In Conversation Fazra Irfan Head of Operations – Footsteps Preschool
From stacking blocks to shaping future citizens, early childhood education is far more than what meets the eye. Fazra Irfan, Head of Operations at Footsteps Preschool and Programme Leader for the Cambridge Professional Development Qualification (Early Years) with Cambridge University Press and Assessment, has spent her career working at the very heart of these formative years. Beginning her journey as an assistant teacher and growing into a leade
How I Executed How I Executed Engagement to Sell Real Rings
If you’ve been in Sri Lanka long enough, you already know one truth. People don’t just watch content here. They dissect it. They investigate it. They gossip about it. Then they forward it to ten more people.
Why Vitamin Deficiencies Are Still So Common
With modern medicine, diagnostic tools, and widespread health information, vitamin deficiencies should be easy to prevent. Yet they remain one of the most common and underdiagnosed health issues worldwide. From iron and vitamin D to vitamin B12 and folate, deficiencies continue to affect people across age groups, often without obvious warning signs. The persistence of vitamin deficiencies is not simply a matter of poor eating habits. Instead, it
Female rage on screen
There’s a particular satisfaction in watching a woman be furious on screen. Not emotional in a way that invites pity, but focused, deliberate, and unconcerned with whether she’s still likeable. The anger isn’t a slip or a breakdown. It’s intentional. Films like Gone Girl, X, and Maxxxine center women whose rage is central to the narrative, not something to be corrected. They don’t apologize for it or rush to explain it, and for many viewers, espe
2026 and Beyond The Mega Indian Films Fans Can’t Stop Talking
Indian cinema is entering a phase defined by scale, ambition, and long-form storytelling. As audiences become more receptive to interconnected universes, mythological reinterpretations, and franchise-driven narratives, filmmakers across Bollywood and regional industries are responding with projects that aim bigger than ever before. The year 2026 stands out as a turning point, with several large-scale films either scheduled for release or moving d
Is Iran a Warning the World Keeps Ignoring?
The easiest way for governments and global media to dilute a crisis is to rename it. So, Iran is not burning. It is facing “unrest.” People are not being shot. There is a “crackdown.” A population is not suffocating. There are “economic pressures.”
Parasakthi A Powerful Look at Language, Identity, and Resistance in 1960s Tamil Nadu
Parasakthi stands as a powerful cinematic exploration of language, identity, and resistance, rooted deeply in one of the most defining political movements in Tamil Nadu’s history. Directed by Sudha Kongara and produced by Aakash Bhaskaran under
In Conversation with Upeka Wijeratne | Certified Nutrition and Weight Loss Specialist | Behavior Change Therapist
As we step into a new year, Raise The Bar continues it’s Built to Inspire series by spotlighting individuals whose journeys remind us that strength is not built overnight, but through consistency, clarity, and purpose. In this edition, I sit down with
WHY FASHION IS FALLING BACK IN LOVE WITH FEMININITY After years of “anti-pretty,” beauty is back, and it’s powerful.
What makes this moment so compelling is that beauty has returned with purpose. Fashion’s renewed love affair with femininity isn’t about escaping reality. It’s about responding to it. It reflects a generation of
Beyond the Rubble The Costs of Landslides in Sri Lanka’s Highlands to Be
In Sri Lanka’s central highlands, landslides are often reduced to images of collapsed hillsides, crushed homes, and roads swallowed by mud. Those scenes are striking, but they tell only part of the story. The
WCIC Prathibhabhisheka Celebrates Women Entrepreneurs
The WCIC Prathibhabhisheka Women Entrepreneur Awards ceremony was held at the Hilton Colombo, recognising outstanding women entrepreneurs for their achievements during 2024/2025. The event
Hemas Opens the 75th Piyawara Preschool. A Landmark Moment in a National Journey of Early Childhood Development
The opening of the 75th Piyawara Preschool in Homagama on 7 January 2026 marked a defining milestone in Sri Lanka’s early childhood development landscape and in the long-standing journey of the Hemas Outreach Foundation (HOF). More than the inauguration of a single preschool, this moment symbolised over two decades of sustained commitment, partnership, and belief in the transformative power of early learning. With this latest addition, Piyawara h
WHEN EDUCATION BECOMES A BUSINESS: WHO PAYS THE PRICE FOR ACADEMIC SHORTCUTS?
