A Lenten journey of faith & hope
Solace, succour and gratitude for favours granted are tangible as men, women and children walk past a glass casket bearing the hallowed statue of the crucified Christ amidst the chanting of the rosary interspersed with the hauntingly moving hymn ‘Namo Mariyane’ in honour of Mother Mary. It is on a Friday just before Christians commemorate [...]
Where the tale of cinnamon comes alive
Situated on the Mirissa Hills cinnamon estate near Weligama, the Cinnamon Museum to be officially opened on Saturday, April 6, tells the story of the “Queen of Spices”. The gentle coastal hills of southern Sri Lanka with their laterite soil provide perfect growing conditions for Cinnamomum Zeylanicum or “true cinnamon native to the island”. To [...]
Letters to the Editor
The promise of Calvary On Calvary’s darkening heights The shameful, pathetic, pitiful sight Of a crucified Christ Hanging limply on a cross Between two thieves – one morose The other quoth –‘Remember me’ A humble plea. “Thou shalt with me in Paradise be’ Christ’s promise of eternal life ‘Midst the throes of death’s beckoning night [...]
APPRECIATIONS
Happy 98th birthday in heaven RUKIE EHELIYAGODA Thank you for living and sharing a life worth remembering. Many were the testimonies of great miracles you received in your lifetime from your Heavenly Father. Love and care were lavished immeasurably, enriching and inspiring my life. They are forget-me-nots in the garden of my life. Roses for [...]
Ramadan: Self-discipline and empathy for those less fortunate
Religions and philosophies that practise fasting include Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Jainism, just to mention but a few. All utilise fasting in one form or another, whether for purification, spiritual vision, penance, mourning or sacrifice. Ramadan, also known as Ramadhan or Ramazan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. The word [...]
Fluidity of Odissi combines with athleticism of Kandyan
This April, the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble from Bengaluru, India, and the Chitrasena Dance Company, join together to present ‘Ahuti’, another ground breaking production with celebrated Odissi dance exponent Surupa Sen as Artistic Director. ‘Ahuti’ goes on the boards on April 21 at the Jaffna Cultural Centre at 6.30 p.m., and on April 25 and 26 [...]
Nayantara raring to go with “Nyne”
“‘Nyne’ was the name my late daddy Lester Fonseka fondly called me,” says Nayantara Fonseka, her husky voice tinged with emotion, as she speaks of ‘Nyne Hotels’ – the name she has chosen for her new foray into the hotel industry. For so long, she was known to all as ‘Taru’, her eponymous brand synonymous [...]
Exploring opposing forces through her art
Art is chaos taking shape, said the great Pablo Picasso. For Avanthi Jayasinghe, just as in art, life is chaos taking beautiful shape too. “Chaos Rendered” Avanthi’s exhibition of paintings will be on at the Fareed Uduman Art Forum’s SKY Gallery from April 5-7. A counselling psychologist by profession, Avanthi completed her PhD at the [...]
A taste of slow food from around the world with a local touch
The Mount Lavinia Hotel has embraced the slow food movement, with a monthly soiree celebrating good food, fine wine, and local produce. Starting off with Slow Food Italia, followed by Slow Food Slovenia, and recently Slow Food Sweden, the events are about experiencing the unique flavours of each highlighted country through fresh, farm-to-table food combined [...]