Good News From Jayam April 1, 2026 Pls Scroll Down 35 items
Celebrate Easter Sunday April 5th
Jason Wanigatunga son of Jehan Wanigatunga of Atlanta, Georgia took part in the Los Angeles Marathon
Chandran and Nihara at the Sri Lanka Air Force 75th Anniversary Celebrations in Ratmalana – Asian Aviation Centre
Ursula (Van Rooyen) Aruma of Springvale, South Australia Celebrated 85th Birthday with Family
Ursula with niece Jacquie Vethecan
Ursula with nieces Radhika and Suzette Herft
Ursula (Van Rooyen) Aruma celebrated her 85th birthday on Friday February 20th 2026, with a stringhopper dinner party, at her home in Springvale South, Australia. Ursula attended Holy Family Convent in Colombo.
First female Archbishop of Canterbury
The first female Archbishop of Canterbury said her teenage self “could never have imagined the future that lay ahead”, during her installation as leader of the Church of England.
In her first sermon as Archbishop, Dame Sarah Mullally said: “As I look back over my life – at the teenage Sarah, who put her faith in God and made a commitment to follow Jesus, I could never have imagined the future that lay ahead, and certainly not the ministry to which I am now called.”
Sri Lanka U19 Women to Tour Australia for Tri-Series
Australia will host England and Sri Lanka in a nine-match U19 Women’s Tri-Series from April 6–18, with fixtures to be played in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The series will feature both 50-over and T20 matches, forming part of Australia’s commitment to developing the next generation of women cricketers.
US Ambassador Julie Chung pays farewell call on PM Harini
Outgoing US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at Temple Trees on January 14, 2026, marking the conclusion of her tenure in Sri Lanka. Ambassador Julie Chung expressed her gratitude to the new Government of Sri Lanka for the cooperation, support, and spirit of mutual understanding extended to her throughout her tenure, and reaffirmed the continuity of partnership between the two countries.
T & S Productions Presents “Dance with MISTY” Saturday April 25th at the Rose Gardens in Whittier, Ca.
Top Ten Places to Visit in Sri Lanka (Please click on arrow)
High Tea for Easter Sunday at the fabulous Kingsbury in Colombo
Classic Photo of two Angelenos visiting Colombo Senani and Niroma
Lihini Fernando awarded prestigious 2026 Eisenhower Fellowship
Attorney-at-Law and Velox Partners Co-Founder Lihini Fernando has been selected to be among 24 global leaders to participate at the Eisenhower Fellowship for 2026.
The EF has selected 24 global leaders from government, business, and civil society to take part in a six-week fellowship in the US, enabling them to exchange knowledge and ideas with the leading experts in their respective fields.
Fellows, representing 24 countries including will participate in EF’s spring Global Program from April 5th to May 14th.
Greetings to Medini Ratnayake of Los Angeles, Ca. on her recent birthday
St Joseph Hospital, Negombo “To Live is a Privilege”
Utravel.com
Jayam’s Choice for Easter “Easter Parade ” – Judy Garland and Fred Astaire (Please Click on Arrow)
SLAASC ALuth Avurudhu Celebrations at Woodley Park, Van Nuys, Ca. on Sunday, April 12th, 2026
the “Decades Party” presented by St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and Bishop’s College, Colombo at the Taj Grand Marquee in Colombo (Photos courtesy of Hi!!)
Classic Photo of Two Ceylonese Patriots The Honorable T. B. Jayah, Politician and High Commissioner and Father Peter Pillai Rector St. Joseph’s College, Colombo (Circa 1959)
Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo March 19th, 2026 (Please click on arrow)
Delysia Gunawardene | The Chitra Lane School | Three Families Cocktail Seasonings | Lovedu Queen| Economy | GDP | Markets & More
Obituaries – Sad News
Sheila Wijeratne (99) Passed away in Toronto, Canada on March 14, 2026. Wife of the late Rienzie Wijeratne (Ceylon Observer), mother of Ranjit, Nihal, Ravi, Lilanee, grandmother of Dinuk, Siobhan, Sean and James Saravanamuttu. Great grandmother of Sayiri. Sister of Renee and Doreen. Funeral was in Toronto on March 18th.
Asoka Abeyewardene – Passed away in Colombo. Sri Lanka. Husband of Dr. Marlene Abeyewardene. Father of Dr. Ashan Abeyewardene, father-in-law of Dr. Shamika, and grandfather of Shanya, Alisha, and Avyn. Final rites and funeral arrangements will be on April 20th, at the Colombo Cemetery,where family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance and celebration of his life.
Recipes From Roma’s Kitchen
Barbecued, Spiced Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken, cut into pieces
- 8 shallots
- 6 candlenuts (not easily available in L.A. substitute with nut of preference. I use cashew nuts)
- 1” ginger, peeled and sliced
- 1 stem lemongrass
- 1 tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
- 4 Tbs light soy sauce
- 2 Tbs sweet Soy sauce
- 3 Tbs oil (I use grapeseed oil)
- Salt, to taste
- Oil for frying
Method
Serves 4
Slash flesh of the chicken several times. Finely chop the shallots and set aside. Pound the garlic, nuts, ginger, lemongrass and chilli powder together. Mix with soy sauces and oil and pour over the chicken pieces. Marinade for 30 minutes. Heat oil in a wok, fry the onions without browning. Lift chicken pieces out of marinade and fry on both sides to seal. Reduce the heat, cook for 10 minutes. Transfer to the barbecue to complete cooking. Add the marinade to the remaining ingredients in the wok. Fry, then add stock. Cook for 5 minutes and serve the sauce with the chicken.
