SRI LANKA MUST WIN THE PR BATTLE FOR ITS ECONOMIC FUTURE
Every few years, Sri Lanka finds itself at the same crossroads, compelled to prove, once again, that it deserves continued access to the European Union’s GSP+ trade concession.
Mercedes-Benz Future Talks 2025: The Power of Ideas Driving Fashion, Design and Culture.
As the sun rises over Colombo’s skyline this November, the city will once again find itself at the crossroads of creativity and conversation.
Tracing the Living History of Colombo Fort and its Surroundings
Colombo Fort has never been ‘just’ a neighbourhood. Long before the city’s skyline was pierced by skyscrapers, and the area was dotted with five-star hotels, it was once the beating heart of the country’s maritime world.
A Test of Political Will: What the UNHRC’s Decision Means for Sri Lanka’s Path to Justice
When the UN Human Rights Council extended the Sri Lanka Accountability Project (SLAP) on the 6th of October, it wasn’t just a bureaucratic renewal.
A Grand Celebration of Nalanda’s Legacy
The Old Nalandians’ Sports Club (ONSC) successfully hosted “Maroons’ Nite 2025 – The Centennial Dinner Dance of Nalanda College” on 8th November 2025 at the Hilton Colombo, marking a memorable milestone in Nalanda College’s 100-year journey.
In Conversation with Reedah El-Saie: The Brainspark Games Founder Who Won Three Dragons and is Rewiring Education
There’s something profoundly unsettling about watching a system fail children simply because they learn differently, live in the wrong postcode, or were born into the wrong circumstances. After years of chronicling stories of innovation, I’ve grown weary of the glossy myths of overnight success and fearless founders.
A Crown Can’t Silence a Woman: Miss Universe Faces Its Reckoning in Bangkok
Beauty pageants have long existed in the uneasy space between grace and control, where empowerment is celebrated onstage but often muted behind it. For decades, contestants have mastered the delicate choreography of confidence and compliance, smiling through silence in glittering rooms built on poise. Last week, in a ballroom in Bangkok, that choreography fell apart.
Featuring Soundarie David Rodrigo
Known for her poise, warmth, and musical brilliance, Soundarie David Rodrigo has long been a driving force in Sri Lanka’s choral music scene. As the founder and Music Director of Soul Sounds, Sri Lanka’s internationally acclaimed all-female choir, she continues to inspire generations through her passion for music, discipline, and leadership. In this candid conversation on Fame Game, hosted by Kumar de Silva and Rozanne Diasz, Soundarie opens up a
The Psychology of Overconsumption
We live in a world where “add to cart” feels like self-care, and unboxing videos get more views than environmental documentaries. Every scroll tempts us with something new, another dress, another drop, another dopamine hit disguised as self-expression. We call it fashion, lifestyle, or retail therapy, but beneath it lies something much deeper and more human: our emotional dependence on newness. In sustainability conversations, we often talk about
IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo Returns in 2026 Blending World-Class Sport, Culture, and Community
After a successful debut in 2018 and 2019, IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo is set to return in 2026 with renewed energy, enhanced global standards, and a powerful vision to position Sri Lanka as a world-class endurance destination. Building on the lessons of past editions, the 2026 event promises an exceptional experience for athletes and spectators alike, uniting sport, culture, and community under one inspiring banner.
Festive Cheer Unfolds at Taj Samudra’s Annual Cake Mixing Ceremony
Taj Samudra Colombo warmly ushered in the spirit of the festive season with its much-anticipated annual Cake Mixing Ceremony. The evening brought together guests, patrons, and well-wishers to celebrate the age-old tradition that marks the beginning of Christmas festivities.
A Power Woman Who Redefined Design in Sri Lanka Linda Speldewinde
Linda Speldewinde stands as one of Sri Lanka’s most inspiring figures; a visionary entrepreneur, creative leader, and fierce advocate for women’s empowerment. As the Founder of the Academy of Design (AOD), Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka (MBFWSL), and the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF), she has transformed the island’s creative landscape, redefining its global identity through design, fashion, and innovation. Her journey is one of audacity
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka 2025
From November 19th to 23rd, 2025, the Cinnamon Life: City of Dreams in Colombo will transform into the epicentre of South Asia’s creative renaissance as it plays host to the 9th edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka (MBFWSL). Presented by the Academy of Design (AOD) and powered by DIMO, the authorized distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Sri Lanka, MBFWSL 2025 is more than a showcase of style, it is a statement about the future of fashion,
AOD and Cinnamon Life Unite for “What’s Your Colombo?”
Colombo, the beating heart of Sri Lanka, is more than its skyline or its coastline. It’s a city that exists in layers; in the memories of its people, in the rhythm of its streets, in the art and architecture that mark its growth, and in the countless untold stories that give it life. Yet, for all its richness, Colombo has often lacked a collective narrative that captures its essence. Now, a new design-led initiative seeks to change that.
THROWBACK MBFW 2024
A curated look back at standout styles from the 2024 runway. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect this season, with just two weeks to go until MBFW 2025, happening November 19-23.
