Keeping dance alive Thaji Dias

Taking over the mantle as the principal dancer of the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya since the retirement of her aunt Upeka Chitrasena, lissome and beautiful Thaji Dias is shouldering the responsibility of keeping the tradition of dance alive. The granddaughter of the pioneers of dance Chitrasena and Vajira, it is safe to say that dance courses through her veins. When she is not travelling the world showcasing Sri Lankan traditional dance, Thaji spends

Stagefright & panic brings julius caesar

Just how often do you think about the Roman empire? Julius Caesar – The Musical is hitting the Wendt this October and as rumour has it - Colombo is in for a show! Our journalist Panchali Illankoon sat down with Nana Jeraine and Dishan Muneswaran from the theatre company behind the anticipated show, StageFright&Panic to find out more about the play

Tis the Season A truly unique blend of Dance and Song

Kanthi Ranchigoda needs no introduction and after a three year hiatus she will have an evening of dance and music in the traditional spirit of Christmas. The audience will be treated to an evening guaranteed to get their toes tapping right throughout the show. Showcasing talent and dance ‘Tis the Season’ is a show that will be enjoyed by both the young and old alike.

SHOULD I WRITE A LAST WILL? What You Need To Know

No one likes to think about their own death, but preparing end-of-life documents, such as a Last Will and Testament, can give you a great peace of mind, knowing that your wishes will be followed when you’re gone and your loved ones are cared for. While many are now opting to execute their Last Wills, the majority are still cautious. Some are unsure of how to create a will or if they even have the assets necessary for one, while others are concern

X-Men writer talks about Sri Lankan character in comics

The X-Men may not be the most powerful superhero team but they probably have the most diverse character lineup. They also have a Sri Lankan named Suvik Senyaka in the comic book series. In an interview that took place before the WGA strike, writer Scott Lobdell told Life that he created the mutant after a Lankan he met when he was in his twenties. The most iconic X-Man, Wolverine is Canadian, villain Magneto is a Jewish Holocaust survivor, Bisho

Savitri de Silva inducted as Vice President of the Methodist Church, Sri Lanka

In recognition of the yeoman service she has rendered to the Methodist Church, Savitri de Silva was voted in as the Vice President for the year 2023, which is the highest position a Lay person can hold, in the Methodist Church. Born into a Christian home Savitri is the daughter of Bonnie Fernando, a well-known journalist at Lake House in the 1960s and Carmen Mendis, a much-loved teacher. Savitri says her mother was an exceptional lady who imbib

Lavanga Beach A luxury addition to vibrant Hikka

World famous for its beautiful coral stretch, Hikkaduwa was crowned as one of the best spots for various types of water-sports activities including snorkelling, diving, surfing, wind surfing, rowing, water skating and water skiing. ‘Coral safari’ with glass bottom boats were first introduced in Sri Lanka for Coral tours in Hikka during the seventies tourism boom. ‘Lavanga Resort and Spa’ came into the vibrant Hikka folder in 2008 as a popular loc

I Do It My Way

“I do it my way” an evening to showcase the talents of the differently abled Girl Guides, will bring together different ethnic groups and religions, from various parts of the island. They will comprise those who are visually and hearing impaired, slow learners, those who are Autistic, have Downs Syndrome etc. The branch for the Handicapped ( later changed to the Branch for the Differently Abled) was initiated in Sri Lanka in 1924. Its aim is to

In search of the truth Sri Lankan adoptee Sebastian Jensen’s search for his family

Stories of Sri Lankan adoptees in far flung lands searching for their biological families always tugs at our heartstrings. Their quest to find out their biological parents and possible siblings is an innate desire some of these adoptees have as they long to know more details about their origins. Perhaps they want to feel their mother’s hug or just ask them why they were given up for adoption. Whilst many have experienced love and stability than

Local batik design label is going to milan la pard

Dinushi Pamanuwa’s label La Pard started it’s journey in 2016 with an innovative use of batik in luxury lingerie. This is how the label launched in store at PR, the same year. In 2017, Dinushi applied her unique style of batik to ready to wear and she participated in her first runway show at SLDF in 2016 and thereafter was on the main ramp of CFW in 2019. La Pard is a luxury batik clothing brand, born in the tropical island of Sri Lanka by fou

Gold exchange extravaganza at Vogue Jewellers

Vogue Jewellers, renowned for its exquisite 22-karat gold jewellery, is proud to announce a sensational promotion from 11th to 17th September. During this limited-time promotion, customers can exchange their old gold jewellery for the latest jewellery in multiple ways: 22-karat gold chains at the best price in town; stone-studded 22-karat necklaces and bangles without labour charges and the entire jewellery collection on a special old gold rate.

