A toast to Cinnamon and Tea: unveiling stories, voices and textures
Bird calls beckon and dark and mysterious plantations and misty, wind-swept slopes spreading as far as the eye can see, offer a unique experience to the twin ‘treasures’ of Sri Lanka – cinnamon, the spice and tea, the herb. This immersive experience is not in the wet climes of medium-elevation hill regions or in the [...]
Puppet tales from SAARC
Stories old and stories new, rooted in culture, religion, folklore and social awareness were highlighted when the traditional art of puppetry took centrestage at the SAARC Puppetry Fest 2025, organised by SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Colombo, this week. The festival starting off at Fairway Colombo in Fort on July 15 ended at the puppet museum [...]
Colombo and Cape Town – exploring a forgotten link
That both Cape Town and Colombo were once colonial settlements of the Dutch and share a common history is not very well known. This surprising connection between the two cities and their forgotten memory is the core of “There Was Something Here Before”, an interactive international exhibition on slavery and the urban heritage of Cape [...]
Letters to the Editor
An overpass needed at Walakumbura station The 57-year-old Walakumbura railway station has now become an important hub serving a huge number of railway commuters in and around Walakumbura. After the erection of the suspension bridge at Walakumbura spanning the North Western Province and the Sabaragamuwa province, this number has increased further. Since the railway line and [...]
APPRECIATIONS
From those London days in the 60s to shared memories at SLIA AR. LALITH DE SILVA My friendship with Lalith was one of enduring depth and warmth, spanning nearly seven decades. It began during our youthful days on the rugby field; though we attended different schools, a shared passion for the sport drew us together. [...]
Of the wild and beautiful, a book for the ages
Books on Sri Lanka’s amazing biodiversity are hardly a rarity nowadays. But July 22 will see the launch of a book that is genuinely a once-in-a-century event: Dr. Himesh Jayasinghe’s ‘Discovery: Additions to the Flora of Ceylon’. Encompassing almost 700 pages and illustrated with more than 400 colour photographs, the work presents more than 200 [...]
Multi-faceted medicinal tree
In this series to mark Ruk Rakaganno’s 50th anniversary this year, Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala looks at some common trees In India, this is dubbed the ‘Tree of a Hundred Uses’ because of its multitude of uses in traditional medicine and in homes. In Sri Lanka, the juice from the leaves is used as a safe [...]
Malinda’s study of men in robes
Malinda Jayasinghe is not your run-of-the-mill artist, neither in his training nor in what coalesces on his canvases. This 33-year-old has knocked about in the corporate world armed with a degree in finance from Australia, before settling down to paint for good. It was in 2019 that his damascene moment came, when he realized finance [...]
Diversity their forte: Speakers at Bawa lecture
Los Angeles-based architects Frank Escher and Ravi GuneWardena will deliver the 22nd Geoffrey Bawa Memorial Lecture on Thursday, July 24 at 6.30 p.m. at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo 7. The annual Memorial Lecture organised by the Geoffrey Bawa Trust commemorates Geoffrey Bawa’s birthday and celebrates impactful architecture from around the world. The [...]
Young chefs get set to take Lanka on a plate at Bocuse d’Or
Sri Lanka’s culinary community is preparing for the national selection round of the Bocuse d’Or competition on July 27 at the William Angliss Institute. This year marks the country’s seventh participation, with 48 chefs vying for the chance to represent Sri Lanka on the international stage at Lyon in 2027. Setting out the competition’s structure [...]
Asoka wins Sumathi Award for best educational TV programme
Asoka Dias has won the Sumathi Award for the best educational television programme at the 30th Sumathi Awards held on Tuesday, July 15. The host of the morning show ‘Pathikada,’ broadcast on News 1st, Sirasa TV, Asoka discusses current issues with prominent experts on the relevant subject. ‘Pathikada,’ is broadcast on News 1st, Sirasa TV [...]
A flavourful week following a literary feast
Returning with a fresh and immersive format, Gourmet Galle 2026 – a week of flavour, creativity will take place from January 26 to February 1. The week-long celebration promises visionary chefs, carefully crafted menus, and indulgent experiences that honour the country’s rich culinary heritage. Scheduled immediately after the Galle Literary Festival (January 22–25), the festival [...]
Art inspired by cinematic stillness
Blending his love of art house cinema and philosophy, Rajitha Rupasinghe presents ‘Still, the Moving Image’ – a debut solo exhibition of paintings inspired by moments of cinematic stillness. Referencing directors such as Tarantino, Bergman and Nolan, the works reimagine silent gazes, frozen frames and long takes, capturing the quiet power that lingers when motion [...]