From war stories to digital dystopia
For nearly two decades, Vimukthi Jayasundara’s lens has been trained on Sri Lanka’s most painful wounds—war, minorities, displacement, the human cost of conflict. His films became quiet testimonies to suffering, earning him the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2005 for his debut “The Forsaken Land” when he was just 27 years old. But with “Spying [...]
Her artistic journey like her canvases is still unfolding
When Melbourne’s Covid lockdowns interrupted the busyness of her entrepreneurial pursuits, Padmini de Silva discovered the joys of long-forgotten free time. It led to self-discovery. Confined to her home, she began to experiment with whatever lay at hand. She ground fruits and vegetables into natural powders, bottled and labelled them to store in her pantry. [...]
Tonight’s the night for some good ole country music
Tonight’s the night, when Country Roads will wend to that land of soulful ballads, and the mellow melodies of the rural south will delight your soul. The Mavericks from Germany will be there, as will the Cosmic Rays and Feizal Samath and Jury Majid. The riveting concert this year happens at The Forum, a stunning [...]
Letters to the Editor
LGBTQI rights: It’s time as a country we grew up and shed a bit of ignorance I have been watching with interest the ongoing posturing and contortions in the media, civil society groups, and government over the reaction to the Equal Ground project to encourage LGBTQI tourism in Sri Lanka, and if nothing else, it [...]
Appreciations
Guardian of Tamil memory Suseelavathy (Susili) Wilson It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Suseelavathy (Susili) Wilson on October 8 in Toronto, surrounded by family. She was 97 years old. Born on June 2, 1928 in Thellipalai, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka, Susili lived a life shaped by study, quiet conviction and [...]
Where ecological uniqueness, cultural legacy, and hydrological importance meet
Kiriamma Ulpatha is a rare freshwater swamp forest, one of the very few of its kind in Sri Lanka. It lies at the base of the Kaluganga valley in the eastern slopes of the Knuckles mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage conservation area. The location is exceptionally significant due to the abrupt ecological transition from [...]
Nil Katarolu: A flower worth savouring
With its distinctive blue, it is found everywhere – in teas, drinks and desserts, boasting of many health benefits. How far are these health attributes of this bright blue flower, Nil Katarolu (Clitoria ternatea L.) true? This flower, along with every other part of this plant, has a long history in ayurvedic medicine. We learn [...]
Join Ruk Rakaganno on their bio diversity walk tomorrow
It will be an eye-opener to the floral splendour of Colombo’s suburbs as Ruk Rakaganno, the tree society of Sri Lanka, hosts their Biodiversity Walk tomorrow {October 20} from 7am at the Nugegoda Wetland Park. The group will convene at the car park by 7am while the main resource person will be Channa Ekanayake. Call [...]
A feast of memory and heritage: Tooting Mama’s journey back to SL
Standing on a chair in a small North London kitchen, a three-year-old girl watched her mother cook. She remembers the garlic, ginger and onions sizzling in oil, the conversations with her mum Vasantha (Daisy) Thangiah, in that warm space, and the way food became both comfort and connection. That little girl, Ranji Thangiah – better [...]
EWC felicitates winners
The English Writers Collective of Sri Lanka (EWC), recently launched the journal Channels 2025, Vol. 31, along with the awards ceremony felicitating the winners of the Creative Writing Competition 2025, Poetry and Prose. Kinuri Rathnasekara was adjudged the winner in both poetry and prose, the first time in the history of this competition that one [...]
Reimagining traditional Kolam
The Barefoot Gallery Colombo is currently hosting “Side by Side”, an exhibition by Jaffna based textile and accessory brand Kolam. The exhibition explores the intersections of art, craft, and design through contemporary interpretations of the Tamil tradition of Kolam. Curated by visual artist and Professor of Art History at the University of Jaffna, T. Sanathanan, [...]
Rhythm of the Colours by three artists
Rhythm of the Colours, a synergy of three artists, viz. Hemantha Warakapitiya, Lalith Ranasinghe and Sanjeewani Warusagamage, takes a peek at a world of wonders. With 80 works on display, today is the last day of the exhibition from 8.30 a.m. to 7.30pm.
Challenging audiences to look beyond the surface
Step beyond the surface. What happens in the instant between seeing and understanding? What hides in the space where perception falters, and imagination begins? The Fareed Uduman Art Forum and Sky Gallery invite you to cross that threshold with Tomas Lagūnavičius, a Lithuanian artist and writer at his exhibition “Beyond the Visible”. The exhibition challenges [...]