‘Minding’ Sri Lanka’s Parliament for 35 years
In a Havelock Town house packed with memories and mementos- a veritable gallery where tasteful East blends with gracious West- an octogenarian is enjoying a well earned rest. For 35 long years he was ‘minding’ the Sri Lankan Parliament- for 13 of which he acted as the Secretary General of that august house, having stepped [...]
Katuwapitiya: Alone in their grief, after the shock
We went back to Katuwapitiya on Wednesday. Except the heavily barricaded St. Sebastian’s Church, where armed security forces personnel as well as priests are refusing to allow anyone to enter, the beleaguered village is sans much security…….and the people are upset about it, as also the way the monies promised by the government are being [...]
Letters to the Editor
Our motherland needs us now, more than ever to stand together It’s two weeks since the “Easter Terror Attack”- the newspaper title describing the recent bombing spree that shocked and devastated our little island on April 21, 2019. I didn’t lose a loved one nor was I in the vicinity to witness any of the [...]
Appreciations
You never stop loving someone, you learn to live without them Suren Perera Suren, your mission in this world ended a year ago. However your legacy is current in all of us and we’re grateful for everything you did. Words are hard to describe feelings, I have been better with images. Yet writing down how [...]
‘Artfelt’ response to horror
The shock and horror the country experienced with the Easter Sunday attacks has seen most Sri Lankans go through many emotions, and as the days pass they seek different ways of coping with grief and trauma. As most people reach out to their loved ones, friends and colleagues, others are using their special gifts to [...]
Facing the many challenges of burqa ban
Nadeesha* has worn a burqa for 15 years, and the abaya for twice as long. Last week, when she heard that a ban on face-covering was in place, she knew there was a difficult time ahead. “This is a lovely country, it is my country. It has been a paradise on earth, and we have [...]
Two weeks on, the world hasn’t forgotten us
Two weeks on from the Easter Sunday attacks, Sri Lanka gradually strives to get back on its feet. In a show of unity the world continues to send its love and support to the country through many vigils that were organised this week. Melbourne The atmosphere at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia [...]
SL Buddhist Cultural Centre in Hong Kong remembers
‘Heal Sri Lanka’ was organized by the Sri Lankan Buddhist Cultural Centre (Hong Kong) at Po Leung Kuk Lam Man Chan English Primary School on April 28 to commemorate those lost in the Easter Sunday tragedy. Well-wishers- people of every background came together and prayers echoed through the school halls. Funds were raised for “Heal [...]
Scholarships for affected schoolchildren
The Red Lotus National Organization for Humanitarian Services is arranging scholarships for schoolchildren who lost their parents due to the Easter atrocities. If you know of such deserving children, please contact Chathura on tel. 077-8677785
Attidiya: A sanctuary in the city
I started out after dawn. I live for part of the year in a small lane on the eastern side of the Attidiya road. It is but a short walk to the canal and the periphery of the sanctuary. Today I am equipped with a Sony hand held video recorder. It is really quite high [...]
Experts talk on Sri Lanka’s wildlife conservation
‘Where is wildlife conservation in Sri Lanka today?’ – A series of presentations by renowned research scientists / conservationists followed by a panel discussion will be held on Thursday, May 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jasmine Hall, BMICH. Held in celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Wildlife & Nature Protection [...]
Moved by what she saw, a returnee from Dubai reaches out with ‘Auxilia’
The Auxilia story begins with a Sri Lankan working in Dubai. While on holiday in December 2004, she saw lives and livelihoods destroyed by the tsunami. In 2009 she heard about a new housing estate developed in Digana, a place unknown to her and purchased a house online, without seeing it! In 2010, she decided [...]
‘We have to tell our stories- yours and mine’
Zeneefa Zaneer is determined to remove the purdah- not a purdah drawn around a traditional woman- but one that secludes the Muslim community- one that has prevented them from simply coming out with their stories- very positive, vibrant life stories- sadly reducing them to stereotypes in the eyes of others. Shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize [...]
Exhibition of Lankan contemporary art in Los Angeles
Crossing Place, a unique exploration of contemporary art from Sri Lanka presented by Baik Art is on display from April 20, through June 1 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). At a time when contemporary art from Southeast Asia enjoys increasing global attention, the exhibition, mounted in collaboration with Saskia Fernando Gallery [...]
Arangetram of two sisters
Sisters Vaishnevi and Varuni Lakshmi, daughters of Mr and Mrs Maheshwaran will present their Bharatha natya Arangetram on Saturday, May 11, at Nelum Pokuna, Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Colombo 7, under the tutelage of Nirmala John, founder of the Nirmalanjali Academy at Dance. The Chief Guest will be Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa. Smt.RukminiVijayakumar, Director, [...]
Launch of third edition of Madhubashini’s Gratiaen prize-winning novel
The Third Edition of Madhubhashini Disanayaka Ratnayake’s Gratiaen Prize winning novel, “There is Something I Have to Tell You” was brought out on April 2, at the Innovate Sri Lanka Exhibition held by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to celebrate its 60th Anniversary. The book was presented to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor [...]
‘Supreme Chef’ winners off to Australia for industrial training
Three young and passionate amateur cooks from Polonnaruwa and Ampara emerged winners of the recently concluded Supreme Chef reality TV show and will soon be on their way to Australia for a month-long training programme under the guidance of renowned Australian-Sri Lankan chefs Peter Kuruvita and Jimmy Shu. Upon completion of their training in Australia, [...]