Drive through Colombo or its ever-developing outskirts and the message is unavoidable. Smiling teenagers beam down from billboards asking, “After O-levels? What next?” The implication is clear: why endure the rigour of A-levels when a faster, shinier, allegedly smarter alternative is waiting just around the corner? Eight months, they promise. A shortcut to university. A head start in life. What these advertisements do not disclose is the ethical
The Cancelled Ne-Yo Concert and the Fight for Refunds in Sri Lanka.
For months, fans in Sri Lanka held onto a vibrant sense of anticipation. Posters popped up on social media, Instagram pages buzzed with excitement, and many lined up digitally to secure their tickets, some paying steep prices for a chance to see Grammy-winning R&B star Ne-Yo perform live organized by a newly formed company called Brown Boy Presents spearheaded by an American-Sri Lankan called Amith Boteju. The concert was more than a night out; i
Emily in Paris Season 5 Review
Season 5 of Emily in Paris takes the familiar formula of glamorous escapism and playful romance and propels it into new terrain by moving much of the action to Italy before returning to Paris. Released on Netflix in December 2025, this installment is notable for its shift in setting, its attempts at more mature character arcs, and a finale that leaves major questions unanswered as the series heads toward Season 6.
BTS Announce Monumental World Tour
BTS have officially announced a new world tour, confirming their long awaited return to the global stage and setting the tone for what is expected to be one of the biggest music events of the decade. The tour will mark the group’s first full scale world tour since pausing group activities for mandatory military service and individual projects, and it arrives alongside confirmation of a new studio album due for release in Mar
Legacies: Celebrating Sri Lankan Art Pioneers
Saskia Fernando Gallery presents Legacies, an exhibition honouring pioneers of Sri Lankan modern and contemporary art. Featuring a curated selection of works created between 1930 and 2020, the exhibition reflects the lasting influence of artists who have shaped the country’s visual art landscape. Legacies brings together works by some of Sri Lanka’s most respected artists, offering insight into their enduring contributions to the nation’s artisti
IN CONVERSATION CHANUKA SURAWEERA HANDU DE SILVA
In a dining culture that is often driven by formality, exclusivity, and rigid rules, Tilapiya Colombo has quietly created something refreshingly different. It is a place where people do not just come to eat but to
The Pressure to Be Okay All the Time
Somewhere in the quiet evolution of modern life, being okay stopped being something we felt and became something we were expected to perform. It turned into a social reflex, a polite answer, a way of
ASSASSINS, MONKS AND BROKEN THRONES HOW KINGS WERE ACTUALLY REMOVED IN MEDIEVAL SRI LANKA
The Most Dangerous Throne in the Indian Ocean. Medieval Sri Lanka did not lack kings. It lacked safe ones. From Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa and into the fragmented courts of the thirteenth century, Sinhala
IN CONVERSATION NADINI PERERA WICKRAMASINGHE
Nadini Perera Wickramasinghe’s professional journey is one rooted in purpose, compassion, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful change in the lives of children and families. With
Rhode How 15 Products Took Over a Billion-Dollar Beauty Empire
You’ve probably heard of Rhode, even if you haven’t tried it yet. Founded in 2022, the brand has released only around 15 products - most deceptively simple -, and in just a few years, it’s become a beauty
ART N ARTIST Edition One Opens at Lionel Wendt Centre
A new platform for contemporary Sri Lankan art, ArtnArtist – Edition One was officially launched with an opening preview at the Harold Peiris Gallery, Lionel Wendt Art Centre, Colombo. Curated by Mandira
Why We Listen: How Podcasts Became the Most Human Medium of Our Time
Most mornings, before the inbox floods and before the day’s competing demands announce themselves, I am out walking the dog in west London.
The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Small Health Symptoms
Most people do not wake up one day and suddenly become seriously ill. Illness usually arrives quietly. It enters the body through small signals that are easy to dismiss and even easier to rationalize away.
Weird but True Food Combinations That Actually Work
Have you ever dipped fries into ice cream, or added a slice of cheddar to your apple? If your answer is no, you’re missing out on some of the quirkiest, and surprisingly delicious, flavour pairings out there.
Why Greenland Has Become President Trump’s Most Dangerous Foreign Policy Gamble
Greenland has become the most explosive flashpoint in the West’s own backyard because President Donald Trump has revived an idea that many Europeans hoped had died with his first term:
What Will Define Fashion in 2026
Every new year in fashion arrives with predictions. Colours are announced, silhouettes are crowned, and trend reports confidently declare what we should be wearing next.
THE HALO TRUST APPOINTS RISHINI WEERARATNE AS ITS AMBASSADOR FOR SRI LANKA
The HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian landmine clearance organization, has appointed Rishini Weeraratne as its Ambassador for Sri Lanka.