The Sandals

Balapitiya in the Southern Province is popular for two characteristic features of the area. One is the popular Madu Ganga and other is Tuna. Balapitiya is popular for tuna fishing and a number of secret culinary delights endemic to the region. Madu Ganga is a major attraction for travellers, both domestic and foreign. The popular Madu Ganga wetland is an estuary and the many mangrove islets on it constitute a complex coastal wetland ecosystem,

Inaugural launch of the ceylon heritage Festival Fashion Show

The annual Ceylon Heritage Festival by the Rachel Raj Foundation and the Ministry of Industries will have its inaugural launch with a fashion show dedicated to artisanal traditional textile crafts on September 27 at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. The event will serve as the launch pad for the new “Heritage Hands” label, a 100% Sri Lankan-crafted clothing and accessory brand endorsed by the Industrial Development Board. For years, Sri Lanka’

Sanmugan Satheesan

Living his dream of becoming a filmmaker, British born Sanmugan Satheesan also known as Saanmuu has released his latest film The Jungle. Dabbling in filmmaking while studying for a Law degree, Sanmugan took on the challenge of making this film soon after he finished his studies. With his brother backing him, they worked and raised their own money to fund the film. Sanmugan recruited people from his community of friends and family to work with him

Organ Donation Q And A With Dr Yasuni Manikkage

Organ donation is the process when a person allows an organ of their own to be removed and transplanted to another person legally either by consent while the donor is alive or dead with the assent of the next of kin. Donation can be done for research or more commonly healthy transplantable organs and tissues maybe donated to be transplanted into another person. According to experts organs from one donor can save upto 50 people. We spoke to Dr Y

THERUNI WIJEWARDENE

Today on the Buzz, we have the lady with the magical touch! We chat to THERUNI who founded ‘The Physio’ in January 2014. I had to ask her, are we all suffering with some kind of pain everyday, and the answer is YES!! So this made me ask her more questions. Let’s read about her journey and what made her come to Sri Lanka, leaving her life back in Australia. Let’s all live a pain free life.

From Newsroom to Altar Joel Outschoorn chats about being a Wedding Emcee and Officiant...

Joel Outschoorn’s career journey is a fascinating evolution from newsreader to wedding emcee and officiant. Shifting gears from the world of news, he found a new passion in orchestrating weddings after initially emceeing for family and friends. Joel also established himself as a social media influencer, showcasing his talents as a voice artiste, corporate event emcee, host of YouTube shows, and occasionally lending his presence to TV commercial s

A versatile songstress Amriytha Amarnath speaks of her love for Tamil music

Luring listeners and viewers with her dulcet tones, singer Amriytha Amarnath first rose to fame after competing in a musical reality show conducted by a local TV station. An exponent of Carnatic music, Amriytha has received formal voice training since the age of two. Currently she is the lead female vocalist of the band Ilayanila Isaikkulu which plays at weddings and social gatherings amongst other events. Gaining popularity through her songs, Am

Dr. Ray Wijewardene Memorial Oration 2023

The Dr. Ray Wijewardene Memorial Oration was established in 2011 by The Ray Wijewardene Charitable Trust (RWCT) in collaboration with The Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL). Every year the Engineering community of Sri Lanka comes together in remembrance of his invaluable contribution to the world and to acknowledge the decades of innovations around the world. Each year individuals who contributed to the field of innovation take the opportuni

DATE NIGHT WITH CLIFFORD RICHARDS FEATURING BLACK

Clifford Richards will be in action once again this weekend. Music lovers are in for a treat when the ever popular Clifford Richards takes to the stage on Sunday September 3, at the Main Ballroom, Galadari Hotel at 7 pm. This is just one of the many shows after numerous very successful ones by him to packed audiences who enjoy listening to ‘golden oldies.’ Indeed Clifford Ricahrds needs no introduction and is what one may call a ‘Jack of Many

