IronMan 70.3 to invade Colombo next Sunday
IronMan 70.3 to invade Colombo next Sunday View(s):An army of 739 athletes from 58 countries will swim, cycle and run, covering a distance of 113 kilometres or 70.3 miles next Sunday in the heart of Colombo, as Sri Lanka hosts the ‘So Sri Lanka’ IronMan 70.3 Colombo event for the second time. The top five participating nations for the ‘So Sri Lanka’ IronMan 70.3 Colombo is led by India, who will have 94 athletes in participation. The ‘So Sri Lanka’ IronMan 70.3 Colombo will help a total of 65 athletes qualify for the 2019 IronMan 70.3 World Championship to be held in France in September. The ‘So Sri Lanka’ IronMan 70.3 Colombo Expo will begin on Thursday and will continue until Sunday in Colombo. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau will be the title sponsor of the ‘So Sri Lanka’ IronMan 70.3 Colombo.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
Helping prisoners turn a new leaf
Helping prisoners turn a new leaf By Tera Jayewardene and Oshani Alwis Book by book, those behind the ‘Books Beyond Bars’ project aim to build a model prisons’ library View(s): View(s):Worn with use, the book in the prisoner’s hands is being read for the eighth time. However, there is a long way to go to create the Model Library planned by the Special Committee on Prison Library Services. “Prison library service is a neglected area in Sri Lanka which needs more attention, resources and planned development. Padma Bandaranayake, Convenor, Special Committee Library Development, Sri Lanka Library Association, says a donation has come in from Sri Lankans in the US. Ms Bandaranayake is hopeful they could improve library access for female detainees-5% of the prisoners in Sri Lanka are women and most of them are in Welikada.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
A teleplay with a western touch
A teleplay with a western touch ‘Iththo’ View(s): View(s):Suneth Malinga Lokuhewa, who presented miniplays like ‘Chanchala Rekha’, ‘Ayemath Adaren’ and ‘Millawa Walawwa’, is to release his latest serial teledrama ‘Iththo’. Influenced by western tele serials, this suspenseful tele play has 100 episodes and it divides into four different themes. The serial is to be played by a cast of nearly 75 and this is the debut teleplay of Udari Perera, who was introduced to cinema in Suneth Malinga’s film ‘Pravegaya’. Others in the cast are Roshan Ranawana, Sriyantha Mendis, Teena Shanel, Damayanthi Fonseka, Amila Karunaratne, Thilini Perera, Nimesha Madhushani, Sinethi Akila, Chamara Priyadarshana, Chamira Liynage, Ishan Gammudali, Menaka Maduwanthi and Nisidi Kariyawasam who are playing for the first 25 episodes. The screenplay was written by Kavinda Malaviarachchi, Priyanath Vidanapathirana and Nilanka Alexander, camera direction is by Adam Mcclain and screenplay supervision and direction are by Sunetha Malinga.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
Taking forward a uniquely local fashion fusion
“There was no infrastructure for it, because our retail functioned on surplus stock retail.” People would say that’s fashion retail, but not so Ajai. This was the beginning of a thought process that would soon shape the Colombo Fashion Week (CFW). This year, the 15th year of CFW, is significant because it marks a long journey of shaping the fashion industry here. He has always felt that the fashion week in Paris brings the city to life. “When you think of ‘Colombo Fashion Week’, you connect Colombo and Fashion together and the two become linked.”In terms of identity for fashion, CFW relates a story which Ajai sees being formed.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
On a rail trail with a cause
Yet the travellers show little respect for the beauty around them, discarding garbage through windows- including polythene, plastic and glass. Their first task was cleaning the track from Pattipola station to Idalgasinna station. As walking on the track is forbidden, the group had to obtain permission from the Permanent Way Inspector. The small Idalgasinna station is often shrouded with mist. Ranjan Theodore advocates railway and mountain hiking as wonderful pastimes especially for young people and plans to continue this effort.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
Frontier Capital launches Sri Lanka’s first AI ChatBot for tuk tuk industry
Frontier Capital launches Sri Lanka’s first AI ChatBot for tuk tuk industry View(s):Emerging investment banker Frontier Capital Partners – that transferred some of the country’s prominent group companies to conglomeration in the post war era from 2009 to 2019 in a decade – has recently released a newly developed advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) ChatBot assistant titled ‘TukBoy’. 13 trillion GDP, ‘our 1 million tuk tuk drivers’ alone from the middle class control 10 per cent of the economy with an income generation of over $8 billion, Rs. 150 million, four years ago in a technology based transport company – Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka which has now grown to over Rs. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. Artificial intelligence (AI) also can automate a large number of processes and increasingly, the technology is streamlining human intervention between clients and systems.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
The tale of two wanted men
The tale of two wanted men View(s):A senior Minister blamed the media for botching the extradition of a Sri Lankan drug king-pin from the Emirate of Dubai after his recent arrest. He said the publicity the arrest generated spoilt the chances of the Sri Lankan Government getting him to stand trial here. For one, the Minister was not clear how the media reports prevented the drug-lord from being brought to Sri Lanka. A SriLankan Airlines aircraft was specially arranged and allowed into the country to ferry the captured ‘KP’ back to Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Police have so far not preferred a single charge against who they say is a top class drug lord and contract killer.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
The stories Hulftsdorp luminaries were made of
