From Bradby to Degaldoruwa-By Uditha Devapriya Image Source:Island Source:Island The Degaldoruwa Viharaya in Gunnepanne, near Sirimalwatte and Amunugama, forms a crux of Kandyan art, culture, and society. One of the most historically significant temples in the country, it is famous for its murals. These were painted by the most renowned sittara artist of his day, Devaragampola Silvatenne, with the Nilagama family. In his book on the Ridi Vihare, Dr SinhaRaja Tammita-Delgoda writes that Silvatenne “was responsible for the most brilliant period in Kandyan art.” An unordained monk and a brilliant painter, he had earlier executed the murals at Medawala Raja Maha Viharaya, and had been commissioned the decoration of Dambulla and Ridi Viharaya. ...
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Christmas In Ceylon In The ’50’s: Swing Bands And Grand Galas-by Roel Raymond Source:Media History records social transformation. It is through the lens of historical narrative that we see the ages and eras of the past and learn of the people, places, and events that made an impact. Documented history throws a light on the customs and rituals of people as they wend their way through time, leaving their mark on a particular epoch. In the 1950’s, Ceylon has just gained independence from the British Raj, the fruits of which were yet to be seen. Many of the cultural influences of the British were still apparent, including speaking the English language, clothing styles, and partaking in English customs and holidays. The major Christian holidays—Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas were all celebrated on the island, and going by documented history, Christmas in Ceylon in the 1950’s was a riotous time ...
Dec 6, 2023
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Tagged Chandra Arulpragasam, Christmas In Ceylon, D.S. Senanayake, Galle Face Hotel
Golden Wedding of Nirmala & Mevan Pieris, celebrated at Galle Face Hotel on 16th June 2023. Nirmala and Mevan Pieris celebrated 50years of married life on the 16th of June 2023 with a reception held at Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. We are sharing a few photographs taken that day. Nirmala & Mevan dancing. Mevan inserts a Golden wedding ring closely watched by The Ven. Jayanth Jeyaveerasingan, and The Revd. Suresh Dias Bandaranaike, and grand-son Dineth Pieris. Nirmala & Mevan with their five grand-children L-R , Dineth, Nirmala, Anithra, Mevan, Kiyana and Jaanya, with Nireka standing in front. Nirmala & Mevan with their two children and five grand-children L-R; Dineth, Nilanka, Nirmala, Mevan, Nireka (standing in front), Dilani, Kiyana, Jaanya, Anithra, Haren. Extended Family Group Seated on ground in the centre – Mevan Pieris Front row – L-R, Shevan Goonetilleke, Nirmala Pieris, Theshika Goonetilleke, Nireka Pieris, Gamini Goonetilleke, ...
Jun 22, 2023
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Tagged 50years of married life, Galle Face Hotel, Golden Wedding, Nirmala & Mevan Pieris
Special Vistas For Tourists in Sri Lanka Today-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Lee Tulloch, in Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2023, where the title reads = “Why you should visit this undersold, teardrop-shaped island right now” If there’s a country that could do with a lot of love right now, it’s Sri Lanka. Over the past three decades, the island nation has been ravaged by conflict and disaster, beginning with the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which claimed 30,000 lives, and the 26-year-long civil war, which ended in 2009. It had just re-emerged as a popular tourist destination when, on Easter Sunday 2019, an Islamic group, in retaliation for the Christchurch attacks thousands of kilometres away, bombed three churches and three luxury hotels in Colombo, unnerving the tourists who had returned in record numbers. ...
Jun 15, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Galle Face Hotel, Lunuganga Country Estate, Nine Arch Bridge, Yala National Park
Scattered yet striking Andrew Nicholl’s watercolour of Cayman’s Gate Source:Sundaytimes With just a month to go before the country celebrates its 75th anniversary of independence, Yomal Senerath-Yapa visits the Colombo Museum to see its colonial collection In the Colombo National Museum, the colonial heritage of Lanka seems often underplayed. There are galleries sumptuous and magnificent dedicated to the classical eras of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and the later isthmus kingdoms leading to the final, Kandyan feudal era, but the four and a half centuries from 1505 to 1948 remain dim lit and ill defined. This is surprising given that the museum was built in 1877, in the height of Queen Victoria – Empress of India’s glory. The largest museum in the country, it is maintained by the Department of National Museums. Built in the Italianate style, the banyan-shaded Colombo Museum located in a prime spot on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo ...
Jan 9, 2023
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Tagged Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar, Colombo Museum, Galle Face Hotel
Christmas cake: the traditional Sri Lankan treat uniting an island and its diaspora-by Yusra Farzan Source:Theguardian The nation has been rattled by economic crisis, political upheaval and corruption, but many believe the dessert-making custom could spark joy in these bleak times As a child in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oryan Cumaraiah-Misso remembers excitedly readying himself in front of a handheld meat grinder to crush cashews. It was his part in his family’s annual tradition of preparing a 60-year-old recipe for Christmas cake that had been passed down for generations. Christmas cake – a moist, decadent treat filled with nuts and fruit – usually kicks off the holiday season on the island nation, and for immigrants in the US, has become a way to preserve traditions from back home. Sri Lanka’s Christmas cake is similar to the fruit cake, a quintessentially British dish, but has since evolved from its colonial roots. Like the ...
Dec 26, 2022
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Tagged Christmas cake, Galle Face Hotel, Indrika Arnold
“DOWN MEMORY LANE” – by Des Kelly Sent to me via Max Gerreyn and an Editor who has not disclosed his/her name, for reasons unknown, and yet this is a most interesting piece of work on what was once Ceylon’s Colonial era, bringing back many precious memories especially for those like me, who, very reluctantly, had to leave our motherland to migrate to various Countries. Because this is a fairly long article, I will end this particular introduction, leaving you, the readers to enjoy this fascinating story, wherever you are. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief eLanka) Colonial Sri Lanka: Uncovering Ceylon’s Colombo capital Source:Past In the present When travellers arrived by ocean liner in Colombo they didn’t have very far to go to find a pleasant place to stay. Opposite the city’s main port, the Grand Oriental Hotel was advertised in the 19th century as ...
Oct 20, 2021
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Articles, DESMOND KELLY
Tagged Colonial Sri Lanka, Galle Face Hotel, Harbour Bar at the Grand Oriental Hotel, Uncovering Ceylon’s Colombo capital
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Prince Philip’s First Personal Car Preserved at Galle Face Hotel Prince Philip’s First Personal Car Preserved at Galle Face Hotel. This is a car in the Galle Face Hotel Museum, but not just any car. Prince Phillip of Greece was in the Royal Navy and was stationed in Sri Lanka in 1940 where he bought his first personal car It is a 1935 model Standard Nine. Prince Phillip of Greece returned later to Sri Lanka in 1952 as the Duke of Edinburgh after marrying Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II. The car is in pristine condition and quite a treasure for the hotel. Prince Philip drove this car to Trincomalee and back, when he was assigned to assist the team surveying the Trinco Harbour, the largest natural harbour in the world. Next time when you are in Colombo, it is worth visiting the Galle Face Hotel to see this historic car, ...
