The Moonlight Lodge: How a bit of Irish legacy lives on
A legacy from the British colonial era, when the hill country was a misty wilderness with plantations set in elephant and leopard-infested jungle, the Dimbula Lodge 298 – a Freemason Lodge under the Grand Lodge of Ireland – was formed in that hill station in 1874. Pioneering upcountry planters were the Brethren of this Lodge [...]
Finding freedom in food
When Sri Lankan chef and entrepreneur Charith N. Silva walks into his Colombo restaurant, Wildish, he carries inspiration – a boyhood of restless curiosity, an apprenticeship forged in hotel kitchens, and the faith to bet everything on a camera, a wood fire, and a feeling that food should be wild: free, joyful and shared. At [...]
Six artists come together for ‘Art to Relax Your Mind”
Six well known artists S.H. Sarath, Robert Sedgley, Nihal Sangabo Dias, Felix Perera, Theshani Perera and Dr. Dinesh Rangana are exhibiting their works in water colour, oils, print and acrylic at the Lionel Wendt Gallery next weekend -August 30 and 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 150 works will be on display [...]
Letters to the Editor
The importance of teaching literature In an age where education is often measured by its immediate usefulness, the teaching of English literature is sometimes questioned or overlooked. Many see science, technology and vocational skills as the only essential fields, while literature is dismissed as ornamental or secondary. Yet this view is shortsighted. The study of [...]
Appreciations
I wish I could pick up the phone and say, ‘happy b’day Lokka’ Harry Stassen Jayawardena Every year, for so many years, the first thing I would do as soon as I woke up on the 17th of August was to call my dear friend, Harry Stassen Jayawardena. Every single time, it started with, “Happy [...]
The Marvel of Peru, the flower that was time keeper for Kandyans
Robert Knox (1641-1721), author of An Historical Relation of Ceylon, who spent a little over 19 years as a captive on the island made many significant observations in his historic book. Knox’s perceptive powers of observation both on fauna and flora of the country were remarkable. Writing of how the Kandyans utilised plants for medicinal [...]
The evergreen home garden tree
Artocarpus heterophyllus Common English name: Jak tree/Jakfruit tree Sinhala name: Kos/Herali; Tamil name: Palapalam Family: Moraceae (The banyan family) This is a medium-sized, common, evergreen home garden tree in both rural and urban areas. Its leaves are a dark, glossy green and oval-shaped, tapering to a point. The veins on the underside of the leaves [...]
A thousand miles from home: How Sri Lanka’s heritage inspires my work
The skies here are pale, the architecture is quieter, and the homes are cooler in spirit. Seasons come and go. Yet, I carry a warmth deep within me – a rhythm, a palette – inherited from the island where I was born. The cadence of life here moves faster, more distant, more efficient. I grew [...]
Kandy’s chic new hotel stands tall with rolling views
The hill capital has the most salubrious climate, so Cinnamon has done the right thing by christening their latest hotel in Kandy, Myst – evoking not the opaque white fogs of Nuwara Eliya that blot out the mountains but verdant land with just the slightest chill and curly wisps above the meandering Mahaweli, crowned by [...]
Encore to encore
The Revelations Mixed Voice Choir, under the dynamic direction of Sanjeev Jayaratnam, delivered a stunning celebration of music across decades in Encore on August 9 and 10 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. Featuring hits from the 80s and 90s, the concert was a seamless blend of powerful vocals, tight harmonies, and sharp choreography, showcasing the [...]
Thanksgiving service for new President of the National Council of YMCAs
Richard T. Jansz has been elected as the new President of the National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka at the 56th Annual General Meeting held recently. His installation will be marked with a service of thanksgiving and dedication on Wednesday, August 27 at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk, Colombo 3. Mr. Jansz, [...]
National Trust lecture focuses on plants through butterflies
This month’s National Trust lecture “Sri Lanka’s Amazing Biodiversity: Tracing the Plants Through Butterflies” by Prof. Himesh Jayasinghe will be on Thursday, August 28 at 6 p.m. at the Auditorium of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, No. 6, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7. (For those who join online: https://youtube.com/live/0_ qC7mho9IU?feature=share) Butterflies feed on plants [...]
GFS sale on August 29
The Girls’ Friendly Society Holiday Sale will be held on Friday, August 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the GFS Hall, No. 58, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Green Path), Colombo 03. An exciting variety of new and pre-loved clothing, sarees, jewellery, food and a range of miscellaneous items will be available at great discounts. [...]