The stories Hulftsdorp luminaries were made of Reviewed by Gotabaya Dasanayaka View(s): View(s):The latest literary contribution to the lore of Sri Lanka’s legal profession has been published as a monograph of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC). The author himself is not a “Hulftsdorp Man” so to speak. Being called to the Bar, he had his own stint at Hulftsdorp, “devilling” under more than one Queen’s Counsel in the early 1960s and as a junior counsel. Though he took early leave of Hulftsdorp, he has not lost touch with the Law or the Bar. Book factsTitle: The Giants of the Legal Profession of the Past: Reminiscences and Anecdotes;Author: Sriyan de Silva;Publisher: Employers’ Federation of Ceylon
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
Guess who’s back? It’s Pusswedilla
Guess who’s back? It’s Pusswedilla By Purnima Pilapitiya Feroze Kamardeen returns with“Arsikland”, a musical based on an old favourite with new faces View(s): View(s):Feroze Kamardeen is a man who runs on intuition. In 2014, his most beloved character Pusswedilla left the political “stage” with a final rousing, ominous speech, a few months shy of a game changing Presidential election. Based on the fictitious Arsikland, it will bring back the characters from the Pusswedilla franchise in a fresh new way– a musical. A new young cast taking on the iconic characters of Chaminda Pusswedilla, Cyril Nitharamasuffering and others will add a new dimension to the characters in the current political landscape.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
Wit and repartee on PM’s northern tour
Wit and repartee on PM’s northern tour View(s):A four-day tour of the north by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to expedite development projects there also saw some wit and repartee. Earlier, Mr Paisely denied he and his family members received two different paid holidays from Sri Lanka. In a statement to Spotlight on Tuesday, Mr Paisley said: “I have responded in clear and categoric terms to your questions. “Later that year Mr Paisley travelled to the Maldives again for a holiday with his wife and two children. Mr Paisley claimed that as a consequence of that conversation, he had satisfied himself he did not need to register the holiday.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
Durban Miracle
Durban Miracle Kusal Perera's epic knock sees Sri Lanka to famous one wicket win over SA in Durban View(s): View(s):Sri Lanka’s middle-order batsman Kusal Perera scored a brilliant unbeaten century to lead them to a famous one-wicket win over South Africa in a thrilling first test at Kingsmead on Saturday. Sri Lanka’s middle-order batsman Kusal Perera scored a brilliant unbeaten century to lead them to a famous one-wicket win over South Africa in a thrilling first test at Kingsmead on Saturday. This is a special game for us.” The winning total is the third-highest run chase ever in Durban and leaves Sri Lanka unbeaten in three tests at Kingsmead, with two wins and a draw. “It was an incredible game of cricket, and obviously very disappointing to be on the losing side,” South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said. “Well played to Sri Lanka, Perera was unbelievable; he deserves all the accolades that will come to him.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
Chasing foreign experts
Chasing foreign experts View(s):Many years ago, two local university batchmates coincidentally happened to work on a project here with foreign funding. “I say…….the IMF chief seems to have whacked foreign experts and their costly expertise in low-income countries,” he said. Sri Lanka, in recent times, has also chosen the path of hiring costly foreign consultants, some of whom come via foreign funded-projects which also provide for recruiting experts from the country-source of the funding while others are recruited independently. Can we afford such expertise when the country has capable local expertise (like the case of the two colleagues who worked on a foreign-funded project) and need not spend millions on foreign experts? Yes, foreign expertise in areas which Sri Lanka lacks skills is required, but are we to be overwhelmed by foreign expertise in areas where there is enough and more local capacity and capability?
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
Get ready to fall under their spell
Get ready to fall under their spell Award-winning Austrian duo soon in Colombo to present a show of mentalism and illusion View(s): View(s):Ready for some magic? Award-winning magician and mentalist duo, The Clairvoyants will be in Colombo to weave their spell on the audience at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre on April 4. Their shows have sold out around the world as they keep audiences mesmerized with their tricks and illusions. With their reputation fast growing, Amélie and Thommy began touring Europe, and in 2014, received their first long-term contract in America. 20,000 are now available at the Cinnamon Box Office counter at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and on www.cinnamonboxoffice.com.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
CSE halts trading of MTD Walkers’ shares
CSE halts trading of MTD Walkers’ shares By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s):The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) halted trading of MTD Walkers’ shares on Thursday after calling for clarification—albeit belatedly—about recent events at the troubled conglomerate. They are Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Selyan Bank PLC, DFCC Bank PLC, National Development Bank PLC,Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, Sampath Bank PLC and Nations Trust Bank PLC. On January 21, MTD Walkers made a corporate disclosure to the CSE about a related party transaction that had taken place on January 11. MTD Capital owns of 90.78 percent of stated capital of MTD Walkers PLC. The plaintiff banks point out that main or substantial assets of the defendant, MTD Walkers, comprise shares held in those three companies.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC
An inconvenient man
An inconvenient man View(s):My dear Madush,I didn’t think I would ever be writing to you but I thought I must since you are the most talked about person these days. Why, even our top man doesn’t know what is constitutional and what is not. Still, he couldn’t prevent Aiyo Sirisena from crossing over. SB, the man given the job of roping in Green MPs, couldn’t deliver the goods, and the plan fell apart. Yours truly,Punchi PuthaPS: Aiyo Sirisena has a bee in his bonnet about wanting to make history as the person who executed a few drug dealers.
Source:Sunday Times
February 16, 2019 18:56 UTC