Make climate change your cause, Lord Puttnam tells younger generation
With 10 Oscars, 25 BAFTAs and the Palme d’Or at Cannes among his innumerable accolades (and these are only for film) Lord David Puttnam can cut an intimidating figure in one’s imagination. Then one could add classic films such as ‘Chariots of Fire’, ‘Local Hero’, ‘The Killing Fields’ and ‘Bugsy Malone’ to his resume in [...]
In search of a well-hidden Royal secret
The portraits of an Indian servant at Osbourne House which piqued Shrabani Basu’s interest is how ‘Victoria and Abdul’ began. She says of servant Abdul Karim, “There were portraits of him in Osbourne House and I said, this is somebody very special – he’s not just a cook, he’s not just a servant and that [...]
Letters to the Editor
How to select only those worthy of election My attention was drawn to recent letters to the press by Dr. A.C. Visvalingam, Edward Gunawardena and Dr. M.M. Rajapakse on the subject of screening and selecting better candidates for Parliament. People have witnessed the recurring, unprofessional conduct and unproductive contributions from many of our present ‘Mace- [...]
She came and conquered with her first “hello”
I’m delighted, because I think if I wasn’t giving the introduction there is no way I would get in to hear her,” says author Sallyanne Atkinson on Day 3 of the Fairway Galle Literary Festival, adding that the latest news doing the rounds was they were killing each other on the streets to get in. [...]
Come and be conquered once again by Danielle’s brilliance
She is indeed born to sing! Internationally-acclaimed soprano Danielle de Niese born to Burgher parents has been captivating audiences across the world from childhood. This singing sensation will thrill local audiences once again when she performs at the concert presented by the Colombo Cultural Hub Trust headed by Mano Chanmugam, titled ‘Celebrating 70 Years of [...]
From Lit Fest to Arts Fest
The ninth Fairway Galle Literary Festival began in relaxed style on the evening of Wednesday, January 24 with a reception for authors, organizers and sponsors at the Fairway Pavilion. The internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi band Chirkutt, here at the festival courtesy the High Commission for Bangladesh entertained with their lively music. Founder of the Fairway Galle [...]
Appreciations
A fount of knowledge and fun Ashley Wijesinha Ashley Wijesinha who livened up the Sunday Times Subs Desk, especially on deadline-frenzied Saturdays, for a long time, passed away on January 15. He was 84 years old. Ashley was laid to rest at the cemetery of the beautiful and imposing Holy Emmanuel Church in Moratuwa, at [...]
Galle Literary Festival 2018
“Each book is a new beginning and no less easy” It seems inevitable now that Richard Flanagan would come to know Siegfried Heidl better than John Friedrich. Heidl is a work of fiction, but he is Flanagan’s creation; Friedrich on the other hand, when all is said and done, was a man Flanagan spent just [...]
‘Don’t forget these children’
Twenty little voices rise in cheery crescendo welcoming us with their ‘anthem’. Kithul and banana trees and vegetable plots of the compound proudly proclaim the ‘green fingers’ responsible for them. Janaki Gunawardena’s Montessori School, in Hewainna, a scenic hamlet off Avissawella, exemplifies its founder’s watchwords in life: ‘where there is a will, there is a [...]
Experiencing God with classic and modern spiritual favourites
Come February, the choir of The Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour will present “Experiencing God”. A spiritual journey through music and narrative, the concert has found the choir widening their melodious horizons with classic spiritual favourites and several new, modern pieces as well. The 35 strong choir, directed by Ishan de Lanerolle has been [...]
Pathiraja’s fearless exposure of social issues on the silver screen
For University colleagues of film-maker Dr.Dharmasiri Pathiraja or Pathi as he is more popularly known, he is the intellectual of contemporary cinema who paved the way for a socially engaged cinema in Sri Lanka. Members of the Alumni of the University of Ceylon 1960-1969 celebrating his cinematic journey of 50 years spoke about his inspirations, [...]
Music Beyond Borders: Nirupama’s vision of a unifying platform becomes a reality
In 2017, the former Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, a gifted musician, mooted the idea of a South Asian Symphony Orchestra to bring together musical talent from the eight countries in the region, in an effort to unite people through music and promote peace through the medium of melody. She has worked with the Symphony [...]
Here, East and West do meet
There was much intrigue surrounding the Louvre Abu Dhabi ever since the announcement of its would-be presence ten years ago. Connoisseurs were dubious, yet piqued. Others anticipated a taste of the art world in the culture-dry sands of a petro-nation. Would “the Arab world’s first universal museum” live up to expectations? When the doors were [...]
Giving colour to his imaginative world
“Love is the essence of my exhibition. Nature’s random forms have a certain relationship, even the colours are all inter-connected. It is a replica of the society we live in. I think that relationship is what we define as love,” says Sanjaya Senavirathna explaining the theme of his exhibition “The Nature of Love”. His 9th [...]
De Lanerolle Brothers sing for their alma mater
‘RETROSPECT 2018’ goes on the boards at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on Tuesday, January 30 – a show to raise funds for the very worthy cause of the restoration of the Library of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia is celebrating 100 years of the school at Mount Lavinia. A new [...]
Caroline’s Lankan blooms inspired by Chinese paintings
‘BLOOM’, an exhibition by French photographer Marie-Caroline Senlis, is on at the Fort Printers in the historic Galle Fort until January 31. Behind the artist’s inspiration, there is Chinese painting and its spring flowers, and also the former colour photographs, which were black and white photos painted with colour inks. These painted photos were in [...]
Don’t miss folk music from across the country, today
Folk groups from around Sri Lanka will gather today, Sunday January 28, from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. at the Viharamahadevi Open Air Theatre for the Children’s Festival of Melodies of Folk 2018. Entrance is free and all are welcome. The event is organised by Norway- Sri Lanka Music Cooperation. Folk music today reflects the [...]
Four significant events associated with Navam Poya
This year Navam Full Moon Poya falls on Wednesday January 31. Duruthu Full Moon Poya was on January 1. This is a rare occurrence, as the month of Navam is February according to the Sinhala Almanac and Navam Pasaloswaka Poya is in February. There are four significant events associated with Buddhism on Navam Poya. Budha [...]