He turned the tale of Sigiriya topsy-turvy
Polite but point-blank was the refusal to be interviewed, on the grounds that he is no longer a public figure. The clincher was when told that the younger generation needed a role model, very few and far between these days, who was unafraid to stand true to his convictions garnered through toil and meticulous research. [...]
Pathum’s railway stations are back with more colour and movement
Pathum Gamage is back with more of his railway sagas. After a successful exhibition in April, the artist will brighten the walls of Paradise Road Gallery Café with work that is a startling move away from his former choice of colours – which was limited to say the least – depicting colonial railway stations in [...]
Thank you for inspiring us to cherish our heritage
Vidyajyothi Dr. Raja de Silva (Raja Seeya) becomes a centurion today, August 4, 2024. He is the son of Dr. Walter Thomas de Silva and Mangala (Maggie) Jayawickrama, who was a daughter of Caroline Amarasuriya and Charles Francis Sudiriku Jayawickrama (Mudaliyar of the District Court of Kegalle). He is a great favourite among his siblings [...]
Letters to the Editor
An unrecognised Laki painting on a Sri Lanka banknote Many know that the late Laki Senanayake’s paintings were used for the flora and fauna series of Sri Lanka Currency notes issued with the date 1979-03-26. When I met Laki in November 2019 at his hideout Diyabubula, to discuss the publication of a book on the [...]
APPRECIATIONS
His silence conveyed much more than his spoken words Arunachalam Shanmugasamy Arunasalam Shanmugasamy (Shan) was born in Madduvil but mostly brought up in Achuveli. He was the son of Mr. Arunasalam and Mrs.Thillaiamma Arunasalam. Shan was born on July 8, 1939 and passed away on July 7, 2024, a day before his 85th birthday. He [...]
Dealing with dementia: Recent forum in Melbourne sheds light on different aspects
It’s a word at the tip of many a tongue but one few care to address: dementia, a rising spectre in the modern world causing concern especially among ageing populations worldwide. As individuals transition into caregivers of loved ones displaying symptoms, the impact of this condition becomes more apparent. Recently, a forum on dementia organised [...]
Sulara and Johann on a less travelled path
When violinist Sulara Nanayakkara left the United States in 2019 after completing a postgraduate degree in music in Philadelphia, he was forced to discard many of his clothes so he could carry heavy books of sheet music back. He had spent most of his monthly stipend from his scholarship at Temple University on music. Classical [...]
Early forays into the wild gave wings to this birder-artist
For Lester Perera, his love for nature was bred in his genes. This keen birder known for his avian portraits where his subjects sit against a backdrop of foliage, lichen or spreading roots, had a grandfather, who as a station master was addicted to the wilds and a father, a keen hunter, who took him [...]
The Ceylon Journal: A treasure trove of information
The Ceylon Journal, a new publication for anyone interested in the little-known lore of our island was launched on August 2, at the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) auditorium. Prof. C. R. de Silva, formerly of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and Old Dominion University, USA writes: “The inauguration of the Ceylon Journal should [...]
“Odyssey 2” by 2020 Group in Kandy
“Odyssey 2” – an exhibition by the 2020 Group will be on display at the ‘Karaliya’ Art Gallery, Kandy on August 9,10 and 11 from 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The 2020 Group is a collective of Lankan artists of wide experience, from different disciplines. Its members are: Janaka Ratnayake, Wasantha Siriwardena, Anura Srinath, Nuwan [...]