Silver screen’s heartthrob Tissa Wijesurendra

The first death anniversary of yesteryear Sinhala cinema heartthrob Tissa Wijesurendra falls tomorrow, May 11. Tissa Wijesurendra ignited the silver screen with his chocolaty charm especially as the matinee idol of the seventies since he made his debut in Ranjith Lal’s ‘Nim Walalla’. But his major role came in Kalana Mithuro in the early seventies.

Remembering Vijaya Nandasiri

The 74th birth anniversary of veteran actor Vijaya Nandasiri fell on May 6. Illuppitiya Mudiyanselage Vijaya Nandasiri, who was born on May 6, 1947 plunged the nation into shock when he passed away suddenly on August 8 in 2016. Vijaya

Wes graduation and Pahim Path ceremony

The Nilan Maligaspe Creative Dance and Drama Academy recently held a colourful event to at the Colombo 7

Coping

Just when we concluded that 2020 was a horrendous year, 2021 moves in and seems to be equally bad or worse. Many are suffering from depression owing to what is happening around them. Our neighbouring country is crippled with the virus; horrific scenes are seen by all of us who watch the news channels; and international newspapers keep updating us

AUNTY MANI Celebrates 100 YEARS

It’s very rarely that you meet a centenarian. What’s more one who is fit, healthy, mentally alert, fiercely independent, cheerful and happy and above all a truly lovely person, inside and out. Well that’s Aunty Mani and I was privileged

WNPS Monthly Lecture Conserving Horton Plains What the Science Tells Us By Dr Rohan Pethiyagoda

Just about everyone who visits a protected area in Sri Lanka comes away with many ideas of how its management could be improved, and Horton Plains is no exception. Despite its small size, Horton Plains is one of our country’s most unique and priceless biodiversity assets—and sadly it faces graver threats than most other protected areas. Over-visitatio

Stigmata 21 Years of Heavy Metal

Stigmata is back on the map (Not like they ever left, but you know what I mean), and they are back with a brand new, hair raising, exciting single, “Throw Glass in a House of Stone”. This is the third release of their new and 5th still untitled album of which the other two singles were released last year. What makes these singles more unique than the ones t

Kumudini David

The buzz takes a visit this week into the quarantine centre, all thanks to Kumudini. She has been making positive waves on social media in collecting funds to help those who are in need at these centres. It’s so amazing to see how a little bit of k

Switching ON the success button Raising kids with Intrinsic Motivation

If I were to have a mother’s “wish” list, each point on this list would be centered on my children. As parents we all want the best for our little ones. But sometimes our want does not really align with our children’s actions. This year has indeed been a difficult one for our children, with haphazard lockdowns, online learning and all extracurricular sports and other activities cancelled, at no fault of their own, our children have educationally

Putting Beauty right again

The dust has not yet settled fully on the recently held local pageant to choose a rightful representative to the next Mrs. World contest. Hot on the heels of the recently abdicated Sri Lankan Mrs. World who is now fighting for something I have pursued

Redefining family values

At a time when human qualities such as understanding, thoughtfulness, kindness, creativity, love and sacrifice are becoming rare commodities and are in huge demand in today’s society, award-winning director Priyantha Colombage is making another significant move by releasing his newest tele serial ‘Sakuge Lokaya’ from today. “The covid pandemic has underlined the fact that is no better time than now, to value humanity and try to transform ourselve

Colombo Art Gallery opens

Colombo Art Gallery – a space created for authentic engagement, enabling community enrichment through a shared space integrity and collaboration, was declared open at Gandhara Street in Colombo recently. This came as a result of Dian Gomes’ long-standing passion for Art, consisting of his private globally sourced collection along with a fine curation of renowned local artistes.

‘Ru Boutique’ New kid on Kandy’s hospitality block

A hotel located in a city centre is always in the midst of noisy, hustle and bustle. But for ‘Ru Boutique’ in Kandy, it seems a blessing in disguise. Located in the busy Sangaraja Mawatha by the banks of ‘Kiri Muhuda’, popularly known as ‘Nuwara

Modern day Avurudu Kumari contests

April 2021 was a month of excitement and Avurudu was one of many reasons. Amidst COVID, media outlets and Sri Lankans occupied themselves with solving a ‘great mystery’ – whether the winner at a local beauty pageant was married or not. The matter not only made international headlines but put Sri Lanka under the spotlight.

