‘If Chitrasena jumped high, I jumped too’
Three generations of dancers, Vajira, Anjalika and Heshma sit together in the verandah of Vajira’s small apartment adjoining the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya on Elvitigala Mawatha, Colombo. The eldest, Vajira ‘Chitrasena’ Dias, considered Sri Lanka’s premier ballerina, celebrated her 92nd birthday on March 15. Her granddaughter, Heshma Wignaraja, Artistic Director of the Chitrasena Dance Company, tells her [...]
Musings on moments and emotions of daily life
Being one of the Spittels, it was no surprise that Premini Amerasinghe would wield the pen adroitly even while being a busy radiologist. Her uncle, Richard Lionel Spittel, was the famous ‘surgeon in the wilderness’ and champion of the Veddahs - an anthropologist and poet-at-heart, whilst his sister Beatrice, Premini’s mother, read the Iliad to [...]
The genesis of a much loved school song
As Wesley boys – young and not so young, gathered proudly for their school’s 150th year celebrations this past fortnight, the familiar refrain of their school song ‘Boys of Wesley through the land’ was heard, sung with much gusto on many occasions. The song with its rousing patriotic lyrics …”and for our dear land we’d [...]
Letters to the Editor
CB salary hike and era of principled government servants of yesteryear Don Manu’s incisive exposition (ST-2: March 10, 2024) on the Central Bank authorities “serving themselves” to colossal increments running into millions of rupees inevitably reminds one of the impeccable integrity which prevailed in government service in an earlier era. I quote from the book [...]
APPRECIATIONS
The planting fraternity will always miss “Gentleman Jim” Lt. Colonel (rtd) Gamini (Jim) Amerasinghe Gamini (Jim) Amerasinghe born on April 23, 1937, passed away on December 18, 2023 at the age of 86 years. He had his schooling at Trinity College, Kandy and at S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia. On leaving school, he pursued a [...]
Early ties: Lionel Wendt and George Keyt
From what little we know about Lionel Wendt (1900- 1944), there is no doubt that he was a remarkable intellect and worked passionately to achieve mastery of both his chosen interests – music and photography. When developing films in the dark room of his studio, he was inaccessible but when he emerged he was available [...]
Sarath looks back on half a century
Soon the walls within 18A, Sarasavi Gardens, Nugegoda will be lined with the art of one of our best known living artists, S. H. Sarath. This year he looks back on half a century since his first solo exhibition held at the Lionel Wendt, where Colombo woke up to a shy youth with robust, bold [...]
Japan confers Order of the Rising Sun on Shiromi for her work in Ikebana
The Shi-en Ikebana and Floral Art Society of Sri Lanka is familiar to all lovers of floral artistry for their spectacular flower exhibitions, always done for a worthy cause. Last week, the Japanese ambassador awarded one of the society’s outstanding floral artists a special honour for her decades of dedicated work to popularise Ikebana in [...]
Hilton’s new-look rooms a homage to our heritage
Hilton Colombo has just unveiled its newly refurbished rooms and suites designed to embrace the country’s rich heritage, culture and renowned craftsmanship. The 192 refreshed rooms, including 80 fully renovated Superior Rooms, 96 Deluxe Rooms and 16 Suites feature a refined aesthetic that exudes elevated comfort and a strong sense of place with modern touches, [...]
Sheraton Colombo, not your typical business hotel
Towering above street level, the newly opened Sheraton Colombo under the Marriot International umbrella, is fast becoming a hub for networking and socializing. “Because of our global presence we take pride in being a destination for international travellers to come together to one place, to get to know each other and interact. While we wanted [...]
CMSC presents Bach’s Goldberg Variations by Spanish pianist
Bach’s Goldberg Variations that continue to beguile and inspire audiences around the world, will be performed in Colombo by Spanish pianist Maria Garzón in a concert presented by the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC) on Sunday, March 31 at 1.30 p.m. at the Goethe-Institute Hall, Colombo. The Goldberg Variations have long been revered for [...]