Reliving Aachchi every step of the way
In Vajira Chitrasena’s world, there was no such thing as ‘can’t’. One simply did what needed to be done. When her granddaughters were fretting over 12 blouses that needed to be stitched three days before a show, Vajira took it upon herself to get them done. Her daughter-in-law cut the material, and she deftly stitched [...]
Nurturing challenged but able youth
Spacious are the halls, the dormitories neat and welcoming with crisp linen and giant stuffed toys, and the learning spaces flooded with mellow light where books share space with handicrafts made by the young students. This calming environment is the Sevana Home and School run by the Challenged Children’s Aid Association of Sri Lanka (CCAASL) [...]
Letters to the Editor
Underworld killings: Ensuring that truth is not silenced There has been a disturbing increase in the killings of underworld figures in recent months. These killings, take place mainly through the blatant use of firearms, whether day or night. While many may regard this as the elimination of dangerous elements among the underworld activists themselves; the [...]
Appreciations
Admired not only for his erudition and intellect, but also for his humanity and empathy Sena Wijewardane With the passing of Sena Wijewardane on August 26, in Vienna, Austria, Sri Lanka and the world lost a great international lawyer and one of the most skilled legal advisers who ever served the international organizations of the [...]
Evolution: stories our freshwater fishes tell
Rohan Pethiyagoda and Hiranya Sudasinghe say that they want to give the public a fish’s eye view of conservation from an evolutionary perspective when they deliver this month’s Nations Trust WNPS Monthly Lecture on ‘Evolution: stories our freshwater fishes tell’ on Thursday, September 18 at 6 p.m. at the Jasmine Hall, BMICH. For the most [...]
Brushing aside age they bond over love of art
Gathered around a dining table in a home down Horton Place, Colombo 7, there is not just concentration but also fun and laughter, as they prepare for an art exhibition. ……And it is not just an art exhibition, for all 13 artists wielding colour pencils are over 50 years old, dabbling in this new adventure [...]
Reviving tradition and passion
In the heart of the hill capital of Sri Lanka, where traditions meet excellence, an initiative was born; one that echoes through rhythms of tabla beats, the resonance of sitars, and the cultural richness of oriental music. The Old Trinitians’ Oriental Music Association (OTOMA), is a tale of revival, dedication and passion that bridges generations. [...]
Sage of three friends amidst a 26-year conflict
A novel that spans almost the entire Sri Lankan ethnic conflict, Sunset of Illusions is told mainly through the perspectives of three people who mature from youths precariously poised on the paradise island’s shifting fortunes: Jeevan, a Tamil, Chrishan, a Sinhalese, and Sandy, a Burgher. The novel’s insights into the 26-year war are fascinating and [...]
Colombo’s first ever Peace Film Festival
The first-ever Colombo Peace Film Festival, a three-day celebration of international films on peace will take place from Friday, September 19 – Sunday 21 with compelling films that explore themes of peace, reconciliation and human rights. A special programme for children will be held on Saturday morning (September 20), showcasing short films on peace, diversity, [...]