Our commonality is gene-deep
We, both the Sinhalese and the Sri Lankan Tamils, are truly ‘unique’ and share a common genetic ancestry! This common genetic ancestry has been revealed in a recent scientific study based on irrefutable evidence, busting many a myth and debunking numerous speculation. “It goes beyond or supersedes the borders of different ethnicities, the different languages [...]
Taking on a complex history
In 1981 Jaffna, all 16-year-old Sashikala “Sashi” Kulenthiren wants to do is become a doctor like her grandfather, stay close to her brothers, and earn respect in a discriminatory society ignited by British post-colonial policy. It is the onset of the civil war and the security forces are battling Tamil militant groups, namely the Tamil [...]
Letters to the Editor
Politicisation of once well-run corporations and their downfall It was with the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna government of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike that the nationalisation programme started with the Ceylon Transport Board being the first. When this was done it was a stupendous task as the persons who were handling it had to get all the buses belonging [...]
APPRECIATIONS
We will always remember their warmth and love Mohan and Roshni Tennekoon Mohan Tennekoon was born with the proverbial silver spoon to an upper crust Kandyan clan. His parents Dr. and Mrs. Percival Tennekoon nurtured their four children in the best traditions and values of the Christian faith. Despite the perks and privileges that a [...]
Country Roads: Three-decade saga of helping children through music
It was in 1988 that Feizal Samath, then a journalist for Reuters, travelling to a Trincomalee refugee camp was moved by the fate of children and women in war-torn areas. “I thought ‘I am writing these stories – I get a nice byline, but beyond that, if I go the next week, or the week [...]
Unfamiliar choral works beautifully rendered
A concert programme with mostly unfamiliar classical choral works can seem a daunting prospect. But the thoughtful selection of music by conductor Harin Amirthanathan, loosely centred around the night as a time for reflection and restoration, quickly dispelled such misgivings. The first half featured relatively unknown songs with music by Edward Elgar. The lyrics were [...]
Gen. Denis Perera oration focuses on “Grey Zone Maritime Conflicts”
The 9th General Deshamanya Denis Perera oration took place at the Kotalawala Defence University auditorium on September 15 with Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera speaking on the topic of “Grey Zone Maritime Conflicts”. Grey Zone Maritime Conflict refers to the use of non-military means to achieve political objectives below the threshold of armed conflict [...]
RASSL lecture by Gunadasa Amarasekera
Veteran author Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara will deliver the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka’s (RASSL) monthly lecture on Monday, September 25 at 5 p.m. at the Council Room of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, (RASSL) 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. His topic will be ‘From Gamanaka Mula to Gamanaka Aga: revisiting the [...]