Having won one battle, the struggle of daily life begins
The mother, father and two sons are over the moon, even though they have had only a few pieces of boiled manioc for breakfast and will have only kos (jak) for lunch, this too thanks to the generosity of friends. This little family’s economic situation has been in the doldrums – but the younger son, [...]
Celebrating 150 years of the school behind the pines
Wesley College Colombo is celebrating its 150th anniversary this week- March 2024, with a full programme of events taking place at the school and other venues. Recognised as one of Sri Lanka’s leading and progressive educational institutions, Wesley provides a fine all-round education reflective of its long-held customs and traditions. As I write this brief [...]
Appreciations
An innovative and multi-faceted engineer Don Gunasena Athukorala Don Gunasena Athukorala passed away peacefully in Sydney on February 22 at the age of 99 years and nine months. His funeral takes place on March 5 at 4.30 p.m. in Sydney. D.G. Athukorala was a onetime Chairman of the State Engineering Corporation following the legendary previous [...]
It’s the journey that matters
Yes, the title tells it all. Tony Saldin is on a journey and he carries us along in his wake. But it is not an everyday journey, but a ‘voyage of discovery’- a voyage into his past to discover his identity and to revel in it. But there is even something more. He sees not [...]
Seeing the world through a lot of different eyes
1950s, Rhodesia; in a colonial bungalow, an English boy is buried in a book- for there’s no TV, and living in an expat community means encounters with tribal people and wildlife from the bush are not common. Prof. A.C. (Anthony Clifford) Grayling, philosopher and author, is grateful for that Anglo-African childhood with little resources other [...]
Gratiaen takes Malaiyaha Tamils to Jaffna
‘Writing the Malaiyaha Tamils’, a full day event in Jaffna focused on the creativity and critical conversations surrounding Malaiyaha Tamil literature. Hosted by the Gratiaen Trust, in partnership with the John Keells Foundation, it was held at the Jaffna Public Library Auditorium on February 25. The event also took its place amongst the many commemorations [...]
A key to greater enjoyment of literature
Coming after his highly popular Guide to Literary Criticism and Guide to Poetry, D.C.R. A. Goonetilleke’s Guide to Fiction is just as rapier-sharp in its analysis of the variegated sample texts (while at the same time showcasing their subtleties). It is a treasure trove for the student of literature. The senior don, Emeritus Professor at [...]
Unfolding intense three hours of complex themes
Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer and Tony Award winning ‘August Osage County’, directed and produced by well-known actress Bimsara Premaratna (donning the director’s hat here), showcased at the Wendt on February 22, 24and 25 – an experience that was surely one for the books with a Colombo audience more accustomed to comedies and musicals. It was notably [...]
Remaining true to Malaysian flavours
The southern coast of Sri Lanka has been bustling with activity each weekend thanks to Gourmet Galle, the culinary celebration brought to life by the same team behind the Galle Literary Festival. The inaugural food festival features 12 internationally acclaimed chefs in a series of culinary events like curated dinners and masterclasses transpiring at some [...]
Glimpses of southern France to the strains of piano
On February 24, the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute was the venue for “Vistas of Languedoc”, an audiovisual presentation of artwork by Seneka Abeyratne. The 45-minute slideshow comprised 30 pieces by Seneka, transformed through edit and alteration done digitally via photoshop, using pictures captured on his three visits to Languedoc in the south of France. The [...]
Send in your writings for EWC competition
The English Writers Collective of Sri Lanka (EWC) has announced their Creative Writing Competition 2024. Entries from those above 18 years of age are invited under two sections: Prose and Poetry. Unpublished short stories (up to 2500 words) and poems (32 lines or less) should be e-mailed on Word; font size 12, spacing 1.5 with [...]
Natya Kala Mandir dancers to perform in Tamil Nadu
The “Natyanjali” dance programme with dancers under the direction of Kalasuri Vasuki Jegatheeswaran’s Natya Kala Mandir, Colombo, will stage their Bharatanatyam dance performances during Mahashivarathri at temples in Tamil Nadu. Among the dancers taking part in the “Natyanjali” celebrations are Amrithaa Ketheeswaran, Suvasthiga Suveendran, Namrutha Prabagaran, Hamshitha Prabagaran, Abhirami Thillainadarajah, Harithra Senthilkumar, Abhinethri Kirishankar and Manjari [...]