Johann summits Mt. Elbrus

Swapping his scissors and combs for mountaineering gear, Johann Peries is inching closer to reaching his ambition of scaling the seven highest peaks in the seven continents. Well known in Colombo as a leading hairdresser, Johann earned the respect and admiration from all Sri Lankans when he successfully summited Mount Everest in 2018 becoming the first Sri Lankan man to do so. Not one to rest on his laurels, Johann soon set his eyes on the ultima

Shankari Chandran

It was indeed a happy day for Sri Lankan literary aficionados all over the world when the news broke that Sri Lankan Australian writer Shankari Chandran had won the coveted Miles Franklin Award for her tome Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens which was nominated for the award by her publisher. The Miles Franklin Award was established in 1954 by the estate of My Brilliant Career author Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin to celebrate the Australian charac

The Invitation

The desire to belong is a fundamental part of human nature, according to psychologists, and when people feel out of place and their sense of belonging is threatened, that discomfort and self-doubt can have far-reaching effects. Receiving an invitation to a function of any sort is a big deal among certain Colombo circles. Largely to keep up with the Jones’s and particularly owing to the fear of missing out. Human beings are essentially social ani

The story of La Vivente A socially conscious apparel brand

I initiated my journey in the retail sector while I was at university. During this period, I engaged in procuring stock lots, which I then distributed to prominent retailers across the island. In 2005, fate led me to meet my husband, who, like me, was a banker. Together, in 2007, we embarked on a new endeavor: manufacturing. Our banking background unveiled a concerning trend—people faced hurdles in securing bank loans due to a lack of collateral

Mandara Resort, Mirissa A great place for aquatic adventure

Aquatic adventure is the latest craze for adventure travellers. Water sports, Whale and Dolphin watching off Mirissa has become more popular. Many sea-adventure based holiday resorts have come up in the area and Mirissa is no longer a traditional ‘fisherman’s haven’. It has become a paradise for those who love the beach. A couple of luxury boutique hotels have come up in the beautiful hill side of Mirissa, creating more hospitality opportunities

Helping others to See..

Have you ever considered donating your eyes? Anyone can choose to be an Eye Donor and decide that they want to donate their eyes for transplant, science and medicine. Once a person passes away, medical professionals will determine if the donor’s eye tissue can be used for transplants or research. We spoke to Janath Saman Matara Arachchi, Senior Manager Sri Lanka International Eye Bank from the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society and W.O.Hemaka De

“I’d love to open a Steakhouse in Sri Lanka” Azam Riyard shares the story of his steakhouse in the UK

Former Trinitian Azam Riyard is a larger than life personality. He is the owner of The Clubhouse Steakhouse situated on the outskirts of London. From flipping burgers and making basic steaks, he has now mastered the art of dry aging, and is now experimenting with dry aging seafood to cater to the growing number of pescatarian consumers. Not one to rest on his laurels, Riyard says he would be elated if he could open a steakhouse in Sri Lanka and

Happening Colombo

On a week day when I went for dinner towards the Fort, I was surprised at the crowds and the vehicles on the street. I did not think much about it though. However, on my way back home, I was surprised that the streets were yet packed with people, motor bikes whizzing and loads of cars. People all looked happy. It was a joyous sight to see really happy people. Even the chauffeur of the taxi I was in commented that it had been over six years s

Mynt at Vivanta

Imagine yourself arriving at the BIA. You happen to have a long flight and now you just want to relax at the nearest hotel. One good option or the only international option you can take is the Vivanta Hotel Colombo Airport Garden located just 5 minutes away. Unlike the general landscape, the entrance to the hotel building is designed just like a flight gate beckoning travellers straight from the airport. Incorporated by Tata Group in India, Viva

Shehan Ariyarathna

Today on the Buzz, I speak to a young entrepreneur who has made a name for himself in creating island friendly clothing. The fashion space is forever growing and the trends keep changing. Culture by Ari which was founded by Shehan Ariyarathna sure caught the eye of someone who is summer loving. Today I speak to him about his successful journey in the past four years.