Far from the playing field
The trek up ahead is muddy after the rains the night before. We are greeted by warm, welcoming smiles all around but there’s an eeriness in the air and the jungle around us that harks back to a time of bloodshed and violence. We are in the heart of Periyamadu, Mannar – a frontline during [...]
From exhibition at Matale Town Hall to Royal Collection
His north London studio, situated in a quiet industrial unit, contains an eclectic mix of paintings, leather-bound books, drawing utensils and art material. Paintings of various sizes –some complete, others works in progress, fill the white walls of the small space. Seated, perhaps where he often sits to survey his work, on a sturdy yet [...]
Letters to the Editor
When we go for elections, let’s make it electronic voting With the present chaos in Parliament and before we go for the next general election as citizens we should set some conditions on the eligibility of the candidates who we think are most suitable and not allow the parties to select the same candidates who [...]
Appreciations
Kandy loses a colourful personality PUSHPAMALA IRIYAGOLLA DHARMASENA It is with great sadness that I pen this article about a well known personality, a social worker, a teacher par excellence and also an honest political analyst in her spare time. It is none other than our close friend, Pushpamala Iriyagolla Dharmasena. With her demise about [...]
Courageous helping hands behind Rehab Lanka
Amidst the humdrum surroundings of Maligawatta a name board proclaims ‘Rehab Lanka’. Entering this ordinary-looking building a visitor is transported to a bustling world of extraordinary skill and courage. A group of young persons with diverse disabilities proclaims loud and clear that they are as able as any of their peers, turning out wheelchairs of [...]
Before and beyond ‘Reef’
Against the backdrop of giant flamboyants and the fashionable bungalows of shady Horton Place, Romesh Gunesekera is obviously a bird of passage. You can tell by his appearance, which in a tweedy way spells Oxbridge. Few passers-by, if any at all, would recognize his unruly mop of hair, poetic deep black eyes or smooth, boyish [...]
Await Mohammed Hanif and more
“There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.” The great American story-teller Ursula le Guin’s observation takes us to the very heart of why the Fairway Galle Literary Festival occupies such an integral and compelling space in Sri Lanka’s cultural calendar [...]
Men in black brighten up a rainy night
Fouzul Hameed’s 2019 collection, displayed yet again the designer’s keen eye for the latest trends in the fashion industry. On Saturday (November 24) Colombo’s fashion elite and other prominent personalities from the business scene were the first to witness the anticipated ‘Concept 2019’ fashion show at the Envoy Mansion, Colombo 3. Despite the showers in [...]
Raw Mango in Colombo
Raw Mango founder and renowned Indian designer Sanjay Garg, celebrating the 10th anniversary of his brand was in Sri Lanka last week for a discussion with experts in fields adjacent to fashion followed by a presentation of sarees, textiles and garments at fashion concept stores PR and Rithihi. Innovation was baked into the DNA of [...]
‘Santa’s Village’: A carnival that you must go to this season
With the season of festivity approaching, the British School Colombo (BSC) presents its annual Christmas Carnival on Saturday, December 8 from 2 p.m to 8 p.m at the British School in Colombo, 63 Elvitigala Mawatha, Colombo. This year’s carnival, themed as “Santa’s Village” promises an exhilarating experience for children and adults alike. The BSC Parent [...]
Mahila Samiti handicrafts sale: Always something to look forward to
Once a year Lanka Mahila Samiti holds their handicrafts sale, which has now become a customary and well attended event. This year the sale will be held at the Lionel Wendt Gallery, No. 18, Guildford Crescent, Colombo 7, on Tuesday, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Lanka Mahila Samiti has from its [...]
Seasonal gifts from the Knit and Chat ladies
Eighty nine -year-old Miriam De Alwis broke both her arms after a fall but still makes her way to the Mount Lavinia Methodist Church every Thursday to share and learn knitting patterns from her friends who have become family. Under the Methodist Church Mount Lavinia’s Board of Social Responsibility, the ladies of the Knit and [...]
‘Vedasa 2018’: Not just another medical exhibition
Another medical exhibition — so what? This will be unique, is the assurance of the organizers of ‘Vedasa 2018’, the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sri Jayewardenepura University. ‘Vedasa 2018’ will be held from December 4 – 8 at the Mihilaka Medura, BMICH grounds, Colombo 7. It is part of the faculty’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Picking [...]
Athulathmudali Oration postponed
The Lalith Athulathmudali Memorial Oration to be delivered by Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh which was scheduled for December 4 has been postponed. The Indian HC was scheduled to speak on ‘India-Sri Lanka Relations’. In previous years, the Lalith Athulathmudali Oration had been delivered by the late Romesh Bhandari, Nirupam Sen and Subramaniam Swamy.
EFL launches book on conserving Sinharaja
Sinharaja is Sri Lanka’s flagship for conservation of rainforests and is the only national wilderness heritage area that receives the highest level of legal protection under Sri Lankan conservation laws. Despite its significance, Sinharaja is increasingly threatened by potential developments and calamities that occur naturally, triggered by anthropogenic activities. It is in this regard that [...]
Turning back the pages of a 60-year-old story
There is cause for celebration for Sri Lanka’s oldest association in the book trade, as they commemorate an important milestone in their long and fruitful history as a group. The Ceylon Booksellers Importers & Exporters Association celebrated 60 years on November 28 this year, having been in existence since 1958 when booksellers of this country [...]
Savour and save the beauty of Mannar: A clarion call through pictures
Northern Sri Lanka’s beauty eluded the third eye of nature photographers for a long time because of security issues. But with restrictions eased after the war, well known wildlife photographers Thilak Jayaratne, Janaka Gallangoda and Nadika Hapuarachchi became frequent visitors to this region. The beauty of Mannar and Adam’s Bridge sand islands mesmerised these photographers [...]
‘Dabbling with the Devil’ -Released online
Author Vipula Wanigasekera’s latest novel ‘Dabbling with the Devil’ reveals how circumstances coerce people to take risks which they would otherwise resist. ‘The unknown causes will mostly surface in perverted ways in society’ the writer says. The dual nature of the world places the majority of people in both physical and psychological pain which they [...]
Fairway National Literary Awards tomorrow
The Fairway National Literary Awards (FNLA) 2018 will be held on December 3 in Colombo. This awards ceremony is hosted by Fairway Holdings, one of the leading conglomerates in Sri Lanka, for the fourth consecutive year, in its continuous bid to encourage and promote excellent creative writing in all three languages; Sinhala, Tamil and English. [...]