Ties across the seas that changed the history of a country
India’s Emperor Asoka and King Devanampiyatissa of Lanka never met in person, but their long-distance friendship paved the way for the introduction of the teachings of Lord Buddha to this island nearly 2,000 years ago. Their friendship had begun many years before Arahant Mahinda stepped on Mihintale rock and delivered the first Buddhist sermon to [...]
Ruk Raks 50: With love to Iranganie
It was her unbounded love for nature and this land that led Iranganie Serasinghe together with a few visionaries to start Ruk Rakaganno – the tree society of Sri Lanka all of 50 years ago, at a time when conservation was little considered. On June 5, World Environment Day, just a few days ahead of [...]
‘You just have to tell your story’
He’s a breath of fresh air to the local literary scene, with his bizarre stories like the Oedipal tale where the bridegroom’s mother is taken on tow on honeymoon and an aphrodisiac unwittingly given her causes havoc or the saga of a Leyland bus, which meets with an accident and people bleed purple and green [...]
‘Languages may be different but literature is literature’
Priyangwada Perera we meet at the Sarasavi bookshop in Maharagama, surrounded by words which is her element. This year’s winner of the H. A. I. Goonetileke Prize for Translation (a.k.a. the ‘HAIG’), Priyangwada has been a literature teacher, journalist, and is now Executive Editor – English at Sarasavi Publications where she is paid to read [...]
Letters to the Editor
Proper planning essential to avert shortages For us Sri Lankans, salt consumption has been connected to our food since ancient times. Since salt used to be available at a very affordable price, it did not significantly impact people’s consumption. However, in recent times, there has been a shortage of salt, which has now reached a [...]
Appreciation
Strong, compassionate and caring, she always had a zest for life ELEANOR NALINI MACINTYRE Eleanor Nalini MacIntyre was born in Sri Lanka on September 21, 1937 to Julius and Nirmalam Mather (nee Chanmugam). She went to school at Ladies’ College Colombo (batch of 1954) and then to university at Peradeniya, where she met my father, [...]
A day of profound significance
According to Buddhist chronicles, the Buddha visited Sri Lanka on three occasions, to Mahiyangana, Nagadipa and Kelaniya. The visits were to mediate between two tribes – the Yakkas and Nagas – and in Kelaniya to settle a dispute between two regional Naga Kings, Mahodara and Chulodara. Although the Buddha used the Dhamma to settle the [...]
Felicitating Sri Lanka’s foremost Sinhala linguist
Emeritus Professor Deshamanya J.B. Disanayaka, the most senior academic and a distinguished figure among contemporary Sinhala scholars in Sri Lanka will be felicitated at a ceremony on Friday, June 13 at 2 p.m. at the New Arts Theatre, University of Colombo. The Prime Minister will be the Chief Guest. Born in 1937 in Rambukkana, in [...]
Always seeing a silver lining in her vision for the perfect gift
This year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, announced in May 2025, recognised entrepreneurs and innovators with a bold vision for the future. Among the three Sri Lankans featured was Yanika Amarasekera-Siyaguna, named in the Retail & E-Commerce category – a fitting nod to her work transforming how people shop for gifts with Silver Aisle, [...]
‘My grandmother is forgetting things’
Dementia is a condition that affects a person’s memory, behaviour, thinking and cognitive abilities. It impacts ‘one in three people as they age,’ so recognising significant changes in your loved ones will benefit both them and you. The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation’s recently launched Malithi’s Diary, written by Nimal Gunewardena and Romany Parakrama is a colourful [...]
Negombo’s new Italian fusion at Camelot
There’s something homely yet classy about Camelot Beach Hotel, Negombo, apart from the Arthurian air its nomenclature bestows. The hotel is christened after King Arthur’s legendary castle, the main restaurant is called Sangreal (after the Holy Grail); the pool bar is Excalibur and the banquet halls are called Niamh and Caerleon – names respectively of [...]
Marking Archives Week at CHDM
The Collective for Historical Dialogue and Memory will be marking International Archives Week with a special screening and discussion of the documentary film Looted & Hidden – Palestinian Archives in Israel by Rona Sela. It will be screened on Thursday, June 12 at 5.30 p.m. at 25 Elibank Road, Colombo 5. Looted and Hidden deals [...]
Eco-friendly market at MLH
The Poya Market returns to Mount Lavinia Hotel on Poya day – Tuesday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, along with their signature Organic Vegan Lunch Buffet at the hotel’s Governor’s Restaurant. The market brings together a wide range of locally made, eco-friendly products. From arts and crafts to clothing, household goods, jewellery, [...]