Placing trust in inner salvation
From donning the black cloak as a lawyer in his younger years to the saffron robes of a Buddhist monk he’s clad in today, Bhante (Venerable) Vayama Kami’s search for salvation has taken him on a long and unusual path. Till a couple of months ago, Bhante Kami (73) was Ubayasekera Mapa or U.Mapa as [...]
Art to stamp its mark at the grand old dame in Fort
Cinnamon Colomboscope has a reputation for hosting its exhibitions in iconic buildings and unique spaces. Last year, the festival exhibition was held in the abandoned Rio Hotel. This year’s venue, is the grand old General Post Office (GPO) on Janadhipathi Mawatha, Fort constructed in the 1890s which will be transformed into an exhibition space, and [...]
The story of a house, two portraits and now a third
They were a close-knit foursome – two reputed doctors of yore and their wives, both nurses from foreign lands who made Sri Lanka their home. Three are no more but on a busy Friday evening, with heavy traffic whizzing past, a small crowd, eminent surgeons and a few invitees gather in a beautiful home with [...]
John Capper: A life in old Ceylon
John Capper (1814-1898) is one of those 19th-century British colonists who contributed something worthwhile to the island – in his case mainly to the development of journalism in English, particularly editorship, and early newspaper and periodical production. In addition he was an author of factual and historical publications of value, not only of Ceylon, but [...]
A tale of two horrors, Nazism and Stalinism
“We looked at the railway bridge which was the border between Poland occupied by the Germans and Poland occupied by the Russians. A soldier slowly walked over the bridge, coming towards us. When he arrived closer, I recognized the cap of the SS. On the other side of the Brest-Litowsk bridge, we saw a small [...]
The art of the Naturalist
In the 1990s, artist Channa Ekanayake left Colombo and journeyed to the Anuradhapura district, to find out for himself what the Eppawala phosphate mining controversy was about. Extensive phosphate mineral deposits had been discovered in the area and the government was on the verge of selling off hundreds of acres of land to an American-based [...]
Popular chamber works for a cause
“They All Matter”, a musical programme featuring selections of romantic and contemporary chamber music will be performed at the Russian Cultural Centre on Saturday, August 27 at 7 p.m. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kandy Cancer Treatment Centre Fund. The Cancer Treatment Centre in Kandy currently treats over 24,000 patients [...]
Roller coaster in the sky
From navigating stormy skies over Christmas Island to passing through the busiest airspace in the world, at 18, Lachlan Smart proves that the sky has no limits as he aims to be the youngest person in history to circumnavigate the globe. Born in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, Lachlan, more affectionately known as ‘Lachie’ fell [...]
The number one killer of women around the world is…
With August drawing to a close and the final quarter of the year well within sight, there’s a natural tendency to lean towards focusing – inter alia – on all the New Year Resolutions that were made at the beginning of the year and are somehow still languishing in the ‘To Do’ category, with every [...]
Gala legal dinner
The LAWASIA Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner was held on Sunday, August 14 at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel with members of the legal fraternity present for an evening of fellowship.
Avirate’s latest look links old and new
Aviraté, the fashion brand owned by Timex & Fergasam Group, recently launched their winter collection through a contemporary romantic photography scenario with the theme ‘Looking through the past and connecting the art of its time’. Avirate has its flagship store at Maitland Crescent- Colombo 7 with outlets at Liberty Plaza, Kandy City Centre, Crescat Boulevard [...]
Indian stars at OPPO F1s launch
Leading mobile phone company OPPO’s Brand Ambassador Sonam Kapoor along with Indian cricketing star Yuvraj Singh and India’s leading fashion photographer Dabboo Ratnani were all present at the glitzy launch of “OPPO F1s” newest version in the F series at JW Marriott Hotel in Mumbai, India earlier this month.
Revlon beauty off to LA for Miss Universe
Jayanthi De Silva was crowned Revlon Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2016 by the Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2015, Marianne Page at the glittering finale of the pageant on August 16 at the Hilton Colombo. Ayesha Fernando was adjudged 1st runner up and Malsha Hewage was 2nd runner up. The evening began with the 14 finalists [...]
Overcoming constraints- both real and perceived
“We want to make it clear that people should not come for our concert thinking that it’s charity,” states Azra Ambawatte Welandawe, “instead, they should come to enjoy themselves.” Azra, the Administrative Adviser of the Senehasa Foundation is speaking of the latest concert by the Centre –Apitath Puluwani (We can do it too) that will [...]
National Trust lecture: Prestigious Sigiriya
“SIGIRIYA - The Most Prestigious Architectural Heritage of Sri Lanka, The Past, Present and Future” will be the title of the National Trust lecture for August to be delivered by Prof. Nimal de Silva at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, August 25. [...]
Siyane Malay Society office-bearers
The following office-bearers were elected to the Siyane Malay Society Ltd. Patrons: M. Rasdeen, T.M.Kitchilan, M.K. Morseth President: M.H. Cader Secretary: T.N. Rasdeen Treasurer: M.A. Sukoor Organiser: T.R. Jayah Working Committee: M.E. Addue, M.S. Samahin, B.B.S. Preena, M.Y. Johotan, A.T. Muzammil, B.R. Dole, R. Saleem, T.M. Kamaldeen, T.H. Jayah.
Colombo Gourmet Week 2016
The first-ever, week-long food festival in Sri Lanka celebrating food, wine and produce, The Colombo Gourmet Week from August 22 to 28 will have Sommeliers Josep Plana from Spain, Aurélie Maumus from France and Gonzalo Marina Del Rio from Argentina. The three world-famous Sommeliers in partnership with award-winning chefs will enhance the curated dinners with [...]
Lassana Flora opens flagship store
Popular flower shop Lassana Flora, recently opened its new flagship floral store, the largest and most spacious in its portfolio, at No 25, Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, and on holidays too, the plush, 2500 sq feet showroom showcases an impressive collection of flowers. “Patrons are increasingly [...]
Sumithrayo to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 3
The seminar ‘Say Yes to Life’ organised by Sri Lanka Sumithrayo will be held on Saturday, September 3 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Independence Square, Colombo 7 to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day and also to mark the 20th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Sumithrayo Rural Programme. It will be held from 9 a.m. [...]
A new generation of hoteliers graduate from IHS
The International Hotel School of Mount Lavinia Hotel (IHS), held their Graduation ceremony recently, which coincided with the school’s 25th Anniversary. Dr. Mohan Pathirana, CEO of ICBT was the chief guest while Bazeer Cassim, Group General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel Group, Harinda Weerasinghe, Resident Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel and Dr. Chef Publis Silva, [...]
Improving maternity care in Sri Lanka
They are clustered around ‘Lucy’, not her face area, because that is non-existent, but below her belt. A peep through the inner circle reveals a birth in progress. For Lucy is in the second stage of labour and there is some foetal distress but the team successfully brings into the world Lucy’s baby through a [...]
Letters
Doctor heal thyself and put patients before perks Recent news in the print and electronic media regarding the role played by the GMOA with regard to the economic affairs of this country, private medical education, the clamour for ‘perks’ unavailable to the ordinary citizen makes for dire reading. The GMOA has in the past been [...]
Appreciations
Elmo Fernando A radio star that video never killed For us 70s kids in an era of deprivation of entertainment, the SLBC radio was the sole source to fall back on. Only the rich upper classes were fortunate to own that much loved status symbol of the “record player” in the era of Engelbert Humperdinck, [...]