Pinning down place and letting characters loose
Kate Mosse is one of the most exciting authors down here for the Galle Literary Festival – best known for her Gothic and ghostly tales. She famously wrote Labyrinth, the archaeological thriller and Grail adventure – not merely a Christian Grail but also of other more ancient faiths imagined by her before The Da Vinci [...]
Galle’s literary long weekend
It was a fitting start for the Galle Literary Festival (GLF) at the Atapattu Walauwa, the opening reception hosted by Heritance Hotels and Resorts. In the gardens, where fairy lights festooned massive trees, visitors from across the world mingled. The old walauwa built in the 18th Century has Dutch characteristics like stately pillars but the [...]
Poetry from the hills
For Malaiyaha Tamil poetry, context – not imagination – is everything. Mylvaganam Thilakarajah’s office is a testament to this. Surrounded by books on the history and literature of the hill country and framed by photos of famous Tamil literary and political figures, the 50-year-old speaks about his poetry that was this week highlighted at the [...]
Letters to the Editor
Importing buses should be given priority With Sri Lanka lifting its five-year vehicle import ban, an influx of private cars and cabs will only worsen the already heavy traffic in cities and suburbs. Instead, prioritising bus imports for public transport could offer multiple benefits: Improved public transport – More buses on key routes will make daily [...]
APPRECIATIONS
A gracious grande dame much loved and admired Padmakanthi Parathalingam It was twelve moons ago, in early spring when flowers stirred to bloom and sparrows darted in earnest, the Angels came. Seated in her plumed gardens, a daily ritual in later life, sipping tea and having her favourite muffins with her children and grandchildren in [...]
Easily recognisable national tree
Mesua ferrea Common English name: Ceylon Ironwood Family: Clusiaceae (The mangosteen family) (Sinhala name: Na; Tamil name: Nakai/Nagacuram) This is the national tree of Sri Lanka. A conically shaped, medium-sized tree, it is found naturally in the low country wet zone and as a sub-canopy tree in lowland rainforests such as Sinharaja, up to 1000 [...]
Sri Lanka Scout Association launches Clean Sri Lanka initiatives to mark founder’s birth anniversary
Scouts the world over commemorate their Founder, Lord Baden- Powell on his birth anniversary on February 22 annually. This year the Sri Lanka Scout Association in addition to commemorative events has taken steps to join the Government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative. This initiative will be launched islandwide on February 22 in all 37 Scout Districts [...]
Cancer Society takes awareness programmes across the country
Cancer awareness is vital as it helps with early detection, which can dramatically improve the chances of successful treatment and survival. By understanding the risk factors, people can take proactive steps to reduce their risk, such as making healthier lifestyle choices. Ultimately, awareness empowers individuals to take control of their health, leading to better outcomes [...]
Celebrating the spirit of Ladies’ College @ 125
Walking down Flower Road, past the familiar stone walls, through the red gates, past the Ixora bushes, the towering mango tree, and the benches where Pakiamuttu would greet you – time seems to pause. Moving by the Copleston block, the Chapel, the Main Hall, Simon block, Primary, KG, and the Back Garden, there’s a sense [...]
It’s February, the month for CFW to hit the ramp
One of fashion’s highly anticipated events, Colombo Fashion Week (CFW), has once again established February as the definitive month of fashion in Sri Lanka, with its Summer edition to take place from February 19 -22. Now in its 22nd year, CFW takes pride in being one of four fashion weeks in Asia that have surpassed [...]
Photography curator from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum to talk on Cameron
On Monday, February 17 at 6 p.m, Dr Marta Weiss, Curator of Photography at the Victoria & Albert Museum, UK will present an illustrated introduction to Julia Margaret Cameron’s life and career ‘Arresting Beauty: The Photographs of Julia Margaret Cameron (1815–1879)’, at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. Julia Margaret Cameron was one of the most innovative [...]