They overcame many a hurdle to shine bright
Irshad Sreenthaj (29) and Fathima Siyama Ansar (25) live more than 300 kilometres away from each other, but the two young Economics scholars who graduated from the Universities of Jaffna and Sabaragamuwa last month, have startlingly similar stories to share as they celebrate resounding academic success- having had to persevere against much more than their [...]
“Libraries shouldn’t shush, they should roar”
The transformative power of a library is never to be underestimated. Libraries often play multiple roles in society beyond just a reading space, from being repositories of information and safe spaces, to social mobility enhancers and accelerators that are cornerstones of flourishing civil societies and active democracies. For Maarya Rehman, the library was a lifeline. [...]
Letters to the Editor
A recipe for disaster as bird haven gets set for Avurudu Ulela I currently live in Kandy due to the COVID situation, though my work is usually in South East Asia. Even though I dislike visiting Colombo, I do visit my in-laws’ home in Bird Park, Madiwela and truly enjoy the beautiful environment around there. [...]
Appreciations
A caring, loving gentleman and wonderful boss PERCIVAL (PERCY) BALALLA My planting memories of Percy Balalla were of a caring and loving gentleman who was an outstanding planter. I happened to be one of those planters who worked under him. I have never known him to lose his temper with any one of us and [...]
Capturing complicated interplay between humans and nature
Rupaneethan Pakkiyarajah’s landscapes, at first glance, seem to reflect the landmined, rusty bloodstained North (or it could be the gray, post-revolutionary Russia or even the Apocalypse); while his object drawings are full of queer crawling vegetation and fungi- like the work of a botanist become faerie artist. But that is before you dip into their [...]
Filling an important void in these days of environment degradation
The Soils of Sri Lanka edited by Prof. Ranjith B. Mapa, one of the prominent soil scientists in the country provides current information on local soils and is now published as a World Soils Book series by Springer International. Dedicated to Vidya Jothi C.R. Panabokke who pioneered in mapping the soils of Sri Lanka, the [...]
Sriyantha Senaratne felicitated for 50 years of service to Rotary
The Rotary Club of Colombo North felicitated Past President Sriyantha Senaratne for his 50 years of service to Rotary during the official visit of the Rotary District Governor, Ajith Weerasinghe. A plaque was presented by the District Governor and the President of the Club, Lucien Pereira. Sriyantha joined the Rotary Club of Colombo North on [...]
April 5, keep a date with Gratiaen Prize shortlist live streaming
The shortlist for the Gratiaen Prize 2020 will be announced at an online event on Monday, April 5, at 7 p.m.,live-streamed on the Facebook page of the Gratiaen Trust:https://www.facebook.com/gratiaentrust This is the second consecutive year the Prize event has gone online and for a third consecutive year a long list for the Prize was announced. [...]
Food for thought by journalist Asuntha
‘Nirogi Diviyata Ahara’ (Food for Healthy Living) – journalist Asuntha Edirisuriya’s latest book is based on her discussions with Prof. Nishan Sudheera Kalupahana of the Peradeniya University. Included are topics such as food for a healthy lifestyle, nutrition for expectant mothers, nutritious food for teenagers, ad hoc use of vitamins and nutritional supplements, myths surrounding [...]
Latest SUNRISE magazine for senior citizens out
The March-April 2021 issue of SUNRISE magazine for senior citizens is now available at VijithaYapa and Sarasaviya bookshops and also through the Sunrise office. Among other highlights, this issue contains a no-holds barred interview with evergreen musician cum entertainer Sunil Perera who goes down memory lane to talk about his life, devotion to music and [...]
EWC invites entries for annual competition
The English Writers Collective of Sri Lanka (EWC) invites entries for their annual creative writing and poetry competition. Literary articles, reviews, short stories of up to 2500 words and poems of 32 lines or less, are welcome. More than one entry could be submitted. The best three entries of prose writing and best three poems [...]
CFW: Fashionistas make a comeback
In a year beset by pandemic fears and restrictions, the Colombo Fashion Week’s runway show was eagerly awaited as a breath of fresh optimism for the future. Colombo’s fashionistas were at the Shangri-La Hotel on March 25 as Day 1 of CFW unfolded with the Emerging Designers presenting their summer collections