Far from a ‘Wonderland’
Come with an open mind – don’t expect the usual Alice in Wonderland story” cautions the cast. Co-director Reihan Stephen adds, “Our play takes everything you know about Alice in Wonderland and just turns it into something else entirely.” In a warped departure from the Lewis Carroll classic, Directors Nigel Wayne White and Reihan Stephen [...]
An uphill, upcycle venture
If you want to read about a young woman who never gave up on pursuing a hobby she struggled to master and instead turned it into a self-sustaining small business; we have a story for you. Meet Suhara Malwattege whose slow fashion brand Scerendip (meaning Serendip and Scenic) focuses on upcycling and reducing the carbon [...]
A ‘home’ of many stories
Uvini Atukorala is a hard bitten bibliophile. She will tell you that, at Methodist College (where that Christian institution has a proud literary tradition), they would write reams – for essay competitions and plays – and when at home she would finish off homework eagerly to slip into a book or a magazine picked off [...]
A 40-year island chronicle seen from the front seat
For four decades, Kotmale Sirisena has been a name that readers of the Dawasa and Lankadeepa looked out for. He was a writer with flair, whether breaking news or leisurely features. Now ‘Kotmale’ (as he is simply known- a tribute to his hilly home) has come up with his memoirs in the journalistic world, and [...]
June Distractions by CMSC
The Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC) continues its series of Chamber Music concerts with ‘June Distractions’. This concert, the CMSC hopes, would be a welcome distraction to its loyal patrons, to both soothe and rejuvenate the psyche bogged down by the weight of the current crises. The concert to be held at the Goethe-Institut [...]
It’s a first for Sri Lanka! A ‘Family-oriented Caesarean’
The emotion is palpable………as the words, “Your baby is ready to come out,” are heard in the Operating Theatre (OT) and a tiny head with black hair emerges from the abdomen of Viveka. Yes, there is blood! The head comes and then the shoulders. The baby is still attached to the precious umbilical cord as [...]
Letters to the Editor
Heartening performance by students in spite of hard times When compared to our young days the present-day child is suffering, deprived of education, health, sports and affordable travel. When they return from school there is no power! This steals their their precious time, even to attend to their school work. Recently I happened to go [...]
APPRECIATIONS
Mentor to many planters Anton Rajendram Anton Rajendram, a product of Holy Family Convent, Jaffna commenced his career with the Ceylon Planters’ Society (CPS) in 1945 – just nine years after the birth of the organisation. He worked tirelessly under six secretaries – some from the judiciary and others from the civil service. After nearly [...]
‘Recounting Histories’, Alliance Française Spring Festival in full bloom
The Embassy of France along with the network of Alliance Française in Sri Lanka and the Maldives launched their annual French Spring Festival on Monday, June 6. The multi-disciplinary festival fosters artistic links between France, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. In this its milestone tenth anniversary, the festival stays true to its theme ‘Recounting Histories’ [...]
Protest site library opens new chapter in Sri Lanka
The library at ‘Gotagogama’ began with a Facebook post, 20 books and a few likeminded friends amidst the gradual swelling of protests in Sri Lanka two months ago. A call on social media asking protestors to bring books when they came to Galle Face resulted in some donations. Soon, more books trickled in. And then [...]
Await a literary treat at New Ink’s third forum
New Ink – the independent literature forum for newly published Sri Lankan English writing organised annually by a team of literary enthusiasts will hold its third forum next month. Twenty six authors, creative practitioners and academics will participate in this year’s New Ink which will be held on Saturday, July 2 at the Lakmahal Community [...]
A visionary driven by deep feeling for the less privileged
June 2 marked the 134th birth anniversary of Dr. Mary Ratnam. Dr. Mary Helen Irwin Ratnam spearheaded women’s movements and social rights in this country and left an indelible mark in the field of social service. Her contributions to women’s welfare and the community at large are legendary. She had her higher education at the [...]
Charity dinner dance in UK for Leukaemia patients in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Leukaemia Foundation (UK) celebrated its 15th anniversary fund-raising dinner dance on June 11 at Thistle Hotel, Heathrow, UK. The charity founded in 2008 to aid Leukaemia patients in Sri Lanka has funded many projects at the Apeksha Hospital Maharagama including the recent donations of blood transfusion pumps, vacuum bags and valves and [...]