20 years after the giant waves: A tale of two families
Two families, one in Koralawella, Moratuwa, the other in Kirullapone leading routine lives………and then the swipe of monstrous waves from a sea looked at as benevolent until then. Destiny, karma, fate or whatever it may be called, irrevocably changed forever! The Boxing and Poya Day tsunami, a name unfamiliar to many in Sri Lanka then, [...]
The food kept rolling in: How WFP worked like there was no tomorrow
The waves hit the island of Sri Lanka in a wide semi-circle, slamming against all three of its coastlines, tearing into villages, wiping away roads and houses. In the east, the towns of Batticaloa and Trincomalee were badly flooded, and in the Ampara district, whole communities were washed away. In the South, a passenger train [...]
Letters to the Editor
Childhood bullying and its economic impact Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose hurts someone else who is usually weaker than them. As a society we have repeatedly pointed fingers at the political class for their poor behaviour. Recent election results suggest we decided to do something about it. Few have had the courage [...]
APPRECIATIONS
May you enjoy your centenary birthday with the heavenly hosts Sister Mary Lidwina A.C. Sister Lidwina, the Apostolic Carmel nun came into my priestly life like a shooting star and enhanced my life with her flamboyant personality. I admired her ardent zeal in the service of the Lord and her vibrant personality which exuded an [...]
Loris and the evolution of environmentalism in Sri Lanka
There’s no gainsaying the fact that the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS) is, by far, Sri Lanka’s premier conservation NGO. It has for the past 130 years flown the flag for conservation in this country. And during that time, it has not just changed with the times but caused the times to change. Its [...]
The launch of Ththatha’s book; a tribute to Amma
The week of September 29, 2024, is one that warrants a bittersweet celebration for our family. We were looking forward to celebrating Amma’s 80th birthday on October 4 and Thaththa intended to mark this milestone by presenting her with the first copy of his latest Sinhala book, “Kithunu Vivahaya Saha Kutumba Sanrakshanaya” which captures their life lessons on building and [...]
Beyond buildings: Capturing Bawa’s vision for furniture
Geoffrey Bawa, widely regarded as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, had a design philosophy that extended beyond buildings, seamlessly integrating furnishings into the fabric of the spaces he created. He believed that architecture and interiors were inseparable, maintaining an approach to furniture design that was deeply integrated with his architectural [...]
It’s okay to take a break
There’s a delicate, almost hidden joy in doing nothing. The kind of nothing that isn’t indolently wasteful or devoid of purpose, but a quiet surrender to the flows of time and existence. In a world that constantly pushes one to compete, meet targets, climb ladders, and race against time; to suddenly stop and step off [...]
Sharing Christmas cheer at Tamil Union get-together
‘Tis the season to get-together and share the good times: One of Colombo’s oldest sports clubs, the Tamil Union held their annual Christmas gathering earlier this month with members and their guests enjoying some Christmas cheer. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe