Battle of the Somme and the Trinitians at the frontlines
July 1, 1916, was a bright summer’s day in France. Europe had been gripped for nearly two years in a titanic struggle between the invading armies of the German Empire and the Allies (France, Imperial Russia and Britain). The German offensive of August 1914, which marked the start of the war had been stalled, but [...]
A century of caring
One of the country’s first voluntary humanitarian organisations, the Sri Lankadhara Society has now served Sri Lanka’s needy underprivileged citizens for 100 years. Philanthropists Dr. W. A. de Silva and his wife Catherine founded the society in 1922 to provide care and shelter to impoverished and abandoned Buddhist girls and women during the colonial era. [...]
Letters to the Editor
Pragmatism needed to deal with crocodile threat I am responding to a story in The Sunday Times of March 12, titled; “Let the peaceful crocs be, say wildlife conservation officials”. This sentiment was expressed at a Colombo district environmental meeting where the presence of crocodiles in Colombo’s populated areas was discussed. Officials had stated that [...]
APPRECIATIONS
I hold onto those precious memories H. M. G. S. De S. Wijeyeratne Gertrude Sunethra De Silva Wijeyeratne (nee Herath), my maternal grandmother, was a remarkable woman. She was a perfect combination of warmth, compassion and love. She was both a sword and a shield. Su Amma, I wish you were here so I could [...]
It’s much more than fashion
It’s a huge year for Colombo Fashion Week as it celebrates 20 years having weathered a tsunami, war, pandemic and economic upheaval along the way, not to mention critics, to establish itself as the major platform for Sri Lankan fashion designers. The Sunday Times sat down with the man at the helm, Founder and Managing [...]
An evening dedicated to those unsung women composers
…A woman must not desire to compose—there has never yet been one able to do it. Should I expect to be the one?” – Clara Schumann Societal norms and constraints have kept women composers out of the concert hall for far too long. Even today, how often have we heard the works of women performed? [...]
Passion-tide musical at Cathedral
The choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour under the direction of Ishan de Lanerolle will present a Passion-tide musical titled ‘Never Thirst Again’ at the Cathedral on Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 on Friday, April 1 at 7 p.m. The cantata covers Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, his crucifixion and resurrection. Invitations for [...]
GFS sale
The Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS) presents March Market – a pre-Avurudu sale at the GFS Hall on Greenpath on Friday, March 31 from 9.30 a.m to 6.30 p.m.
Artists and collectors come together for RCCI
Over 25 renowned artists and collectors have donated works of art to support the not-for-profit Rehabilitation Center for the Commu-nication Impaired (RCCI) that cares for persons with special needs. The exhibition and sale will be on April 1 and 2 at the Barefoot Gallery Loft. All proceeds will fund the continuing work of the RCCI/ [...]
Capturing a city in the grip of COVID
Soul of a City, a photography exhibition and sale showcasing black and white photographs taken during the COVID pandemic in Kandy by Nadija Weeraratne, will be held today – Sunday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. at the Harold Peiris Gallery, Lionel Wendt, Colombo 7. Coming from a business background, Nadija took up [...]
Selyn’s weaves inspired by Keyt’s works
In September 2022, a team of designers from leading handloom producer Selyn came from their workshop in Kurunegala to Colombo. Theirs was an unusual brief: to study two paintings by Sri Lanka’s celebrated artist George Keyt and come up with their own creative response to these works. It had all come about when Chief Curator [...]
National Trust lecture: Living with the elephants
Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando will speak on the “History and Future of Sri Lanka’s Elephants” in the National Trust monthly lecture on Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m. The lecture will be delivered online Link to join the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81147932173 The lecture will trace the history of Sri Lanka’s elephants and discuss an approach of [...]