Designers and Collections to Watch at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2025
As anticipation builds for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2025, the air hums with creativity and quiet expectation. This year’s showcase promises to be more than a visual spectacle. It is set to become a conversation about identity, craftsmanship, and consciousness. The runway, a meeting point between heritage and innovation, will bring together designers whose work transcends trend and speaks instead to authenticity. Across regions, from Assam to Co
Sri Lanka Design Festival 2025 Discover Your Colombo
This year, the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) turns the capital into a living, breathing design museum. Under the banner “Discover Your Colombo,” fifteen immersive experiences invite locals and visitors alike to see the city anew; through the eyes of artists, architects, typographers, and storytellers. From tiled corridors beneath our feet to skyline perspectives from the Lotus Tower, SLDF 2025 celebrates design not as something confined to gal
Zohran Mamdani The Progressive Who Redefined New York City Politics
Zohran Mamdani was born in Uganda and raised in New York City. He is the son of renowned intellectuals: his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a respected scholar, and his mother, Mira Nair, is the celebrated Indian-American filmmaker known for movies such as Monsoon Wedding.
The Elixir
The Elixir (Indonesian: Abadi Nan Jaya) is a 2025 Indonesian zombie film directed, produced, and co-written by Kimo Stamboel. The film features a talented cast including Mikha Tambayong, Eva Celia, Donny Damara, and Marthino Lio. Released on Netflix on 23 October 2025,
I Know You Missed Me! The Return of The No BS Marketer
Hey, it’s been a minute. The No BS Marketer took a short break, not because I ran out of things to say (trust me, I never do) but because I was living through the kind of chaos that teaches you lessons no MBA ever could.
Tiny Treasures The Art of the Mini Statement Bag
In the world of fashion, where diamonds have long been celebrated as a girl’s best friend, it may be time to reconsider that familiar saying. The true testament to a woman’s sense of style rests not on her fingers or around her neck but on her shoulders, carried
Reclaiming Movement, Reclaiming Self A Masterclass in London
When Sri Lankan dance movement therapist, artist, and performer Rangi Fernando steps into a studio, something profound begins to unfold. It’s not about choreography, performance, or precision. It’s about returning home; to the body, to breath, to truth. She has been
Cup of Courage Unites Voices Against Breast Cancer
Cup of Courage – Season 2, a high tea event dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness, was held at the Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The elegant gathering brought together participants and supporters to celebrate courage, positivity, and hope under this year’s
The Importance of Remembrance Day
Every year on November 11, people across the Commonwealth and beyond pause for a moment of silence. They gather at cenotaphs, war memorials, schools, and workplaces to honour the men and women who gave their lives in military service. This solemn occasion is known as Remembrance Day, a day not only to remember the fallen but also to reflect on the cost of war, the value of peace, and the continuing duty to preserve freedom. Although it originated
Lost in Translation: How Therapeutic Language is Losing Meaning
More people are talking about mental health than ever before- and while this reflects a long-awaited global shift towards the destigmatisation of mental illnesses, it brings with it a new concern. Clinical language, once reserved for the therapy room, has now entered modern vernacular. With the rise of social media, terms such as ‘narcissist’ and ‘gaslighter’ are everywhere, often used imprecisely and without clinical grounding. This phenomenon,
Sri Lanka: Why the Pearl of the Indian Ocean Is Back on Every Traveller’s Map
After a few quiet years, Sri Lanka is back and not just quietly. The island has been making headlines once again as one of the world’s top travel destinations, blending ancient culture, lush landscapes, and a lifestyle that’s effortlessly warm and welcoming. From golden beaches and misty tea hills to bustling markets and centuries-old temples, this small country packs in more variety than most continents.
Giza Necropolis - The Eternal City of Stone and Sky
On the western edge of the Nile, where the golden sands of the desert meet the fertile breath of the river, lies a place that has captivated humanity for more than 4,500 years the Giza Necropolis. It is a city of silence and eternity, a landscape shaped not by nature, but by the hands of ancient visionaries who believed in forever. Here, under Egypt’s sun, stand the colossal Pyramids of Giza the last surviving wonder of the ancient world along wi
Stripped of Honour: The Monarchy’s Most Drastic Move in a Century
In late October 2025, a dramatic and rare move was announced when King Charles III formally initiated the removal of all the royal styles, titles and honours previously held by his younger brother Prince Andrew. According to an official statement issued by Buckingham Palace, Andrew will henceforth be known as “Andrew Mountbatten Windsor” and will no longer bear the style “His Royal Highness”, the title “Prince”, or other honours previously held.
Hillwood College Alumnae Shine at the Magical Masquerade 2025
The Past Pupils’ Association of Hillwood College Kandy – Colombo Branch hosted *The Magical Masquerade of Gold & Silver 2025* at the Mahogany Room, Cinnamon Grand. The glamorous evening was organized in aid of the School Development Fund and brought together past pupils and well-wishers for a night of celebration, music, and elegance.
IN CONVERSATION WITH DR. VASANTHIKA THUDUVAGE
Medicine has long been recognized as a profession that demands intellect, discipline, and compassion. Yet within that demanding sphere, few have managed to harmonize clinical excellence, academic contribution,