Valentine’s Day THEN VS. NOW

February 14th is the most romantic day of the year. Valentine’s Day heralds’ pink hearts, heart shaped candy, red roses and if you

The Burnt Out Baker

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. With increased restrictions

In conversation with Talal Rafi The youth’s role in mitigating climate change

Sri Lanka was ranked the second most vulnerable country in terms of climate change. Ongoing deforestation, haphazard developmental activities, encroachments into protected areas would further aggravate the situation. As such, many stakeholders including the youth have a fundamental role to play in protecting the environment. Recently, Sri Lanka’s Talal Rafi has been appointed as

Meet the Racing Bros A family of Racers Making Sri Lanka Proud

Last week we were able to do a video interview of the record breaking motorcycle racers of Sri Lanka, Jayden and Aaron Gunewardana, sons of racing legend Shane Gunewardana and their cousin Jacques Gunewardana also known as the “Racing Bros”. Having started racing

Sri Lankan born Ray Pereira receives Order of Australia Medal Drumroll please…

Internationally-renowned drumming sensation and one of Australia’s leading percussionists Ray Pereira was recently bestowed with th

Strengthening the bond

It’s common to hear from many that they are going through a roller coaster in their relationships. When it pertains to someone close to you and you happen to know the couple it gets difficult to take sides, advise or even support any one of them

Rookada Panchi igniting screens now

Magic spell turns a lyricist into a producer, musician into a lyricist and another lyricist into an actor

Global recognition for ‘Senu’ tele film

The first-ever telefilm created in Sri Lanka on Autism titled ‘Senu’ co-directed, co-produced and scripted by Ruvani Kurukulasuriya, a

A Chat with Harpo

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it was a trying year for most businesses, restaurants being one of them. Many businesses had no choice but to shutdown whilst others manged to keep t

The Disruptor Series Apinash Sivagumaaran

“The Disruptor Series” profiles businesspeople and entrepreneurs making waves in their industries; redefining their businesses, spearheading innovation, tackling unprecedented change and disrupting the status quo. CEO and Co-Founder of ISSO Restaurants, Apinaash Sivagumaaran has been instrumental in dismissing the notion of prawn-based dishes being unaffordable and inaccessible to the masses, driving the restaurant to become a brand to be reckone

I WISH I KNEW

When exploring new horizons and embarking on novel ventures, even the most prepared individuals usually encounter unforeseen and unanticipated surprises, stumbling blocks, forks and detours. A rite of passage, a trial by fire often brings out the best in people, building resilience, determination and a renewed zeal. In this series, we talk to a variety of people from various backgrounds and careers to learn how one can be better prepared to succe

DENZEL’S ‘THE LITTLE THINGS’ LEADS BOX OFFICE

Would audiences pay to see a new movie on the big screen if they could watch the same title at home from the comfort of their couch? Prior to the pandemic, the response from theatre operators and cinem

Nausheen Fauz

I started Bath Bliss as a hobby somewhere towards the end of 2014. Back then I was working as a Consultant Financial Analyst and this was my past time. How it started was when a cousin gifted me a box of handmade soaps, shampoos and body scr

Virtual learning for Preschool & Primary

Early learning students, such as kindergarteners, preschoolers and grade 01 children are usually overflowing with enthusiasm, curiosity, eager to create friends and brimming with playfulness. This is the age group where they learn to enhance skills and personal attributes rather than study facts, figures and theories. The pandemic has made an adverse effect on the development of this age g

Celebrating an Octogenarian

Milestone birthdays are incredibly special. It is even greater when celebrating that of a gentleman who is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, humanitarian and the Chairman of the Maliban Group of Companies. Ratnapala Samaraweera, fondly known as Ratna, turned eighty last week. An elegant dinner was organised by Prithi to celebrate this great day. Unlike other days the invitees had

Sri Lanka Island of Islands

Sri Lanka: Island of Islands new book published by the National Trust Sri Lanka, sponsored by Sail Lanka Authors: Sher

Return to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka seemed like a version of paradise to Razeen Sally as a child, but conflict was soon to follow, tearing the family apart and searing their bond with Sri Lanka. Return to Sri Lanka is the story of a twenty-first century reconciliation between Sally, now a world-class academic and political adviser, and the land of his birth. A travel memoir with deep political concerns, it is a book

