Thaliba Cader
Thaliba Cader is a passionate individual with short hair and towering ambitions. She is an undergraduate at the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo and has been journaling daily since she was twelve, finding solace and self-discovery in writing. She is part of the UNICEF South Asia Young People’s Action cohort and believes strongly in youth-led change across the region. Every day, she moves closer to publishing her book O.D.D, a milestone she sees as the true measure of a life well lived, procrastination included. Thaliba encourages readers to see reading as an art that slows you down and gives your mind space to breathe.
Artemis II To the Moon and back for all of humanity
For the first time since Apollo 17, human beings have crossed the invisible boundary that separates Earth from the rest of the solar system, a column of fire rose from Florida’s coast and carried with it more than four astronauts and a spacecraft. It lifted a quiet, curious idea that has followed humanity across centuries. No matter how divided we are on Earth, we remain a single species looking up at the same sky. The Artemis II mission, NASA’s
Joy in Every Hue: Holi by the Beach at Mount Lavinia Hotel
I did not arrive at Holi this year as someone new to it. I arrived already carrying it with me. What began last year as a one-off experience had quietly settled into something more personal. There is a certain anticipation that comes with returning to something that once changed you. You do not just hope it will be good again; you wonder if it will move you in the same way. This time, I came with a sense of responsibility. My sisters, Ayesha and
Zendaya and Law: The Power of the Right Fit
In fashion, people change quickly. Stylists rotate, aesthetics are rebranded, identities are softened or sharpened depending on what the moment demands. Reinvention is often treated as survival. But every now and then, a partnership comes along that does not rely on constant change to stay relevant. It relies on clarity. That is what makes Zendaya and Law Roach so interesting. Not just because they have lasted, because they have remained recogniz
Vauxhall DSTRCT: A Defining Vertical Landmark Signals a New Chapter for Colombo
Some property launches come and go with little more than polite applause and a fleeting presence in the public eye. Others, however, settle into the collective consciousness, continuing to spark conversation long after the final guest has left. The unveiling of Vauxhall DSTRCT by John Keells Properties firmly belonged to this second category. What began as a carefully curated launch event quickly evolved into something more enduring; an idea, a s
A Quarter-Century of Compassion with LAF In conversation with Prof. Shehan Williams
As the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation (LAF) marks a quarter-century of steadfast devotion to persons living with dementia and their families, it stands as a beacon of hope, compassion, and community resilience.
Midnight Autopsies of Polite Lies
Sometimes you wonder if our memories are truly ours or borrowed landscapes, taken from the people who touched our lives, stored in a ledger we cannot close, catalogued in the mind with a diligence that
The Dawn Dispatch
Pray, clutch your pearls and tighten your grip upon your morning tea, for Colombo’s theatre of politics serves drama far spicier than any curry in the southern province. Sajith demands clarity regarding a most
Healing Ground: The HALO Trust and the Resurrection of Puvarasanthivu
On the waters of Jaffna Lagoon, southeast of Jaffna city, lies Puvarasanthivu, a small island whose modest size conceals the weight of its history.
Torpedo in the Indian Ocean: Did a Submarine Expose Sri Lanka’s Blind Spots?
In the early hours off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, a warship simply disappeared beneath the Indian Ocean. The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, carrying roughly 180 sailors, sank some forty nautical miles south of Galle after being hit by what United States officials later confirmed was a submarine-launched torpedo. By the time Sri Lankan authorities received the distress signal at 5:08 a.m. and deployed naval and air units, the vessel had already vanis
Alakhshya: Unseen Dimensions of Consciousness
Colombo will witness an extraordinary journey into the intangible with the upcoming solo exhibition Alakhshya: One that cannot be perceived by Druvinka Puri, the Sri Lankan-born artist who has spent decades in the Himalayas as a practicing sadhu, at Barefoot Gallery. The opening preview is on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, and the works will be on view from March 6 to 28, open Monday to Saturday from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Puri’s
An Evening of Poise and Precision At the Russian School of Ballet Awards 2026
On a warm February evening, the auditorium of the Russian House in Colombo carried a quiet elegance. Satin ribbons were adjusted with care.
Wings of a Nation The Sri Lanka Air Force Marks a Diamond Jubilee
Seventy-five years ago, in 1951, the newly independent nation of Ceylon took a decisive step toward safeguarding its sovereignty. Under Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, the country established its own
Engineering Opportunity: How Bonfire Is Turning South Asian Talent into Global Reach
There was a time when making music in Sri Lanka meant accepting certain invisible ceilings. You could build a loyal audience at home. You could trend on local radio. You might even go viral for a week. But beyond that, the pathways thinned. Royalty statements arrived late or not at all. Global platforms felt distant and algorithmic. The business side of music remained opaque, spoken about in half-understood industry terms that rarely translated i
From Specific to Universal Stanford’s Immune Reboot
For more than two centuries, vaccines have followed a remarkably consistent principle. Expose the immune system to a weakened or partial version of a pathogen and allow it to develop memory. When the real infection arrives, the body responds faster and more effectively. From smallpox to polio to measles, this strategy has saved hundreds of millions of lives. Yet it has one important limitation. Each vaccine is designed for a specific pathogen. Wh
The Lives We Pass: How Nazly Ahmed Sees What We Overlook
Colombo is often described in headlines and statistics. A financial hub. A city in recovery. A coastline of commerce and contradiction. But cities are not built only of policy or crisis.
The Spectrum, the Spot
A spectrum suggests range. It implies measurable variation, a gradual shift between distinguishable states. In physics, it is light refracted into visible color. In psychology, it is temperament distributed across gradients of intensity. In biology, it is development unfolding through stages. A spectrum promises direction and difference. I
Claiming the Right to Begin: Inside an Emerge Graduation
The lamps were lit one by one by the graduates themselves. There was no rush. No nervous fumbling. No one stepping in to guide their hands. Each flame caught slowly, deliberately, as if the act itself mattered as much as what it represented. In Sri Lanka, oil lamps are lit for beginnings that deserve to be remembered. Weddings. New ventures. Sacred thresholds. But this was not a beginning granted by tradition or circumstance. This was a beginning
A Homegrown Lifeline for Contemporary Art: A4A 2026
In a country where the arts have long navigated economic uncertainty and social upheaval, the Artists for Artists Production Fund offers a rare and vital space for creation. Established in 2021 as Sri Lanka’s first publicly funded arts grant, the initiative was conceived as a homegrown effort to support contemporary artists at a moment when resources are scarce and challenges are many. It has become a lifeline for practitioners seeking the freedo
Catch It Early: How Screening Saves Lives and Empowers Communities
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, yet it is also one of the most preventable and treatable diseases when detected early. Across the globe, health experts emphasize that early detection can transform cancer outcomes by improving survival rates, reducing the severity of treatment, and preserving quality of life. This World Cancer Day on February 4, the importance of screening, awareness, and timely medical intervention is unde
Art Exhibition by S. H. Sarath Showcases Creative Expression
An art exhibition featuring paintings by artist S. H. Sarath was recently held at the JDA Perera Gallery, Colombo. The exhibition showcased a collection of vibrant artworks highlighting creativity, colour, and artistic expression, attracting art enthusiasts and visitors. The event provided a platform to appreciate local talent and contemporary artistic imagination.
