Rajagala: So much still shrouded in jungle cover
Rajagala, or Raassagala as it was once known, is a place shrouded in mystery. Though officially discovered in the 1890s, the major part remains unexcavated – this despite the countless stupas already silhouetted against the sky on precipices and the caves with not just drip-ledges but also beautiful stone masonry, water spouts and giant stone [...]
Connections that bring violin virtuoso Midori to Sri Lanka
The arc of music history and bonds of friendship determined the path the great violinist Midori will travel to Colombo, where she is performing on December 1 to support the educational efforts of the Chamber Music Society of Colombo. Midori is coming to Sri Lanka where, accompanied by the pianist Ozgur Aydin, she will play [...]
Letters to the Editor
Landslides that call for critical reflection President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and the NPP deserve applause and heartfelt congratulations for their organisation, information gathering, and dissemination of a vision that resonates with the people. They have successfully created an enormous wave of funding and support, culminating in a decisive victory over the corrupt factions that [...]
Dr. Senake Bandaranayake Memorial Lecture on Sri Lanka’s ancient technology
Shereen Amendra will deliver the Dr. Senake Bandaranayake Memorial Lecture on ‘The grand designs of ancient Lanka – Delving into the technology arising from ancient texts and archaeological remains, with special reference to the Mahathupa’ on Thursday, November 28 at 6 p.m. at the auditorium of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, No. 6, [...]
Children’s faces the focus of Jayantha’s Expressions-17
Jayantha Silva, an old boy of St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, has always been a doodler. His Montessori teacher would say on his report card that he was excellent at art but “unfortunately he doesn’t draw on paper – only walls and floors”. Jayantha is a figurative artist, passionate about capturing expressions on faces, whether it [...]
Join Geetha on her artistic odyssey
Geetha Senewiratne’s artistic journey began as a teenager under her guru Mudaliyar A.C.G.S. Amarasekara, the celebrated Sri Lankan painter, where she learned to draw a “perfect human body.” Stacked in her home are serene paintings of village scenes – women holding flowers, intricately placed figurines in rural environments, simple day-to-day activities, religious deities and natural [...]
For the first time, Sotheby’s to conduct auction here
The George Keyt Foundation will open a new chapter for Sri Lanka’s creative arts through a partnership with Sotheby International, one of the world’s leading auction houses for fine and decorative art, jewellery and collectibles. This marks the first time Sotheby’s will conduct an auction in Sri Lanka. The charity auction event will showcase and [...]
A valuable resource with a personal touch for both scholars and enthusiasts
Having developed a popular online website on Lankan coins (coins.lakdiva.org.lk) I have frequently been urged to compile a book. However, I have remained focused on the digital domain, avoiding the intricate work of print layouts. It is, therefore, a welcome development that Eranda Adikaram has recently stepped forward with Coinage of Sri Lanka (Pre-Colonial Era). [...]
SAFA: New survey to help married working women
For Ameena Mustapha and her team at the SAFA Counselling Centre in Dehiwela, it was one more step towards better mental health care for women when they conducted, last month, a mental wellbeing survey of married working women in Colombo and the suburbs. The online survey was done with 68 women and the findings, given [...]
Moringa green revolution: A path toward wellbeing and prosperity
It all began in May 2016 when life took an unexpected turn. A family member faced the daunting diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer, given a mere six months to live. Rejecting conventional chemotherapy, she embarked on a journey through natural herbal remedies. Among these, the Moringa tree emerged—a silent hero in the realm of [...]
‘Nine Lessons & Carols’, by Music Ministry Choir
Two weeks before the much-awaited Christmas recital by the Music Ministry choir, Neranjan de Silva and Ishan de Lanerolle are in Neranjan’s home studio listening intently to a recording of the choir rehearsing earlier that week at St. Paul’s Church on Kynsey Road. A sudden loud clap of thunder matches the majestic sounds of the [...]
Ushering in Italian Cuisine Week
Italian Ambassador Damiano Francovigh hosted an elegant evening reception at Villa Roma last week to launch the 9th Worldwide Week of Italian Cuisine that celebrates Italian heritage, innovation and the distinctive flavours of each Italian region. Five specialised Italian Chefs had been flown in from five different regions of Italy – Friuli, Campania, Lazio, Liguria, [...]