The three-day Bangladeshi film festival organized by the Bangladesh High Commission here between March 29 and 31, had brought out the secular trend in film-making in that Islam-majority country. Subjects that would be considered sensitive in South Asia, such as religious beliefs crossing traditional boundaries and relations between religious groups are being taken up by Bangladeshi film-makers fearlessly. According to Tanvir Mokammel, the Direc
Forty-four years after its inception the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies (PGIPBS) of the Kelaniya University has finally got land to build its own premises thanks to the hard work of its present director, Venerable Professor Kotapitiye Rahula Thera.
Handapangoda Upananda Batugedara was born on October 20, 1918 and passed away on March 29, 1980. He was a poet of second generation of ‘Colomaba Yugaya’ and he started poetic work from his school days at Ananda College Colombo and developed his talents by studying classical Sinhala and English poetry. He was influenced by prominent newspaper editors, as well as scholar Buddhist priests.
One of the greatest gifts Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) received from the Western world was the Jesuit missionaries. They came from USA, Italy and France. A prized import was Fr. Benjamin Henry Miller from New Orleans who came over to Batticaloa in 1948 at the young age of 23. This was the age at which his contemporaries back home in the US were living it up in luxury,
The much awaited proposed Budget 2019 presented by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera is being highly criticised claiming that it is a dream budget. On the other hand Budget 2019 is being showered with praise by several others.
A popular restaurant was recently raided by Colombo Municipal Council Health Inspectors. The video footage of the raid quickly went viral in social media platforms for storing food items unsuitable for human consumption.
We may have the highest speed mobile network at hand but it doesn’t stop us from wanting a mobile network which gives us more high speed. Futuristic movies such as ‘Terminator’ showed about a concept called SkyNet which sums up the world at fingertips.
At its 60th jubilee, the distinguished University of Sri Jayawardenepura (USJP) celebrates an historic 145-year journey of serving the people of Sri Lanka. Amidst the milestone celebrations in special programmes planned for the following months, the occasion allowed a moment to view the university’s evolution, endeavours and ambitions.
It is good to know that the Pali Tipitaka has been given the recognition it deserves by being designated a part of the National Heritage. It is also fitting that the announcement of this designation has been announced by President Sirisena at Aluvihara, where the Tipitaka was first committed to writing. While the president, his retinue and the assembled guests were at
The Polhena Diving Centre in Madiha, Matara mobilized the community on Saturday March 16 to clean up the beach front and build awareness against pollution. More than 150 local and international participants, including tourists and local businesses, were brought together by Chamlee De Silva of Polhena Diving Centre, who organised the event on such a large scale for the
The Attorney General’s Department, the Police Special Task Force and the Police Narcotic Bureau are in discussion with the Judiciary to obtain approval to destroy a large haul of narcotics on April 1, the Police Narcotics Bureau told the Daily Mirror. However, the recently detected heaves of heroin and cocaine that shocked the nation will not be included in this
Appreciation Night of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) was held on Friday, March 15, 2019, to felicitate the Attorneys who had completed 50 years at the Bar for their valuable contribution made to the legal profession. The Chief Guest was Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, and the Guest of Honour was Supreme Court Judge Padman Surasena.
With reluctance, caution and innocent ignorance I approach to respond to Dr. Upul Wijawardhana’s above captioned article, as the President Maithripala Sirisena, it is reported, has said when declaring the Tripitaka as a national heritage, those Sangha and laymen should be punished for defaming or for not practising what is said in the Tripitaka. This stricture of President Maithripala Sirisena, perhaps he is not aware, runs
When the Sri Dalada Maligawa was bombed in 1998, 20 years ago on January 25, precisely at 5.35 am, the service monks were on the verge of opening the Shrine room doors. The Pattirippuwa (Octagon) of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy was built by the architect Devendra Moolacarya, during the reign of King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha, (1798-1815 AD). If not for this architect, Sri Lanka would have lost an arch
Ginnen Upan Seethala is that rare work: it combines history and fiction so much that we can’t draw a line between the two. Purists and activists from the time in which it is set will no doubt object to its depiction of that history, but even accounting for the omissions and the distortions, there’s no doubt that Anuruddha Jayasinghe’s film has set a precedent. I just wish Jayasinghe didn’t go overboard by (falsely) claiming it as “the fir
The book turns back the pages of Lankan History to a lesser known scenario when Sinhala bhikkhus set sail across the Indian Ocean, reached Burma then known as Ramanna and expanded Sinhala Theravada Buddhism which gave way for Sinhala cultural motifs to take root in South East Asia. The Sangha Sasana by then had been resuscitated in 1071 by
The ratification by consensus of Resolution No 40/1 by the UN Human Rights Council has given Sri Lanka another two years in which to implement the commitments it made at this same forum over three and a half years ago in October 2015.
The Gratiaen Trust is pleased to announce a long list for the Gratiaen Prize 2018. The shortlist will be announced on Monday 8 April, 6.00 p.m. at the British Council Library, Colombo. All are invited to attend this event at which a moderated discussion with the long-listed authors will also take place.
The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre Colombo will present Jaltenhainjiskeliye – a musical evening of Hindustani film songs from the 1950s and 60s on March 28, 2019, at the Centre’s auditorium at 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 07.
The whole region around Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s ancient capital, is dotted with village reservoirs managed by small-scale farmers. Referred to locally as tanks, the reservoirs form part of complex irrigation systems in use since time immemorial. Farm families like that of Priyantha Kumara, a disabled army veteran, rely on them to irrigate paddy in the main monsoon season.
IMF review for Sri Lanka delayed
Canada issues travel advisory over serious risk in Arugam Bay
More countries issue travel advisories
Sri Lanka Tourism invites global travellers for upcoming season
Russian embassy urges citizens to stay vigilant in Arugam Bay
Immigration authorities to crack down on overstaying Russians, Israelis
Sri Lanka may face another economic turmoil: Sajith