Amanda Seyfried, James Norton face ghosts and marriage crisis in horror movie

Amanda Seyfried and James Norton play a young couple whose marriage and life unravel when they move to a haunted house in upstate New York in supernatural thriller “Things Heard & Seen”. Based on Elizabeth Brundage’s novel “All Things C

Reminiscence An expression of life growing up in the war zone, by Nirmalavasan

Artist Nirmalavasan will exhibit his work at the Paradise Road Galleries, commencing Thursday 29 April - 2 June 2021, with a Preview on the 29th. Shanth Fernando, together with one of Sri Lanka’s foremost Architects C. Anjalendran ,

‘Uthuru Sulanga’ blows from April 29

Chamara Janaraj Peiris’ newest movie ‘Uthuru Sulanga’ will be screened in theatres islandwide from April 29. The movie is

Tsunami screenings in Australia

The much-hyped movie ‘Tsunami’ directed by Dr. Somaratne Dissanayake and produced by Renuka Balasooriya is slotted for screenin

Remembering Lester the Legend

The third death anniversary of globally renowned legendary moviemaker Dr. Lester James Peries falls on April 28. Lester who catapulted Sinhala cinema into sharp international focus through his cinematic creations, will indeed remain as the biggest brand name in the local film industry. Born on April 5, 1919 in Colombo, Dr. Peries was persuaded by his parents to prepare himself for priesthood but the old boy of St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya,

Avurudhu

Considering there was a curfew last year and no one could celebrate Avurudhu the traditional way, a year later even though the virus is hanging around us, it seems that everybody decided that this year’s Avurudhu was to be celebrated in the best way possible to them. The sound of the Asian Koel singing its tune from the wee hours in the morning to the traditional sweetmeats, th

“I’M NOT SHY TO ASK FOR HELP WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMALS” TASHIYA CAPTAIN justice for animals

If Tashiya Captain could pinpoint the exact time of her life at which she got into animal welfare, she’d say she was about 14 years of age; living in Colombo, feeding and sheltering the occasional stray dog or two she’d encounter at the bus stop. “Of course, at that time – we didn’t really call it ‘animal welfare’ per se. I don’t think I even understood it as a problem when I was young. I grew up having cats and dogs in my home and naturally, it

Govt. responds to pressure exerted by social media and environmental groups

Sri Lanka’s environmental problems have moved to newer dimensions, much to the fury of environmental groups. Mass scale environment destruction reports irritated the government to the point that a separate committee was setup to monitor news items that includes environmental matters. Even though the current regime has introduced projects such as ‘Surakimu Ganga’ a majority of rivers a

Baking Room By Mudee

In this series, we talk to people who turned their passion for food and baking into a business idea amidst lockdown and COVID-19 fears. Some have been in the market for years and others saw the new opportunity and took it! These home businesses are changing the game and have overcome the odds of running a business during quarantine. In this segment, we talk to home bakers wh

Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2021 Two Sri Lankans included in list

Last morning, two Sri Lankans, Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and Bhanuka Harischandra woke up to the exciting news that they have been included in the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2021 lis

Talented artistes

This week on the buzz I speak to a team of people who have taken the time to give back to society. The Covid lifestyle sure did break us financially, mentally and more than everything our spirit to do more. The creative industry sure did suffer a lot with many losing gigs and with all the downsizing. Today I speak to the a team who came forward to help out our talented artistes who are stuck with no jobs during these pressing times with a fund ra

Celebrating world’s first cosmonaut

On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly to space. His flight lasted 108 minutes as he circled the Earth in Soviet Union’s Vostok spacecraft. Following the flight, Gagarin became an international hero and travelled around the world as part of a ‘Peace Mission’ advocating for global peace and cooperation fr

Understanding Gem Stones

Vaastu and Feng Shui contain the secret key to realigning the home or office in accordance with cosmic principles and natures forces. The effect of solar energy, movement of the celestial spheres influence of the planets, magnetic field of the earth, gravitational forces and the effect of sun and moon have a strong bearing on the well being of the individ

ADTF launches ‘Channel ADTF’ on YouTube Genuinely committed to promoting our own arts, culture

At a time when even so called youtube channels that claim to promote wholesome content and good journalism, deviate from their ideals and slant towards dishing out low-taste content in a subtle manner to boost their reach, Arakavila Dance and Theatre Foundation (ADTF) recently launched its Youtube platform ‘Channel ADTF’ pledging to genuinely promote Sri Lanka’s rich and traditional arts and culture.The Arakavila Dance and Theatre Foundation (ADT

Creative Activities for Children starts on May 8

Lanka Children’s and Youth Theatre Foundation (LCYTF), popularly known as Somalatha Subasinghe Play House commences its next

Consistency in Choreography Muddrika Swarnathilake conducts Master Class

Even in pandemic situations which compel us to distance ourselves from each other, we can indeed connect and contribute positively if our intentions are wholesome. Renowned director of choreography Muddrika Swarnathilake who has taken dance to a different direction pushing boundaries, is starting a Master Class in Choreography this month to nourish and hone the skills of wannabes in the art, to share her expertise and groom professional choreogra