A chat with Mr Shef Codes

Quoted as “one of the region’s finest DJs” in Dubai’s THE MAG magazine, Shefan Lantra aka ‘Mr Shef Codes’ is already successful as a well recognized DJ based in Dubai. He plays in some of the biggest clubs in Dubai that are mostly fille

HARI TV: MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

For years, he did everything his way and today he has achieved what he desired to be. Ever since his childhood, Lahiru Mudalige’s dream was to become a media person. He never stopped, but chased his dreams until he landed a job as a radio jockey just a day after he sat for his GCE AL examination. From then onwards it was a story of success through hard work, commitment and of course passion. The bottom line of his story is that he has reaped the

Sam receives British Empire Medal for rescuing strayanimal stars

In 2005 two underground project managers from London, Samantha Green (Sam) and her husband Mark visited Sri Lanka to relieve their post-traumatic stress following a deadly terrorist attack. But the large number of stray dogs that wer

The Billionaire

It must have been a proud moment for Gehan Cooray when his movie “The Billionaire” won the Feature Comedies at the Burbank International Film Festival in September 2020. Sri Lankan born Gehan Cooray, now based in Los Angeles is a

The Disruptor Series: Naveed CADER

“The Disruptor Series” profiles businesspeople and entrepreneurs making waves in their industries; redefining their businesses, spearheading innovation, tackling unprecedented change and disrupting the status quo. In our kick off interview, Naveed Cader, of Chairman of Scope Cinemas and Co-Founder & Deputy Chairman of Food Studio talks about his journey, shares key elements of running a successful business and highlights the importance of pursuin

Gehan Cooray’s The Billionaire

An eccentric, prudish, young gay billionaire of Sri Lankan descent, Victor Ognisanti de Parerga is looking for a suitor. But the suitor must turn $10,000 into $ 3 million in six months as per his father’s conditions. Victor who seems to be the ultimate narcissist but is in fact the old-fashioned romantic at heart eventually meets a handsome and almost ascetically religious French American doctor who

SAILING SHIPS OF SERENDIB In search of lost nautical cultures

THE NATIONAL TRUST – SRI LANKA DR. ROLAND SILVA MEMORIAL LECTURE ON WEDNESDAY 27TH JANUARY 2021 Sri Lanka was linked, by sea, to maritime cultures of the Euro-Asian landmass. Mariners and merchants spread ideas and technology between these cultures. While we had our own vernacular nautica

British Empire Medal for services to animal welfare

Samantha Green, Chief Executive Officer of Dogstar Foundation has been awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to animal welfare. Samantha began her work in Sri Lanka in 2005, after noticing many local dogs had parasites. S

Multi-faceted Ajith Weerasinghe The businessman who excels in acting and singing

Many people are blessed with various forms of aptitudes but only a few are bestowed with multiple extra ordinary talents. Popular actor and singer Ajith Weerasinghe is one such personality.He has excelled as an actor, singer and successful businessman of repute. He clinched the title in the inaugural Mega Star reality show competition telecast on Swarnavahini a few years ago.

Veteran film technician ‘Karu’ felicitated

Veteran film technician Karunadasa Pathirathna was awarded the Kalabhimani title recently at an event held at the Colombo District Secretariat in recognition of his valued contribution to the Sinhala cinema industry. In a career spanni

CHARIN MENDES RELEASES FOUR NEW SONGS

Sri Lankan Singer-Songwriter and Producer Charin Mendes has released four new songs with the iconic Brian McKnight Jr. Mendes is a chart-topping recording artist with iTunes top 10 and top 100 credits in multiple territories worldwide. His album

“Who We Are”

Most of us in this Island know who Otara Gunawardhane is. Otara is an accomplished businesswoman who launched the concept of a shopping mall in Sri Lanka; the stylish lifestyle Odel mall that sold everything you were looking for in the form of clothing, household items, books, toys, luggage etc. Thereafter arising

Eyes Only by Gayan Prageeth

Gayan Prageeth’s latest exhibition, titled Eyes Only, revolves around the developments of the development of politics and corruption in Sri Lanka post-war. His thought provoking use of intricate illustrations of d