It’s far from ‘The End’
How do you market and release a film during a pandemic? Last year, Visakesa Chandrasekaram’s second movie Paangshu, completed in February 2018 and premiered at international film festivals took two and a half years to navigate its national release. The pandemic then paused its release further. When cinemas opened up after the first round of [...]
Unearthing the forgotten Lion in faraway Chelsea
In 1912, Dr. Joseph Pearson, Director of the Colombo Museum, realized that as the 20th Century ticked away, an overlooked tradition of Sinhalese standards and banners was slowly decomposing in musty pettagamas in old walawwas and viharas. These were flags full of lore and elegance often flamboyant with peacocks brandishing cobras in their beaks, stylized [...]
Letters to the Editor
Govt. needs to rethink foreign policy We have upset our neighbour and most important strategic partner India twice, first by refusing to allow Advani to invest in the Eastern Container Terminal when China is given 85% of the adjoining terminal. Then we did worse by giving China three islands just 85 km away from India. [...]
Appreciations
Hulftsdorp has lost a gentleman of the Bar SURIYASENA GAMANI JAYASINGHE It is with great sadness that I write this appreciation of my good friend – my batch mate at Law College and colleague at the Bar who left us after a brief illness on November 17, last year. I was shocked and grieved when [...]
Visakhians across the globe put on a grand virtual show
The pandemic may have limited some celebrations but the past students of Visakha Vidyalaya showed their boundless creativity in the much-anticipated finale of VV Viva La-Vida – an online talent show organized by the Visakha Vidyalaya Old Girls’ Association that concluded on February 13 on a grand scale at the Jeremias Dias Hall of the [...]
Changemakers to the fore at Women’s Day Festival
Celebrating International Women’s Day in March, the Cargills International Women’s Day Festival ‘The Changemakers’ will be held at Taru Villas Lake Lodge in Colombo over four Mondays – March 1, 8, 15 and 22. Designed to celebrate women who are championing change, the Festival will highlight women’s ability to transform, adapt and be the change, [...]
It took me back to ward rounds
Professor Channa Ratnatunga’s book ‘Anecdotes from a Surgeon’s Life in Sri Lanka’ is one of the few books I read in one go. It is well written, in a unique style pertaining to him. Well explained, this book opens up a vivid picture of the scenario he is narrating. So much so one can live [...]
Bleak future for our rainforest biota
Circular MWFC/1/2020 issued on November 4, 2020 by the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation has caused widespread concern. It revoked four previous circulars (5/2001, 02/2006, 02/02/03/301 and 05/98) and transferred the administration of Sri Lanka’s other state forests (OSFs) from the Forest Department to district and divisional secretariats. It seeks to make all OSFs [...]
No to highway at the cost of wetlands
Last Saturday (February 13), residents of the Thalangama area and the Farmers’ Association organised an environmental awareness campaign calling on all environmentalists, humanitarians and nature lovers to spotlight the importance of preserving Sri Lanka’s wetlands in the face of a looming threat of an elevated highway being constructed from Athurugiriya to Rajagiriya. “The campaign was [...]
Lecture by leading environmental architect and author
“Today, as our familiar wilderness is being compromised by overcrowding and deforestation, to find true wilderness, one has to be on foot.” The Ceylon Society of Australia, Colombo Chapter presents a lecture by leading environmental architect and author Sunela Jayewardene on “Trails that the wild men tread” at the OPA Auditorium, Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha on [...]
Ruk Rakaganno lecture on trees, butterflies and birds
Ruk Rakaganno’s next bi monthly tree talk with three environmentalists Rajika Gamage, Dr. Janaki Galappathi and Vimukthi Weeratunga focusing on trees, butterflies and birds will be held on Sunday, February 28 at 6 p.m. on Zoom. Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81006013692 For more information, please contact Dushy on dushy101@hotmail.com or Shiranee on 0718442911.