By Radhika Dandeniya
'Warning: you are in serious danger of becoming a Lush addict'. This slogan accompanies the highly reputed range of bath products, known simply as "Lush". With 100 stores worldwide and success in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, the famous brand made its debut at Odel in Colombo last week.
"Lush"is a British brand launched in 1978. It manufactures a wide variety of creams, lotions and treatments for use on the body, face and hair. Lush was also the first to introduce such products as massage bars and bath bombs, which are both featured in the collection available at Odel. Lush is renowned for its products being handmade, 100% vegetarian, and not tested on animals. Certainly the eco-friendly theme was emphasized at the launch; upon entering Odel, strong scents of exotic fruits and vegetables were in the air, leading you to the room dedicated to the range.
A stylish bowl containing a range of body and facial cleansers stands near the entrance of the room. These products are set in cool ice and accompanied by fresh fruit and vegetables to reiterate the integral part of "Lush products", (i.e. that they are made of fresh, organic ingredients). The wealth of colourful products on show range from soaps to massage bars and bath ballistics, available for both men and women.
In addition to these beauty products, Odel also provides "The Lush Times", an international paper, which advises consumers on the sensible usage of their items. Chief Executive Officer of Odel, Otara Chandiram, who personally uses and recommends products featured in the collection, said the use of herbal remedies to stimulate body and mind, is becoming more popular here. " I always believed that Sri Lankans liked using natural products, therefore this collection would especially appeal to them," she said.
By Undergrad
It was cause for jubilation. After more than three months of non-stop studying, we were back at the court. Into sweat suits and sneakers and we were in our element. Yes, with lots of bending and stretching ahead of us, we were ready to roll.
Fate or rather a couple of good-for-nothings decided otherwise. I was busy working on an assignment which was due the following day when the words of doom came on TV. We all feared it would come to this but till the last minute I had hoped against hope that at least this year we would be spared. Now I hang my head in shame, hearing about the barbarism of the people I've been with for the past two years.
This "undergrad" tag has become a cross on our shoulders now. Friends, relatives, and neighbours take turns in taunting me. "Oh, your 'Vali Vidyalaya' is closed again, isn't it?" I try not to blow my top and laugh it off. But it hurts. It hurts so much when people dare call our university names because of a handful of hooligans. Thanks to them the only predictable thing about university life nowadays is its unpredictability.
Weeks before nominations were handed over for the Student Council election, the campus resembled a war zone. Instead of the usual camaraderie, we were looking upon a sea of hate. Walking past a couple of meetings, I was stunned to hear the speakers breathing fire. "Give as good as you get." It was freewheeling belligerence. Coming from the so-called cream of the country's youth, it was ugly and scary and made me seriously wonder whether these were bin Ladens in the making. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why these people had it in for each other over a stupid election.
Several times did I try reasoning with members of both sides. But the message was loud and clear: "No negotiation. Period." Their monumental hostility wouldn't budge a whit. They'd rather rely on sheer physical brawn and slug it out. No wonder real gentlemen are an endangered species these days.
It seems that every year we get a new group of trigger-happy youngsters. It's only a matter of time before the seniors force their political ideologies down the throats of these impressionable youth. Often they fail to see the fine line between healthy interest and obsession. They swallow wholesale whatever they're told. Or worse still, they're browbeaten into submission. Add to this the adrenaline rush and these fellas are ready for anything.
Before they know it, they become part of the knock-down-and-drag-out political game. It's win at any cost. Unfortunately, this dangerous game is not confined to politics. It becomes an ideal opportunity to settle old scores. It's a well-known secret that both these parties have "weapons" stored away for you-know-what eventuality. One wrong move or word and the simmering volcano erupts.
The tension before, during, and after the election is almost suffocating. The average peace-loving person dreads it. Most of the girls clam up. They try to avoid being seen with the "active" members of either party, because in the corrupt political culture at campus "our enemy's friend becomes our enemy too". They know by experience that the wrath of the two mighty clans knows no bounds. If you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, you're done for. The presence of the army or the police is not reassuring either. Once things get out of hand, there's little anyone can do.
As one friend jestingly remarked, this has become a ritual now. Every year around this time the threat of election violence looms large. The day-to-day functioning of the university goes haywire. Studies are disrupted. Public property is damaged. None of these hotheads show the slightest sign of letting up. They just don't realize that they are their own worst enemies. They perish, alas, dragging everyone else along.
Our future is at stake. The university's honour is at stake. How long can we go on like this? Can we dismiss it all as the "heedless follies of unbridled youth"? Or is it part of a wider and more serious social problem that needs to be addressed immediately? Suffice it to say that those who do not study history are condemned to repeat it.
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