground to [...]
A tropical delight from a promising new Lankan author
An exotic, jungle-like window display at Waterstones, Piccadilly- Europe’s largest bookstore- throws the red carpet for a new Sri Lankan book- ‘The Girl who Stole an Elephant’ by Nizrana Farook. The children’s novel had a warm welcome all over the UK in the brittle heart of winter early this year. It was the Waterstones’ children’s [...]
‘It is the living we should fear’
Book facts: Chats with the Dead by Shehan Karunatilaka Reviewed by A.S.H. Smyth DISCLAIMER: Ten years ago, I reviewed Shehan Karunatilaka’s debut novel, Chinaman, for this newspaper. It was brilliant, I said, and everyone should buy it. I noted, though, for form’s sake, that I’d done some light proofreading of the manuscript, and hoped that [...]
Appreciations
The brightest light in our family will shine no more Indrani Perera (Jayaweera) A shining light in the Jayaweera family passed away on February 16. Indrani, my elder sister, was born in Colombo on March 27, 1951 to Nonis Jayaweera and Charlotte Jayaweera from Kamburupitiya, Matara, the ‘lucky seventh’ in a family of 10. She was [...]
Letters to the Editor
Foreign pensioners face many hassles Eligibility for pension after retirement until death and in the event of death, entitlement for widows and orphans pension for spouse and children are incentives for youths to seek employment in the Government Service. In the last few years, Government pensioners living in foreign countries are being harassed by the [...]
Well known photographer’s debut novel a page turner
In the 21st century, the younger generation has seemingly forgotten the wonders of print media. Modern media has affected the print media, and Padmakumar P. Mettasena wrote his novel ‘Muslim Sinhala’ keeping this development in mind. Mettasena stepped into the field of writing at a young age. His first publication was a comic strip for [...]
Gratiaen Prize 2019 long list announced
The Gratiaen Trust this week announced the long list for the Gratiaen Prize 2019. The authors (surnames in alphabetical order) and the titles of their work are: Ruchini Abayakoon - Dartboard Photographs Nadishka Aloysius - Raavana’s Daughter Shashikala Assella - (In) Consequential Musings Andrew Fidel Fernando - Upon a Sleepless Isle Praveen Jayamanna - The Double Doorway Upali Mahaliyana - Tom-Tom [...]