I chose to share one of my favorite chicken dishes at Easter. Please serve with the traditional yellow rice and customary sides. I hope you enjoy a different chicken dish. Happy Easter!
A Majestic Tusker at Yala National Park
(Cherish and Protect our National Heritage)
“Malaki Duwe Numba” moves audiences in California screening March 29, 2026 “Sunday Observer” By Nandasiri Jasentuliyana
“Malaki Duwe Numba” (2026) Sinhala film directed by brothers Kalpana Ariyawansa and Vindana Ariyawansa and produced by Dr. Lakshman Makandura and Kularathne Ariyawansa is a refreshing and resonant work of cinema, one that not only entertains but also lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.
From the opening frame, it became clear that these are directors in full command of their craft, weaving together image, dialogue and story with a confidence that demands attention.
The film has already begun to carve out its place on the international stage, most notably through its selection for the prestigious Kolkata International Film Festival. Kolkata’s festival is known for spotlighting works of genuine artistic merit and global relevance, and the inclusion of this film is a powerful endorsement of its quality and impact.
What makes the movie so compelling is its ability to balance emotional depth with visual elegance. The narrative unfolds with deliberate pacing, inviting the audience not just to watch, but to reflect—to see themselves and their world mirrored in the characters’ journeys. The performances are nuanced and convincing, grounded in a realism that heightens the film’s emotional stakes.
Equally impressive is the film’s visual language. Every shot feels purposeful, every composition carefully considered. The cinematography, at times intimate and at others sweeping and expansive, works in harmony with a restrained yet evocative story. Together, they create a cinematic atmosphere that is both immersive and unforgettable.
Not to be missed
As someone who has spent a career engaged with global issues and cultural exchange, I found this film particularly striking in its universality. Though rooted in a specific context, its themes—identity, resilience, human connection—transcend borders. This blend of local authenticity and global resonance makes the film worthy of the international recognition it is now receiving.
For audiences in California, the screening offered a rare opportunity to witness a filmmaker at the height of his powers, presenting a work that is at once artistically ambitious and emotionally accessible. For those who care about cinema as an art form—and not merely as entertainment—this is a film that should not be missed.
“Malaki Duwe Numba” is an emotional farewell to one of Sri Lankan cinema’s most revered icons, Malini Fonseka. Released after her passing, the film carries the weight of her legacy with grace, offering audiences a moving tribute that feels both intimate and monumental.
What immediately sets “Malaki Duwe Numba” apart is its inspired casting: three generations of the Fonseka family share the screen, turning the film into a living chronicle of cinematic heritage. This multigenerational presence is not a gimmick; it is the emotional backbone of the story. Watching the Fonsekas interact on screen, viewers are constantly reminded that they are witnessing a real family navigating a fictional family’s fractures and reconciliations. The result is a layered authenticity that few films can claim.
At its heart, “Malaki Duwe Numba” is a story of a broken family slowly finding its way back to wholeness through sacrifice, forgiveness and love. It invites viewers to reflect on family, legacy, and the quiet heroism of love that chooses to heal rather than to hurt.
The narrative follows characters burdened by old wounds and unspoken regrets, gradually learning to confront their past and choose compassion over resentment. In these quiet, human moments—an apology long delayed, a gesture of unexpected kindness, a sacrifice made without fanfare—the film finds its true power.
The film follows a renowned YouTuber and single mother, Nimansa (Samanmalee Fonseka, who is Malini Fonseka’s niece in real life), whose romance with a celebrity author disrupts the fragile family bonds and forces her teenage daughter, Chanuli (Kushenya Fonseka, in real life Malini’s grand niece), to confront long-suppressed emotional wounds. The movie centres on Chanuli, a thoughtful teenage girl growing up with her single mother.
Nimansa’s online persona brings the family both recognition and financial stability, but it also blurs the boundary between private life and public performance, leaving Chanuli feeling exposed and emotionally overlooked. At home, they are anchored yet quietly judged by Chanuli’s grandmother, (Malini Fonseka) who worries that Nimansa’s modern ambitions and media fame are eroding traditional family values.
Team work
Producer Dr. Lakshman Makandura is a Sri Lankan-American physician and a cultural patron. He leads Greater Valley Physicians Medical Group in West Covina, California, and owns MedSpa Deluxe LA, a prominent medical cosmetic centre managed by his multi-talented daughter, Sarah. Dr. Makandura produced the acclaimed teledrama Kunchanada (with his wife, Thusitha), following his daughter, Saraha’s, interest in human-elephant conflict.
Brothers Vindana and Kalpana masterfully directed the movie, their third, while their father wrote the moving script. Rohana Weerasinghe wrote and conducted the music. Cinematographer Vishvajith Karunarathna was behind the camera, capturing every emotion and expression that enriched the movie.
What makes this especially poignant is how closely the film’s themes echo Malini Fonseka’s own legacy. For decades, she embodied the emotional core of Sinhala cinema, often portraying women who held families—and sometimes entire communities—together through resilience and selflessness. “Malaki Duwe Numba” mirrors that role: the story’s journey from fracture to healing feels like an extension of the values she brought to the screen throughout her career.
“Malaki Duwe Numba” is a convincing reminder of why Malini Fonseka mattered—and still matters—to audiences. For long-time admirers of her work, this film will feel like a final, heartfelt conversation with a beloved artist. For new audiences, it serves as a powerful introduction to the emotional landscape she helped define.
If cinema is, at its best, a mirror held up to our deepest bonds and losses, then “Malaki Duwe Numba” is a mirror polished with care, memory and gratitude. It stands as a fitting, emotionally resonant tribute to a legend whose influence continues well beyond the closing credits.
The writer is a former Deputy Director General of the United Nations.
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