Laurels sit lightly on Lankan doc in the Caymans
On holiday in Sri Lanka, there is no undue excitement tinged with arrogance, only humble and matter-of-fact acceptance. On his return to the Cayman Islands, there awaits a great honour, which Dr. Sarath Seneviratne takes in his stride. Tomorrow (January 26), he will be bestowed the Award for ‘Emerging Pioneer in Health Services’and invited to [...]
Refreshing return of our freshwater fish
Rohan Pethiyagoda, Sri Lanka’s foremost expert on fish, published his influential work ‘Freshwater Fishes of Sri Lanka’ in 1990. Over two decades later, three wildlife enthusiasts are about to launch the first of its kind after Pethiyagoda’s work. Titled ‘Sri Lankan Freshwater Fishes’, theirs is a revised and updated account of the country’s rich diversity [...]
Letters
Express trains to Jaffna and Colombo The Railway Department and Govt. boast about the train services from Jaffna and Colombo, but the allocation of seats is a problem. Travellers find it difficult to locate their seat and they have to search for their allotted number carrying their bags and baggages. At times they have to [...]
Respite and revival
In a product- and results-driven world, the idea of taking a hiatus to read, research and reflect may seem superfluous. For artists, writers and other cultural producers, moving between periods of nourishment and output is as vital as it is natural. For many creative types, the interplay between learning and producing takes place in some [...]
Appreciations
Hewa Thondilege Peter Singno The best grandfather, with irreplaceable charisma You should have seen the way he picked a flower, in such a gentle manner that you would think he was appealing for permission from the tree. You should have seen the way he decorated a Vesak lantern, with such patience. You should have seen [...]
Raising a voice of harmony for Pope Francis
The call came on June 29 last year. “Right after the officials from the Vatican came and scouted Sri Lanka,” she recalls. The Bishop of Chilaw, Valence Mendis rang her that evening with a request — to compose a song welcoming the Pope to Sri Lanka. Priyanthi Van Dort had too the huge responsibility of [...]
A triumphant return to Australia
Forty-three years after the Chitrasena Dance Company had first performed in Canberra, they danced there again this January. Here the performance is reviewed by Bill Stephens of the Canberra Critics Circle It’s been a long time between visits. The Chitrasena Dance Company from Sri Lanka, last performed in Canberra in 1972, headed then by the [...]
The illusion that is life in sculptures and drawings
Living in the modern world gripped by existentialism creates inner conflict for all human beings. The purpose of life, the insatiable need to succeed and the root of contentment are among a myriad of philosophical topics mused upon during everyday life. In an attempt to capture the conflicted man of today, veteran artist Manoranjana Herath [...]
Fashion that got you thinking
The designs that graced the ramp last Tuesday at Elixier 2015 gave the audience something to think about. Bold concepts and sassy t-shirt slogans were the result of creativity inspired by prevention of alcohol and tobacco consumption. This evening of fashion for a cause was presented by the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) for [...]
Rukshan rocks the stage
The night was young as an excited crowd took their seats at a crowded Bishop’s College Auditorium last Sunday (January 18). A round of applause welled up as a smiling Rukshan Perera took the stage. Musically renowned for his original compositions, melodious voice and multi-instrumental skills, this was Rukshan Perera’s fifth concert since his return [...]
Promises to make, and keep; miles to go before we sleep
Last weekend I penned what might possibly be the last post for ‘At My Wits End’. For it is very definitely the last instalment of ‘Wits End’ that I will post on Facebook! In it I wrote that while there is much to be said in favour of the emerging new political culture, there is [...]
Sri Lanka sparks revolution in South Asian history and archaeology
It is an amazing ‘message’ that has lain buried in the sands of time in the ancient city of Anuradhapura. First brought to light in the late 1980s by Dr. Siran Deraniyagala of the Archaeological Department that early settlers in Anuradhapura communicated through the use of the Brahmi script long before the Ashokan period in [...]
