Where apprentices learn of art and life
Matara is known for many things – ancient ramparts and well-preserved colonial Dutch architecture to name a few. But not Art. Yet, hidden over five acres in a forested hillside in Dikwella lies the six-building campus of ÀNI Art Academies. Designed to blend naturally with the environment, there are no galvanised signages shouting its presence [...]
Giving back to the hospital that gave him life amidst sorrow
They were friends but did not realize that they had been co-opted to help a worthy cause by a dynamic medical administrator. The outcome of this triple link has worked for the benefit of the humble people, specifically women, in the northern most point of Sri Lanka – Point Pedro. Simple was the ceremony held [...]
Letters to the Editor
Let us try to reduce road carnage Statistics from the National Council for Road Safety (NCRS) show that there were 2824 fatal road accidents in 2016 and 2924 in 2017. Of these fatalities, 1227 had resulted from motorcycle accidents in 2016 and 1228 in the following year. These figures in terms of percentages of total [...]
APPRECIATIONS
You were always there, through good times and bad Dr. Dayasiri Thenuwara ’Feeling lost in a sea of sadness’’ to quote my brother Daya, when he faced the recent cruel blow that fate meted out to him, and then, mercifully, surprisingly, suddenly, rescued him from leaving us, lost and bewildered in a sea of sadness. [...]
Manuka’s love for Sufi poetry ignites ‘Like Moths to a Flame’
Manuka Wijesinghe is a maverick who has gathered much moss by rolling from one esoteric subject to another. After schooling at CMS Ladies’ College, she learnt German and Spanish; Arabic and Sanskrit; homeopathy and Chinese medicine; wrote poetry and plays; delved into the religions of the world; acted, danced and fell utterly in love with [...]
Village youth and monk bring back Aranwela’s lost historical site
Kirama Oya meanders through the fields on its way to reach the Indian Ocean, its origins said to be in the rain-rich lush mountains of Kirama. During its not so long journey to unleash its precious collection into the sea at Tangalle, the flow is stemmed at several locations to irrigate the dry plains of [...]
‘Personal honour’ to be featured in “3 Centuries of Female Composers” says Tanya
The work of Sri Lankan-British pianist-composer Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka is to be featured in a limited-edition 10 CD box set released by Naxos Records (Grand Piano). The collection, titled “3 Centuries of Female Composers” was released on March 4 in celebration of International Women’s Day 2022. “This is a huge personal honour for me,” says [...]
Dream and reality blend into one canvas
A Sujeewa Kumari painting trapezes tactfully between the real and the imagined. In her latest exhibition titled Full Bloom on at Paradise Road Galleries until March 24, the artist seems to resolve two states that are easily dichotomised: the dream state and ‘reality’. In ‘Full Bloom,’ Sujeewa Kumari dissolves the boundaries between the figures she [...]
Focus on architecture and tourism
What is the role of architecture in projecting the image of a place, and how important is creating a distinct identity of a place in its success as a tourist destination? ‘Getting the picture out: A conversation on Architecture and Tourism’ will be held on Wednesday, March 9 at 6.30 p.m. at the Hector Kobbekaduwa [...]
Denara Institute’s programmes to empower women
The Denara Training Institute – its name is of Persian origin and refers to “children of heaven and earth”– was established in October 2021 with a vision of training young women of all communities in technical and social skills. Centrally located in Colombo 5, Denara aims to empower women to be independent and take charge [...]
Novel of two narratives unveils cautionary tale for our times
Multiple award-winning Sri Lankan expatriate author Michelle de Kretser has recently produced Scary Monsters, a novel that both resembles and exceeds her previous work. Her previous novel The Life to Come, is situated in Sri Lanka, Australia, and France where she was born, immigrated to, and completed her graduate studies, respectively. Although the island is [...]
Their own little space to enter magical world of books
The Reading Nook– a space for young children to discover the magical world of books was opened last month. It is a passion project for Senior Lecturer at the University of Kelaniya’s Department of English Language Teaching, Dr Romola Rasool, who feels this children’s lending library and reading corner located on Averihena Road in Colombo [...]
A ‘peep’ that gives us perspective
Who wants political public servants in this type of position? They are the people who lead us up the garden path!”- Former Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike (circa 1976), recalled by Eric J. de Silva in A Peep Into The Past (2021). This comment was made by a Sri Lankan politician during an office conversation in [...]
Re-throning a largely forgotten monarch
The Great Vijayabahu/Ever-living Great Leader by Dr. P. G. Punchihewa is a huge compilation that provides a wealth of knowledge on a monarch of great significance. The authors of the great chronicle Mahavansa documented the important records of history of the country. Unfortunately for understandable reasons of favouritism, certain deeds of some monarchs were not [...]
CFW: Show-stopping finales on both days
The Summer edition of HSBC’s Colombo Fashion Week 2022 wrapped up last weekend with a bevy of designers –Dimuthu Sahabandu, Divya Ninety-Three, Limak by Kamil, Lovi Ceylon, Urvashi Kaur, Achala Leekoh and Amilani Perera showing on Day 2 and Sonali Dharmawardena, Agara by Nilu, Himashi Wijeweera, Sukhet Dhir, Zaheer Abbas, Charini, FH by Hameedia and [...]