Today, keep a date with Kala Pola
The street will come alive, as it has done over the past many years, with painters, sculptors and portrait artists as they cater to throngs of appreciative visitors in a fun-filled atmosphere of music and entertainment. Kala Pola 2015 – Sri Lanka’s annual open-air art fair will take place today, Sunday, January 25 along Nelum [...]
Ikebana million blooms to help Thalassemia unit
The Shi-en Ikebana & Floral Art Society of Sri Lanka will hold its annual floral exhibition at the Galadari Hotel on February 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be a floral demonstration by International award winner and floral demonstrator, Harijanto Setiawan from Singapore on February 8 at 5 p.m. [...]
Indian Summer shines on Colombo
Yearning for sweet and sour tofu or buttery naan with hot garlic lobster? The words “Indian Summer” may spring to mind sunshine, spices and smiles, and bringing its own blend of cuisine to Colombo, the international restaurant chain Indian Summer opened its first diner at Horton Place, Colombo 7 on January 16. Though Indian Summer [...]
Dishing out nourishing food for thought
Senior dietician and nutritionist Sigrid de Silva’s clear message is that food is medicine. Bad food however sumptuous, is not a good prescription for anyone. Indeed it is bad medication that makes us sick. Good food is good medicine that can prevent, reverse, and even cure disease. Take away the bad food, put in the [...]
Bharatha Natya arangetram
The Bharatha Natya arangetram of Grithvhina Ganesh will take place at the New Kathiresan Hall Bambalapitiya on February 1 at 6 p.m. She is a disciple of Ms.Subashini Pathmanathan, Directress, Vimalothaya classical Bharatha Natya Kendra. Grithvhina is the daughter of S. Ganesh and Mrs. Sumathie Ganesh of Bambalapitiya. Kalaimamani Srimathi Urmila Sathyanarayanan of Kilpauk, Chennai [...]
‘Life Long Learning’ gives a sense of purpose
It’s evident that this isn’t Anoma D. Pathirana’s first glossy caramel pudding. Expertly flipping the tin over is something she has done in many of her cookery classes and through her student years at the Nugegoda Hotel School. The slowly spreading smiles on the women surrounding her watching with hawk-like attention as the pudding emerges, [...]
RASSL deadline postponed
The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka 8th Annual Research Conference Deadline for Submission of Abstracts has been postponed to January 31, 2015. Abstracts of papers should be in twelve point, Times New Roman/FM Abhaya, A 4 page format, 30 mm left margin and 25mm other margins, one and half line spacing and not exceeding [...]
Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister
Mr. N.V.K.K.Weragoda who was appointed as the Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister has held many important positions in his 40 years in the public service. He is a post-graduate diploma holder in Development Studies from Cambridge University and holds a M.A. in Public Administration from Harvard University. Mr. Weragoda served as the Government Agent [...]
Thriving creativity: Second Colombo Design Market today
The second edition of the Colombo Design Market will be held today, January 25. Following the positive response to the launch in December, the Market provides a platform for local designers, artists, craftsmen and musicians to get out there, get noticed and promote themselves. The Design Market is an exciting community design initiative by a [...]
A child’s smile can make thousand other faces smile
There is nothing quite like seeing the joy on a child’s face, especially when that child is from an underprivileged community who has little access to the good things in life most others take for granted. Smile Foundation Ceylon (SFC), a registered charity also known as ‘Smile Sri Lanka’organised their 5th annual Christmas Carnival on [...]
National Trust lecture: Hindu sculptures in Sri Lanka
The 69th Lecture of the National Trust of Sri Lanka titled “Evidence of a Sri Lankan school of Hindu Sculpture” by Sirinimal Lakdusinghe, former Director of the Dept of Museums will be on Thursday, January 29 at 6.30 p.m. at the HNB Auditorium, at 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10. “Since the beginning of archaeological [...]
